How to Find the Best Affordable 1 Week Volunteer Abroad Project
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Are you planning to volunteer abroad? Are you keen to share your skills and abilities but only have a week or so free to do so?
Want to know which companies offer an affordable program without compromising on quality of experience? Concerned that volunteering for only one week isn't long enough to make a difference?
You may be surprised to learn that there are many short-term opportunities available in the volunteer abroad field, and those which last for a week are generally specially designed to offer both you and the project participants the maximum benefit and the most satisfying experience possible.
For this article, we have done in-depth research of many 1-week volunteer abroad programs to help you find the one that suits your interests, background, dreams and skills, and of course has a fee which suits your budget.
Important things to consider before choosing a 1 week volunteer abroad program
If you are planning to volunteer abroad for a short period of time you need to pay attention to the key points below, as they will help you have a wonderful and fulfilling experience.
Choose the right project : Since you are going to volunteer for a short time, joining an orphanage, conservation or construction project would be a good choice. This will be meaningful experience as you will be able to make small positive changes – even in a week. Try to avoid teaching English or volunteering for any other project where the best results come from long term commitment and continuity.
Make a plan to maximize your week: No matter whether you join a long- or short-term project, you still have to pay for airfare, vaccinations, a visa and other expenses such as travel insurance. This makes it doubly important that you give a lot of thought to how best to utilize your time. Work with the volunteer coordinator from the agency you've chosen to draw up a possible itinerary. Organizing your time well will let you accomplish more, and contribute as much as possible.
Try to join a project where you can work 6 or 7 days: Most volunteer projects start on a Monday and end on a Friday, leaving the weekend free for leisure activities and sightseeing. Unfortunately, this type of project would only leave you with five days as a volunteer. However, if you can find a program like medical volunteer project that is flexible and allows you to work at weekends, you will be able to make the most of the experience.
Try to choose a project where you can work longer hours: Lots of projects expect their volunteers to work only 3-5 hours a day. If your goal is to get deeply involved in your volunteer abroad experience you should consider a program where you can work for longer, perhaps 6 or 7 hours. Many organizations will allow you to work on two projects at the same time, so explore all the opportunities and don't be afraid to ask if what you want isn't mentioned on official websites.
Choose a project you are seriously interested in: With only one week to volunteer, you need to make the most of every moment. Volunteering in an area you have a passion for guarantees you will enjoy it, no matter how many hours or days you work.
Choose to stay with a host family for a true cultural experience : volunteering abroad is not at all like a touristy experience. A volunteer combines their role as a humanitarian worker with that of traveler and honorary member of a foreign community. Living with a host family, even for a week, allows you to have a unique cultural experience, and grants temporary access to the authentic lifestyles of your host country's people. While you are at it, you might as well learn how to deal with cultural shock while volunteering abroad.
| Company | Project & Starting Price | Reviews |
| RCDP International | Kenya – ($200 + $279) | Go Overseas – 62 reviews |
| International Volunteers HQ | Thailand - ($400 + $329) | Go Overseas – 2,227 reviews |
| Love Volunteers | Nepal – ($259 + $299) | Go Overseas – 140 reviews |
| Global Crossroad | Costa Rica – ($455 + $299) | Go Overseas – 94 reviews |
| A Broader View | Laos - $860 | Go Overseas – 178 reviews |
| IFRE Volunteers | Cambodia – ($420 + $299) | Go Overseas – 116 reviews |
RCDP International
This ethically sound organization has amazingly low priced program fees for their 1 week volunteer abroad projects, and there are no hidden extras. Food, accommodation and local support are all included, and the program fee is paid directly to the project and host family you are working and living with.
- Orphanage volunteer program in Nepal
- Working with disadvantaged children in Thailand
- Teenage Mother Project in Peru
- HIV/AIDS Project in Kenya
IVHQ
IVHQ are very experienced providers of short and long term volunteer abroad experiences. Committed to offering safe, affordable and useful projects, volunteers can choose from a wide range of interesting programs to join.
- Childcare in Livingstone
- Food Outreach Volunteer Program in Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City
- Construction and Renovation Volunteer Program in Tanzania - Arusha
- Rural Community Development Volunteering in Sri Lanka
Love Volunteers
With their affordable fees and good range of volunteer projects – including some which are not offered by many other organizations – Love Volunteers clearly believe in keeping the true spirit of volunteering alive. For a really worthwhile and in-budget 1 week volunteer abroad experience this company won't let you down.
