Paid Volunteer Abroad Guide

Paid Volunteer AbroadA Guide to Paid Volunteer Abroad ProgramsTravellers Quest

Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction – Paid Volunteer Abroad 3

Chapter 2: Popular Paid Volunteer Abroad ProgramsThe Peace CorpVSO UN VolunteersVolunteering for International Development from Australia (AVID)European Youth VolunteeringSpecial volunteer paid volunteer abroad programThe ‘English Opens Doors’ Program – ChileThe ‘World Teach’ Program – The Marshall Islands

44556677

Chapter 3: Alternatives to Paid Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

Teach abroadThe benefits of paid teaching abroad workTeach English abroadTeach English in ChinaTeach English in South KoreaTeach English in TaiwanTeach English in JapanTeach English in other Asian countriesTeach English in the Middle EastTeach English in South AmericaCombine TEFL training with paid workShort term paid work abroad opportunitiesAu pair abroadPaid Internships abroadPaid seasonal work abroad

8899

1010111112121313141415

Chapter 4: What are the Limitations of Paid Volunteer Abroad Programs? 16

Chapter 5: Paid Work and Travel Abroad Programs 17

Chapter 6: Conclusion 18

www.travellersquest.com 3

Chapter 1: Introduction - Paid Volunteer Abroad

Are you interested in or planning to volunteer abroad? If you have checked out the program fees charged by companies who organize vol-unteer abroad placements you may have been surprised to find they range from $200-$3000 for a two week program.

On top of that did you calculate the other costs involved, like airfare, vaccinations, visa expens-es, and pocket money?

Are you worried that this level of cash invest-ment makes volunteering abroad something you can never hope to make a reality?The good news is you don’t have to let the high cost of volunteer abroad programs stop you

from making plans, as there are many paid vol-unteer abroad programs available which cover all or some of the costs involved. Plus, although not volunteer programs, there are many other options such as low cost volunteering abroad, teaching or working abroad which provide the same opportunities to travel, explore the world, and experience foreign cultures.

In this article we explore some ways you can volunteer abroad and get paid; or pursue a similar opportunity which covers some of the expenses, so your dream of volunteer travel can come true.

Photo Credit: rideindia.org


Chapter 2: Popular Paid Volunteer Abroad Programs

Photo Credit: workingabroad.com

Paid volunteer programs offer the same exciting opportunities for travel, personal growth and skill-sharing as other volunteer projects, but they also cover pretty much all your related expenses and offer a salary or living allowance on top. The catch is that particular qualifications and/or experi-ence are usually required, and competition for places can be intense.

The Peace Corps www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer

The Peace Corp is a volunteer program created in 1961 to deepen cultural understanding between Americans and citizens of other countries. This mission is achieved through the provision of techni-cal assistance which contributes to economic and social development. Around a quarter of a million Americans have served in the Peace Corps, in over 130 countries around the world.


VSO - Voluntary Services Overseas www.vsointernational.org

Since 1958 this UK based organization has been working to rid the world of poverty by providing people with a way to work together on development issues. Although it was once easy to get a place on a VSO scheme, regardless of your experience or background, since 1980 only skilled and professional applicants are considered. However, an alternative program (ICS) is in place for under-graduates who would like to get involved.

Plus points: Drawbacks:

• This is a paid volunteer abroad opportunity so return international travel costs are fully covered, along with medical and dental insurance fees.

• Volunteers receive both a modest regular living allowance to cover daily expenses, as well as a decent lump sum of cash when they complete their service term.

• Volunteers must make a long term commit-ment of 2 years, plus participate in an initial training period, which brings the total com-mitment to around 27 months.

• The screening process is very thorough and time consuming, so expect to apply at least nine months before you’d like to depart.

• Many projects only recruit volunteers with specific qualifications, educational back-grounds or experience.


• A great chance to get directly involved with community work in several areas, such as education, the environment and agriculture, while gaining experience that will boost any resume.

• Couples are welcome to apply, and all volun-teers get to choose where they go and what they do.

• An allowance –around what a local graduate would earn – is paid to volunteers to spend on things like personal toiletry items or so-cial activities.

• As VSO is a paid volunteer abroad program. food and housing costs are covered by the organization.

• Long term volunteer opportunities are re-stricted to professionals with relevant train-ing and experience.

• (Potential volunteers aged 18-25 can apply for a place on the short-term International Citizen Service (ICS) program).


UN Volunteers

UN Volunteers is the organization responsible for recruiting and placing willing helpers into devel-opment programs operated by the United Nations. Established in 1970, each year more than 7000 people participate. Around 75% of all volunteers are themselves from developing counties, some being local to the area where a project is running. This reflects the focus on promoting social, eco-nomic and cultural growth through volunteering at a grassroots level.


