Best Volunteer Abroad Programs for Young Professionals in 2024

Volunteering is a lifelong practice that welcomes people of all ages. However, different age groups bring unique skills and have specific needs that should be accounted for when choosing a volunteer program.

Matching a project to your education and professional expertise will ensure both you and the community benefit from and enjoy the experience. Young professional volunteers have a lot to offer to programs abroad -- choose the best one to meet your needs in 2023!

When you volunteer as a young professional, the benefits touch both you and the community. Here are a few of the ways volunteerism positively affects everyone involved.

• Specialized skills: whether you're a trained medical professional or a web design wizard, your specialized education and skills bring specific, actionable expertise to your chosen project.
• Leadership abilities: being in the working world has either had you observing the higher-ups or even leading your own team. Coming into a project with organizational and leadership skills will help things go smoothly.
• Ideas to guide/improve programs: all those brainstorming meetings you've sat through over the years will come in handy when volunteering abroad. Your project could benefit from your constructive feedback, problem-solving skills, and unique ideas to improve programmatic functioning.

• Enhanced CV: volunteering abroad within your field can show the depth and breadth of your skills. Whether that means working with patients in low-resource areas or teaching students with nothing more than a blackboard, you'll demonstrate your creativity and resourcefulness.
• Networking: working alongside local experts as well as other volunteers can help expand your professional network. This is not only an invaluable learning experience but a way to gain contacts overseas.
• Personal satisfaction: helping others can make you feel happier. While it's important to focus on others while volunteering, it's totally OK and normal to enjoy a sense of personal satisfaction.

Young professionals across a wide range of disciplines can use their valuable insights and talents in volunteer programs around the world.

• Medical and healthcare: nurses, doctors, physical therapists, emergency medical technicians, and other healthcare professionals with appropriate training and licensure are highly valued for public health and medical clinic projects.
• Teaching: teachers are invaluable for teaching a variety of subjects from English as a foreign language to vocational skills.
• Veterinary: wildlife projects, as well as inner city dog and cat rescues, benefit from trained veterinarians and vet techs able to lead and assist with procedures.
• Tech: for countries with developing IT infrastructures, the benefits of programmers, database administrators, and network specialists are innumerable.
• Community-building: community planners, international development professionals, social workers, and anyone else working to support individuals where they help can help to build stronger, more equitable communities.

We've picked the best volunteer programs for young adults based on popular fields of work and we're hoping it helps guide you to the best overseas project to share your talents as a young professional. The pros and cons we've included are intended to give you important points to weigh when making your decision.

Pros:

• 24/7 support is available to volunteers while on placement
• All meals are included
• Comprehensive orientation gives background on both Ghana's culture and customs but also allows for volunteers to network and exchange contact information

Cons:

• Those with less experience may not have as much hands-on contact with patients
• Volunteer accommodation isn't equipped with wifi
• Clinic-based work tends to be more administrative

IVHQ offers affordable and versatile volunteering projects in Ghana for qualified medical professionals. Experienced doctors and nurses will help in a local clinic two days a week while spending the remaining three participating in mobile wound care outreach.

Volunteers will start each day with breakfast at the volunteer house at 7:30 am. After arriving at the placement site, you can expect to work from 8 am with days usually ending anywhere between 2 pm and 5 pm. Weekends are free for local exploration, checking out Accra or traveling further afield to neighboring Togo or Côte d’Ivoire.

Pros:

• Founder and volunteer coordinator Leslie Weighill is hands-on, providing detailed information and support
• Volunteering in a village makes you feel like part of the family
• Students are warm and welcoming, rekindling your passion for teaching

Cons:

• Getting used to using a cold water bucket shower and latrine pit may be difficult for some
• Rural life can feel isolating
• No more than two people can volunteer together so this is not ideal for friend groups or families

Teachers looking for a friendly and immersive classroom experience will feel right at home with The Real Uganda. You'll be housed in a private room at a rural boarding school where you'll be provided with three meals a day (with special dietary needs catered to!). Teachers will teach classes, tutor individual students, and help with cooking and other daily tasks around the boarding school to support the kids.