- Youth support and nutrition volunteer in Honduras
- Childcare & development volunteer work in Morocco
- School construction and renovation program Nepal
- The Special Needs Program in Ghana
Globalcrossroad
With an amazing record of having placed 18,000+ volunteers into needs-driven projects you're in safe hands with Global Crossroad. They offer a nice range of meaningful projects at process you can afford.
- Turtle Conservation Project in Mexico
- Turtle conservation volunteer in Bali
- School and orphanage construction in Costa Rica
- Volunteer work in an orphanage in Kenya
- Medical Project in Guatemala
A Broader View
This organization offers a variety of 1 week volunteer abroad programs, largely on the African continent. A registered non-profit, abroaderview focus on providing good value for money opportunities to volunteers who wish to live and work alongside those who benefit from their efforts.
- Elderly Care in Chile
- Children's Education in Cameroon
- Midwifery in Nicaragua
- Women's support in Philippines
IFRE
With a decade of experience, a great range of projects and very reasonable fees you can really make a difference to the lives of others, even in a week, when volunteering abroad through IFRE. Fees are paid to the project and host family directly.
- Volunteer in Galapagos conservation project in Ecuador
- Eco Agriculture volunteer Guatemala
- Social welfare project South Africa
- Teenage mother project in Peru
Frequently asked questions
Is joining a 1 week volunteer abroad program a sensible idea?
Volunteering is all about giving. In many cases people can only volunteer for just a few hours at a time, so one full week is very definitely worth it. Imagine if everyone in the world gave a week of their time to help others – it would make an amazing difference to those in need.
What can I accomplish in 1 week?
The question of accomplishment is related to your expectations. You may not be able to make a substantial difference, or identify huge leaps forward, but you will certainly make a positive impact on the community you are working with. Plus of course in your one precious week as a volunteer abroad you can meet some personal goals, such as giving selflessly, travelling, exploring a new culture or meeting new people too.
Are there many 1 week volunteer abroad opportunities to choose from?
There are hundreds of volunteer abroad organizations, and many of these offer 1 week volunteer abroad programs. Some even choose to specialize in matching volunteers with exciting and productive short term projects.
How much will a short volunteer project cost?
The cost of a one week volunteer abroad program ranges from $300 to $2000, depending on the organization and the individual project. Don't forget that you also need to factor in the costs of airfare, visa, vaccinations, personal expenses and so on.
What kinds of programs are best suited for a 1 week volunteer abroad project?
It is vital to choose the right kind of program when you only have a week to spend there. Making the right decision will lead to your work having a meaningful impact and a successful volunteer aboard experience. Here are some of the best project types to look at:
Orphanages: volunteering on an orphanage project gives the children a fresh face to play with, practice their English on and learn new things from.
Nature conservation: there are many national parks and natural reserves urgently looking for volunteers. These conservation projects aim to preserve nature, so as a volunteer you will be helping to maintain trails, remove weeds and plant trees. Though physically demanding, a nature conservation placement is a great way to see definite results after even just one week of volunteering.
Turtle conservation: If you really love turtles it's easy to make a genuine and much needed contribution to this kind of project in just a few days. Volunteers on turtle e conservation programs take part in various activities, including: protecting the area where turtles lay eggs, cleaning the beaches and patrolling during the night.
Medical project: These are ideal for a one week volunteering experience as medical project staff provide basic health care services to different patients each day. As a volunteer on this kind of program you will work in a variety of settings which range from large hospitals to public clinics. What you actually do mostly depends on your skills and qualifications in this field.
Women's' development project: These programs empower socially and economically disadvantaged women by providing them with access to education and skill training in areas like sewing and making crafts. If you have some relevant skills to share than this project would be perfect for a one week volunteer experience.
Conclusion
By now you will have leaned that even with just one week free to take part in a volunteer abroad program there is lots of choice available, and many good reasons to sign up for one of them.
By using the tips featured here on key points to consider before making your final decision, along with the handy list of respected organizations who offer affordable 1 week volunteer abroad projects it should be easy to find the perfect program to suit your interests, skills, budget and timescale.
Choose a program, make your plans and then go out and make a difference, because in the lives of those who need help, support and the opportunity to develop themselves, their community or their local environment every second you can offer is precious.
Have you ever completed a 1 week volunteer abroad program? If so, how did you find the experience? Would you do it again? We'd love to hear from you with questions, comments or stories about your own short term volunteer experiences, so please do feel free to leave a comment.