Faith-based trips present the perfect opportunity to bring good works to the world.
Combining a once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad with volunteer work is a recipe for a spiritually fulfilling travel experience. There are countless “voluntourism” opportunities in countries around the globe that groups can participate in, whether it’s the sole purpose of the trip or just one activity on an itinerary. From cleaning up natural ecosystems to providing medical aid to locals, here are some ideas for groups looking to take voluntourism international.
Nature Conservation
Helping to preserve and maintain some of the most stunning natural ecosystems around the world is a true privilege afforded by volunteer opportunities. Many organizations worldwide give travelers the opportunity to participate in wildlife rehabilitation efforts and environmental cleanup, and working to maintain healthy and beautiful habitats is a great option for group voluntourism trips.
Organizations like GoEco offer a wide range of opportunities to volunteer abroad at wildlife rescue centers and animal sanctuaries on five continents. One popular project is the Montezuma Sea Turtle Volunteer Program in Costa Rica, where groups spend two weeks on the beaches of Montezuma protecting sea turtle nesting sites, cleaning up the beaches, relocating eggs to a protected hatchery and releasing hatchlings. The program also includes immersive Spanish lessons. Another top GoEco program is volunteering at an African wildlife orphanage in Zimbabwe. Volunteers can prepare food for and feed the animals, clean out enclosures, help staff with hand-rearing orphaned animals and assist with the release of rehabilitated animals, when possible. Groups should contact the organization to see what opportunities they qualify for.
Archaeology
If groups are interested in uncovering truths about past civilizations, restoring historic monuments and landmarks, and working closely with researchers, an archaeological voluntourism trip is a great fit. Volunteers will spend their days with intimate access to the ruins of ancient civilizations, from Machu Picchu in Peru to lost cities in Greece. While many of these trips are available through universities and professional societies and associations, some volunteer organizations also offer trips in partnership with a country’s culture ministry.
Projects Abroad runs archaeological group trips to Peru, allowing groups to work at archaeological sites in the 15th-century Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Volunteer groups will stay with a host family in Cusco and work with archaeologists to preserve the beloved national heritage site, learn about the Incan empire and give back to the community on outreach days. They’ll learn skills like mapping, cleaning and maintaining archaeological sites, and classifying artifacts. Volunteers will also have free weekends to explore the area and immerse themselves in the local culture.
Education and Childcare
There are many avenues for volunteers to work with children around the world, from teaching English language classes to providing childcare for communities in need. These opportunities can be great for church groups with families or for those with experience in education, though experience working with children isn’t necessarily required. The only requirements are that volunteers are 18 or older, have the necessary vaccinations and pass a background check.
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), an organization dedicated to providing affordable and safe volunteer opportunities to individuals and groups, offers more than 300 projects in over 40 countries. These projects are run by locals to ensure ethical and responsible results. IVHQ offers teaching and childcare programs in Central and South American countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica, as well as the countries of Kenya and Ghana in Africa and the Philippines and Vietnam in Asia. Groups will work side by side with teachers from different countries to teach English, complete arts and crafts projects, prepare and serve meals, and play with children living in impoverished or rural communities around the world.
While at their host destination, groups will enjoy private and clean lodging, as well as included meals. Many of these trips offer add-ons for the volunteers to experience the local culture and attractions outside of their volunteer hours, from an authentic Argentinian barbecue to African village tours and safaris.
Construction
Another popular volunteer opportunity is participating in construction projects to build housing, sanitation systems and public buildings for communities in need. Groups can complete these projects quickly and safely under the guidance of trained contractors and engineers. And, by the end of their mission, they’ll leave behind completed homes, buildings and community projects.
For a weeklong volunteer experience, Global Village is an international Habitat for Humanity program that lets volunteers complete construction projects in communities on five different continents. Whether that’s building water towers in Cambodia to address the community’s hygiene and sanitation needs or renovating apartments in Romania for special needs families, groups can arrange a volunteer project that best suits them in a country of their choice. Global Village offers programs in Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Zambia, Kenya, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and more.
Builds typically last eight to 12 days and are ideal for groups of 12 to 16. Group leaders will receive training from Habitat for Humanity on leading the project.
Medical Relief
Bringing medical technology and aid to developing countries is another great way to serve the world’s communities. Many organizations offer medical- and dental-relief volunteer programs abroad, and while some of these programs are a great fit for groups of medical professionals, many have a great need for non-medical volunteers to assist. Whether they’re providing medical care, helping clinic staff, educating local communities about health initiatives or simply distributing medical supplies, these programs are a powerful way to positively impact global communities.
OneWorld Health is a nonprofit focused on building sustainable and long-term health-care systems in countries like Uganda, Nicaragua and Honduras. It provides affordable health care by building clinics, hiring and training locals to manage them and investing in telehealth, emergency vehicles and health education to improve health-care outcomes.
The nonprofit offers private, tailored experiences in Uganda and Honduras for groups with a minimum of 15 people. Both medical and non-medical volunteers can participate in outreach days, when they’ll assist in clinic operations, work with patients or participate in community education. Trips offer flexible itineraries and are guided by a trip director and local staff.
Groups will stay in a local hotel with private accommodations. They can also add on excursions to safaris, waterfalls and local farms when in Uganda. While visiting Honduras, groups can add tours of pottery and chocolate factories, local waterfalls and coffee shops.