Because these are low-resource areas, students come to school with only a pencil and exercise book. This is the perfect opportunity to let your creativity run wild -- bring additional supplies to Uganda or focus on songs, games, and physical activity to direct your lessons. This is where your skills and teaching prowess will really shine!

There are also opportunities to work with special needs students so don't hesitate to ask!

Pros:

• Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary maintains a cap of 6 volunteers on the program at any one time
• The center cares for over 50 species of native and exotic animals
• All meals and accommodation are included

Cons:

• Days are long and labor-intensive so be prepared to work hard
• The limited number of volunteers is not ideal for large groups or families
• Seeing sick and injured animals can be emotionally taxing

Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary in beautiful Zimbabwe gets glowing reviews from its volunteers and it's clear why. Animal welfare is the focal point of the program and volunteers will see and feel the love and care given to all resident species. Their kindness and attention don't stop with the animals, however. Volunteers report feeling welcomed, supported, and extremely useful during their time with Twala Trust. The small size of the program ensures you'll have exposure to volunteer opportunities offering one-on-one, meaningful time rehabilitating animals. Get ready to make a difference!

On a daily basis, as a volunteer, you can expect to spend your time prepping food for animals at the rescue center, distributing those meals, and assisting with surgeries and other procedures. Both qualified vet techs and nurses and veterinarians are welcome to contribute their skills at Twala Trust.

Pros:

• Whether you stay for a week or a year, projects are tailored to your preferences
• Join in on local, socially impactful projects to contribute your skills where they're needed
• Choose from the affordable Experteering program or the intensive Institute Global Fellowship

Cons:

• The 6-month Fellowship program can be pricey at $3,600
• Aside from accommodation, other things like meals are not included
• Individual Experteering free membership doesn't include networking or mentoring

Described as a "short-term Peace Corps alternative for skilled professionals", MovingWorld's professional volunteering programs screen and match potential volunteers with in-country projects to support development through fields like IT, software engineering, UX/UI design, web design, and more. Volunteers are given free accommodation in exchange for their time and contribution.

Choose from their intensive paid 6-month Institute Global Fellowship that develops existing skills and helps you discover new ones through expert professional guidance. Mentoring before, during, and after your experience helps you execute a meaningful project, and come away with a tangible, marketable portfolio as you continue your career through the Institute Global Fellowship.

For a more independent experience, Experteering individual memberships allow for more flexible time commitments at a lower price point. The $250 fee gets you 12-month access to volunteer projects around the world. Experteering does not include the extensive mentorship and networking included in the Global Fellowship.

Interested in where your skills can take you? Check out Darren's IT project with a business accelerator in Tanzania.

Pros:

• Being 100% volunteer-led means all of your program fees go to support the mission
• Many women who graduate from the program go on to start their own local businesses
• Volunteers form strong bonds with students and fellow volunteers

Cons:

• Only dinner is provided so breakfast and lunch are on your own
• Wifi connection is spotty
• The school is a 30-minute walk from the city center, although paid transportation is available

Give a Heart to Africa (GHTA) operates in Moshi, Tanzania, and works to train strong female entrepreneurs from the local community. Women are supported through education and vocational skills training. GHTA interviews 100 women and selects 50 per year to join the program. Priority is given to single moms with limited formal schooling and women over 30 with families facing extreme poverty.

Volunteers will be expected to help teach business skills and other subjects such as English and math. You will assist students with developing business and marketing plans while getting to know them and their unique challenges. There are also weekly home visits to current students.

GHTA's service trips for young adults aim to build stronger communities by supporting women to reach their entrepreneurial and educational goals. Want to see GHTA's impact in Moshi? Check out some of their graduates' success stories.

Knowing how in-demand you are as a young professional volunteer abroad should give you that push to consider getting into it. Whether you take a gap year or short sabbatical or use your vacation time, volunteering overseas does a world of good.

Learn more about volunteering abroad to get started:

• How To Make The Greatest Impact As A Short-Term Volunteer Abroad
• How Do Communities Abroad Benefit from International Volunteers?
• The Best Summer Volunteer Abroad Programs
• What's the Difference Between Volunteering Abroad and Voluntourism?