Getting involved in volunteer travel is becoming a popular option for those who want to use their skills to make the world a brighter place. People all across the nation are connecting with this booming trend in consumer travel. With so many opportunities to volunteer overseas, it can be overwhelming to try and find the one which is right for you. How do you know who you can trust when you aren’t familiar with the industry? Here are a few volunteer travel companies that are worth looking into.
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad serves as a hub for collecting various volunteer tourism opportunities and putting them in one convenient location. Visitors to the site can browse through thousands of trips and find the one that best aligns with their skillset and interest level. Everything on the website is specifically tailored to each individual, so you must first put in some personal information, such as what you are hoping to achieve and where you would like to end up.
Bunac
Spreading the practices of volunteer tourism on a global scale, Bunac sends people to a variety of locations, such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ghana, Australia, Britain, China, and South Africa. Since 1962, Bunac has helped more than a quarter of a million people find work opportunities abroad. Starting as a university society at Cambridge, England, the organization has blossomed into a powerful force in the industry.
Go Eco
Go Eco is rapidly becoming one of the biggest names in volunteer travel, due in part to its mission of ensuring environmental conservation. By recruiting volunteers from all over the world, this organization aims to further the preservation of wildlife through sustainable methods. They try to provide a personal connection with volunteers, giving them the opportunity to have a say in what type of work they are doing and how they go about accomplishing their individual goals.
American Hiking Society
As you may have guessed, the American Hiking Society is focused on more domestic projects. Their main efforts go toward helping create and maintain hiking trails across the country. This is a wonderful organization for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to spread their passion with generations to come. The American Hiking Society also holds the honor of being “the only national organization that promotes and protects foot trails and the hiking experience.”
Global Citizen Year
A great opportunity targeted toward graduating seniors, Global Citizen Year sends volunteers for a year of service to Brazil, Ecuador, and Senegal. Aiming to “cultivate prospective societal leaders and social entrepreneurs, giving them experience and tools to create impact,” Global Citizen Year is able to provide volunteers with an immersive experience which allows them to see the world through the eyes of another person. This non-profit organization also tries to prepare students for studies at the graduate level.
