VOLUNTEER TRIPS ABROAD
There are many reasons to travel, and there are many reasons to volunteer.
Volunteer trips are a great way to explore different parts of the world while
contributing to positive change, enriching your life, and that of others.
T here are many ways in which to get involved in
volunteer travel, and many organizations that have
been supporting projects around the world, including
Projects Abroad, Me To We, Global Work & Travel
Co., and Maximo Nivel, to name a few of the most
well-known and reputable ones.
Volunteer (right) at an Andean Immersion
in Peru (photo: Maximo Nivel)
Destinations for volunteer travel can take you, your
spouse, your children, or the whole family, to locations
as near as Guatemala and Costa Rica, or as far as Africa,
Australia, China, and Fiji.
While volunteering abroad, you can also choose to
spend a few hours or weeks learning a new language, and
then stay abroad teaching that language to others. Intern
projects may also involve building and construction,
farming, performing arts, social work, business, from
as short a trip as two weeks, to as long as one year.
At Maximo Nivel, one of the most popular projects
chosen by 50+ volunteer travelers include the “Andean
Immersion” – a unique cultural immersion that can
take place either in Guatemala or Peru, as you live and
work in an indigenous community. Volunteering with
local communities of no more than 100 families, you
help with caring for animals and livestock, helping
with agricultural work, weaving, creating textiles,
learning to prepare traditional dishes, assisting with
local construction projects, and working with children
at the local school. Work schedule may be anywhere
from 4 to 6 hours per day, and Spanish language skills
are not required!
Volunteer teaching English has a birthday
celebration prepared by the local children
(photo: Maximo Nivel)
Volunteer (centre) at an Andean Immersion
in Peru (photo: Maximo Nivel)
For those interested in learning another language,
Maximo Nivel’s certified “TEFL” (Teach English as a
Foreign Language) program is one of the best ways to
build on your life’s experiences by learning Spanish,
and combining learning hours with volunteering. TEFL
programs can be learned abroad, and in combination
with other volunteering projects to suit everyone’s
interests.
Volunteer abroad program fees do not include flight,
insurance, and spending money, but most often do
include airport pick-up, accommodation, meals,
orientation, tours, fun lessons, and 24/7 support.
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