• 30 month placements allow volunteers to experience true immersion in a country and project, which they are carefully matched to, based on their professional experience, abilities and background.

• As UN volunteers is a paid volunteer abroad program all volunteers get a settlement allowance, and a regular living allowance which covers housing, utility charges, daily living expenses, comprehensive insurance and return airfare.

• Opportunities are limited for anyone with-out certain desirable skills or qualifications. (Currently: a university degree or equiva-lent; 2+ related work experience and a decent level of either English, Spanish or French, and personal qualities including an open mind and the ability to adapt to new situations easily).

• Although great for solo volunteers, here are fewer opportunities for those who want to bring their family along.

Volunteering for International Development from Australia (AVID)dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/avid/pages/avid.aspx

This year long government program is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents, (and New Zealanders with a Special Condition Visa) who are aged over 18 years old. Volunteers are managed by either Scope Global or Austral-ian Volunteers International, two long estab-lished organizations in the field. Participants work largely with communities in developing countries across the Indo-Pacific region. Like other paid volunteer abroad opportunities, all costs are covered, and both a living and an ac-commodation allowance are provided.

European Youth Volunteeringeuropa.eu/youth/volunteering_en

Potential volunteers located in Europe and aged 17-30 should look seriously at EVS Volunteer opportunities. Opportunities run from 2 weeks right up to a year, and cover a good range of interest areas, including culture, youth, sports, children, cultural heritage, arts, animal wel-fare, environment and development coopera-tion. Similar to other paid volunteer abroad opportunities, food, accommodation and pocket money are all provided, while travel costs may only be partially covered.


Special volunteer paid volunteer abroad program

Some volunteer schemes are funded by the government of the destination country to meet particular needs. In these paid volunteer abroad opportunities, various costs related to taking part in this kind of project are covered. In re-turn a longer term commitment is expected.

The ‘English Opens Doors’ Program – Chilewww.centrodevoluntarios.cl

The ‘English Opens Doors’ Program is a joint venture between the Chilean Ministry of Edu-cation and the United Nations Development Program. It was developed to help improve the English language skills of children, which in turn should help to speed Chile’s development in the 21st century.

Participants on this paid volunteer abroad pro-gram pay no registration or joining fees. The providers cover volunteer expenses for health insurance while in Chile, transfers between head office and placements and food/accom-modation. A small allowance is also paid. Vol-unteers must cover their own airfare, health checks and vaccinations and personal spending money.

The ‘World Teach’ Program – The Marshall Is-landswww.worldteach.org/site/c.buLRIbNOIbJ2G/b.6180033/k.A5E5/Program_Profile.htm

In operation since 2002, this Pacific island based program was developed to improve the English language levels of students at all stages of the compulsory education system.This is a challenging placement, without the creature comforts or access to supplies you may be used to, especially if placed on the outer islands. In this paid volunteer overseas program, basic housing is provided, along with return airfare from the USA, health insurance, meals, a monthly stipend to cover daily personal expens-es and full support from staff.

Photo Credit: planmygapyear.co.uk


Chapter 3: Alternatives to Paid Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

Photo Credit: www.gvi.co.uk

Teach Abroad

Though not strictly paid volunteer abroad pro-grams, there are many alternative opportunities that allow you to travel the world and explore a different culture, and get paid to do it. As an English language teacher you may also get free airfare, accommodation and visa sponsorship, and of course you’ll have free time to travel and cash to fund your plans. Teaching abroad is also a great way to build skills and strengthen your resume.

The benefits of paid teaching abroad work

There is no better way to experience authen-tic cultural immersion than to live and work as a regular person in a foreign country. This is a point future employers will often pick up on, as

it shows your strength of character and demon-strates your ability to adjust to new experiences and environments.

There’s no denying that earning a regular sal-ary makes living abroad even more rewarding. In some countries it is possible to save a good percentage each month, to pay student loans or save for the future. As many English teach-ing jobs offer perks such as free accommodation mot teachers live well by local standards, often with a decent amount of disposable income.

If money is not a driving force you may wish to teach in a developing country, combining hu-manitarian work a job paying enough to cover your expenses. Some people prefer to find a fairly well paid teaching job and save some cash each month, then at the end of their contract


they can pay for a cheap organized volunteer program anywhere in the world.

Another great benefit of teaching abroad is the opportunities this creates for both domestic and international travel. Whether you make several short trips to neighboring countries or choose to travel extensively when your job ends, you will benefit from lower priced airfares.

