Where to go?

I am planning to go touring but really not sure where to go. I am also quite keen to do some volunteering work along the way. many people have suggested teaching english but I was looking for some different options.

I dont want to do the usual austrailia/ new zeland thing and end up moving from one big city to the next. I'd like to visit amazing rural places/islands....

Any ideas would be great

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You could just show up in Darfur and I'm sure the Red Cross would take you.

Or if that's too extreme, I've heard of national parks in Africa and India that take volunteers and offer cheap lodging. It'd be like a free Safari everyday AND you get to help save the elephants! Bonus! 😊 Reply to this

Hi Paul - welcome to travelblog.

Why do volunteer agencies charge? - well - if they are doing all the work, setting you up, arranging accommodation, maintaining contacts with the local organisations - then the costs are high and they make money out of you - some agencies are for profit as well. It's a trade off - the more that is organised for you the more it will cost...

Also keep in mind - sending western kids to Africa to build houses is not really efficient - it would be much cheaper to employ locals to build houses at $1 a day - economics as always - so they charge the volunteers to do this - and the money gained from them is where the real help comes.

One not for profit I would recommend is Green Force

But that's the bad news 😉

You can volunteer all over the world for free - decide what you'd like to do - where you'd like to do it - and go there!

You can help out in Orphanages in Cambodia, Teaching Kids in South-America, Collecting Tree Seeds in the Amazon - but these are locally run projects without websites and support facilities - you need to go to the places in question research - look at adverts in hostels - and call them up.

They will ask you to cover your costs in many cases - but these costs will be minimal once you are there.. Reply to this

Hello Paul 😊

If u go to Africa, u could check out the following site of expats.
http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/africa/
Many of them either work in the aid-world or at least will know people that can help you.
I know a place in Thailand, where u can volunteer at a childrens home, near the Burmese border.
They need people to do all kinds. Basically whatever u have to offer would be appreciated.
Unfortunately now volunteers in Thailand need a work permit, which is rather off putting because it costs something. If u are interested in working in this childrens home, let me know and I will give u more details about how to contact them etc. Send me a private mail, in case I miss it here in this thread.

Mel Reply to this