If you have always wanted to learn another language, or want to sharpen your existing lin-guistic abilities, being immersed in a new cul-ture makes it really easy to achieve either goal. Nothing can replace hands on practice through everyday interactions when it comes to improv-ing language proficiency.

Teach English abroad

English teaching jobs are the most popular alter-native to paid volunteer abroad programs, and in fact some companies even offer work-travel combination programs which are similar to paid

volunteer abroad programs in many aspects. If you yearn to immerse yourself in a foreign cul-ture for a year or two but need a regular income to make this a realistic prospect, then teaching English as a foreign language is a great way to make it happen.

Paid teaching in China

China provides a growing market for TEFL teach-ing, and salaries for English teacher there are rising to reflect this. Experience is not essential for jobs in large language schools, and as these are expanding fast there are always lots of va-cancies for fresh faces that are willing to learn as they go.

Language schools offer a structured environ-ment, and full workloads, with most teachers

being expected to work a 5 day week, which will probably include one weekend day. In re-turn teachers get lots of experience, a competi-tive salary, accommodation, travel allowances and often other benefits too.


• There are jobs available all around the world.

• Not all jobs require previous teaching expe-rience or teaching qualifications.

• Second language skills are not usually essen-tial, especially for entry level jobs.

• Most jobs expect you to commit to working for 6 - 12 months.

• Some jobs may involve working long hours or split shifts, which could leave you short of time and energy to enjoy the country and culture you’re living in.

• Be prepared for some pre-trip expenses, as more and more destinations now require foreign English teachers to have at least an undergraduate degree, while visa condi-tions may also need applicants to produce a (clean) national criminal record check and have this, plus their degree certificate veri-fied as genuine


Experienced teachers often find work at uni-versities, where the hours and salary are both lower, freeing up time for lucrative private tutoring or domestic travel.

Top providers:

www.teachaway.com/teach-english-chinawww.reachtoteachrecruiting.com/teach-english-in-china.htmlwww.englishfirst.com/trt/teaching-english-in-china.htmlwww.englishfirst.com/trt/teaching-english-in-china.html

Paid teaching in South Korea

College graduates often choose to teach for a year or two in South Korea to take advantage of the relatively low cost of living/taxes, and high percentage of disposable income.

Experience is not necessary for entry-level work which pays enough for the average teacher to save 30-50% of their monthly salary. Accommo-dation and air fare are generally provided.The TALK program is open to undergraduates who have completed a certain percentage of their degree. This scheme involves fewer con-tact teaching hours and access to a cultural pro-gram, and positions are generally always in rural areas, as schools there may have no funding for a native English speaking teacher.

Most language school jobs use recruiters to screen candidates. Use as many as you can and don’t be pressured into applying for every job they suggest.

Top providers:

www.seoulesl.com/sub/main.aspwww.korearecruiting.com/jobswww.worknplay.co.kr/index.php/mod/jobwww.planetesl.com/

www.asiateachingjobs.com/south-korea

Paid teaching in Taiwan

A fascinating country offering lots of great food, history and cultural adventure, Taiwan is perfect for teachers with a TEFL qualification.

Accommodation is not always provided, but rental rates are reasonable and affordable on the average teaching salary.

Cities can be quite polluted but the country-side is clean and beautiful. Motor scooters are the most popular form of transport, and many teachers choose to adopt local habits and ride themselves.

Learn more:

www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com/Teach-Eng-lish-in-Taiwan.htmlwww.esl101.com/esl-jobs/country/taiwanwww.tesall.com/feedviewer/taiwanwww.jobmonkey.com/asia/job_sources_in_tai-wan/

Paid teaching in Japan

Japan is a popular choice for both new and experienced English teachers, attracted to the rich cultural landscape and amazing food. The cost of living is fairly high, especially if living in the capital city, but the average starting salary should provide enough income for some travel adventures and a moderate social life.

It is possible to pick up extra work in Japan, whether that is through private tutoring, par time teaching, modeling, acting and so on. Many English teachers supplement their income in this way.

Most large language schools (e.g. AEON, ECC, Shane) recruit only from western countries, so check their websites for details of any inter-


views planned for your region.In the past teaching assistant posts in public schools were often the best deal around, but these days many are offered through third party ‘handlers’, and conditions or benefits have de-clined rapidly. If you are interested in ALT posi-tions do lots of research, especially on the topic of salary and vacation pay.

Learn more:

www.tefljobsinjapan.com/www.teflone.com/www.tefljobsinjapan.com/www.teflone.com/www.nova.co.jp/hd/teachinjapan/form.htmlwww.japanenglishteacher.com/www.aeonet.com/application-requirements/http://recruiting.ecc.co.jp/

Other Asian countries

Teaching in Asian countries such as Cambodia, Thailand or Laos is a great way to explore, travel and fund a fantastic cultural experience, but it is difficult to save anything on the salaries offered,

Vietnam is a better prospect for teachers who want to save a little cash each month, and with a relatively low cost of living and the freedom to teach private student in your free time it is an increasingly popular destination.

Work permits are (officially) only issued to col-lege graduates, and this rule is being enforced more than in the past. Most language schools prefer to hire teachers with a recognized TEFL qualification.

The best way to find teaching work in any of the countries mentioned here is in person, so if you can afford a return ticket and to fund yourself while job searching, you’ll have much more suc-cess.

Top providers:

www.asiateachingjobs.com/vietnamwww.teflone.com/www.eslstarter.com/teach-english-in-cambodia.phpwww.ajarn.com/recruitment/browse_jobs/www.asiateachingjobs.com/thailandwww.asiateachingjobs.com/laos

Paid teaching in the Middle-East

English teachers with previous experience and a relevant graduate degree have access to high paying tax-free jobs across the Middle-East, while newcomers to the scene are often limited to working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accommodation is usually either provided (sometimes shared) or funded via an allowance and the competitive salaries are paid tax free.In many areas of this region male applicants will find it easier to find well paid work and experience a more relaxed lifestyle than foreign female teachers will.

Top providers:

www.teachaway.com/teaching-english-saudi-arabiawww.esljobfeed.com/feedviewer/middle_eastwww.eslemployment.com/esl-jobs/middle-east/www.tefl-info.com/middle-east.aspwww.lovetefl.com/teaching-english-in-the-mid-dle-east/teaching-english-in-the-middle-east-an-opportunity-of-a-lifetime

Paid teaching in South America

Look at South American locations if you are happy earning enough to cover your daily liv-ing expenses, have some kind of social life and travel domestically or to nearby countries. Though it’s unlikely you’ll save lots of cash, your monthly salary will be enough to guarantee a comfortable lifestyle.


Top providers:

www.tesall.com/feedviewer/south_americahttp://teflsearch.com/job-results/region/south-americawww.tesol-job.com/teaching-jobs/tesol-jobs-latin-america.htmlhttp://esl.com/jobs www.lovetefl.com/teaching-english-in-latin-america/teaching-english-in-latin-america-liv-ing-la-buena-vida

Combine TEFL Training with Paid Work

Although there are English teaching positions open to completely inexperienced native Eng-lish speakers, securing a related qualification definitely opens more doors. If you’d like to get certified it makes sense to study while actually doing the job – especially as demonstrating your new skills in the classroom is often a part of the process anyhow.

There are lots of companies around who offer either TEFL training followed by a guaranteed job, or run the course alongside the work place-ment.

Top providers:

www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/esl/index.shtmlwww.workingabroad.com/tefl-teaching/gotefl-thailandwww.englishfirst.com/trt/gudlp/free-TEFL-cer-tification-ts.htmlwww.realgap.co.uk/china-paid-teaching-with-teflwww.eslstarter.com/teach-english-in-vietnam.php

Short Term Paid Work Abroad OpportunitiesAs an alternative to paid volunteer abroad programs, you can consider short tem paid work abroad programs. If you are interested in spend-ing some time abroad, want the opportunity

to really immerse yourself in the language or culture, and also want or need to cover your expenses the best solution is to explore short term paid work options. These jobs may be tem-porary or seasonal but they offer you the unique chance to truly experience another country in


a way tourists cannot, along with practical experience to boost your resume and enough cash to cover your living expenses.

Au Pair AbroadIf you are reliable, love children, find it easy to adapt to living with other people and have a sense of adventure this is a great option to consider. Working as an au pair abroad involves making a short term commitment to care for a family’s young children, and in some cases to do some light household chores. Au pairs work part time, leaving plenty of opportunity to go sightseeing, learn the host country’s language – independently or in a language school, or pursue any other interests you may have.

Top providers:

www.interexchange.org/working-abroadwww.aupairworld.com/enwww.findaupair.com


• There are thousands of positions available around the world, and specifically across Eu-rope. This is great news for non-EU citizens - who have fewer opportunities to combine work and travel in that region.

• Au pairs are provided with a private bed-room and all meals, along with a monthly salary which could range from 75 – 450 Eu-ros, depending on the country, and the hours they are contracted to work.

• Both long and short term au pair positions are available, so there’s lots of choice and flexibility out there. From a few weeks to several months – you get to decide where and how long for you work.

• Entry level jobs – open to applicants without childcare experience and/or qualifications are harder to find, and pay lower salaries.

• If you choose to find work through a special-ist recruitment agency you’ll need to budget for the cost of their services – which include thorough checks on host families and sup-port throughout your employment term.


www.aupairinamerica.com/www.aupair.com/

Paid Internships Abroad| Paid internships abroad can be a great alternative to paid volunteer overseas program. If you have

a clear vision about your future career path, and like the idea of getting some direct experience in an international setting, then a paid internship offers the best of all worlds. Live abroad while gaining hands-on work experience and a salary to boot.Top providers:

www.allianceabroad.com/work-in-australia/work-australiawww.kone.com/en/careers/students-and-graduates/international-trainee-program/www.oneworld365.org/activity/internship

Paid Seasonal Work

Unlike paid volunteer overseas program, you will actually work on paid seasonal work program. Bartending at a tropical beach resort, running an activity program for children, picking fruit and working at a stunning ski destination – these are just a few of the fun seasonal work opportunities available around the world.

Applicants with proven experience and/or qualifications in areas like childcare, cooking or sport have more choices, but there are less financially lucrative jobs available to unskilled workers too.

Top providers:

www.anyworkanywhere.com/jobguides.htmlwww.seasonworkers.com/summerjobs/summer-resort-jobs.aspxwww.oysterworldwide.com/projects/paid-work/www.oneworld365.org/activity/jobs


• Internships abroad provide a unique oppor-tunity to gain practical experience and make valuable contacts without losing out finan-cially.

• Interns, who may be either under or post-graduate, are generally given an allowance which is more than competitive within the local economy.

• Places on paid internship abroad schemes are very popular, so be prepared to fight off a lot of competition.

• Internships are often restricted to applicants with a high-achieving educational record.

• Compared to volunteer abroad programs, paid internships usually have longer working hours and a more demanding workload.



• There are lots of jobs offering decent rates of pay, and many also offer related perks such as free food and accommodation, a ski pass or access to leisure facilities.

• Seasonal work is often available in regions like Europe, where volunteer opportunities are often thin on the ground.

• Seasonal workers are generally expected to work hard for several days a week, so time off may be limited or non-existent.

• While accommodation and food will proba-bly be provided it is likely to be fairly basic.

• There are fewer opportunities for workers without any particular skills to offer.

Photo Credit: yearoutgroup.org


Chapter 4: What are the limitations of paid volunteer abroadprograms?

Photo Credit: frontier.ac.uk

Although these paid programs offer lots of amazing opportunities and benefits, they are not without their drawbacks.

When you volunteer abroad and get paid you may not feel you are participating in truly humanitarian work in the way you would if you were unpaid.

Some paid volunteer abroad programs require certain qualifications, a fairly long term com-mitment, and sometimes several screening processes. This may mean your choices are more limited than if you were looking for unpaid op-tions.

The fact that you can volunteer abroad and get paid sounds exciting, but not all opportunities

pay very much, or cover all expenses, so be prepared to either contribute to the expenses in some cases. On a paid volunteer abroad program your prima-ry commitment is to the work project you join, which may mean you have less time to travel around the country in your free time.

TEFL teaching can be quite a challenging experi-ence, often because communication is not easy without a shared language. Experiencing culture shock while adjusting to a job with the extra responsibilities a paid volunteer abroad commit-ment brings can be a little stressful.


Chapter 5: Paid Work and Travel Abroad Programs

Photo Credit: www.projects-abroad.org

One of the most cost effective ways to see the world on a budget is to combine paid work and travel. Those eligible for a working holiday visa can choose to seek casual work in several des-tinations, or, if a more structured experience is preferred there are work-travel abroad organi-zations who can arrange paid employment for you ahead of time.

In between periods of work and travel there is usually time to join a local volunteer organiza-tion, if that is something you want to try, with-out the expense of a long term program.

Working holiday visa rules differ depending on your nationality, but in general applicants need to provide evidence of having enough cash to fund the trip, so it’s not an option to those with

absolutely no cash at all.

Top providers

www.smallerearth.com/uk/work-abroad/www.backdoorjobs.com/adventureabroad.htmlwww.backdoorjobs.com/adventureabroad.html


Chapter 6: Conclusion

Photo Credit: realgap.co.uk

Now you have lots of information and leads on ways to get paid for volunteering abroad you should be able to find a great option that suits your needs, lifestyle and wallet! And if there are no perfect all expenses covered volunteer schemes available there are plenty of other things you can do that provide a volunteer like service to others, without leaving you out of pocket.

The most important message to take away from this book is that there will always be a way to get paid to volunteer abroad, regardless of your financial situation.

Have you already completed a paid volunteer abroad program? If so, let us know which one and what you thought of it. Your views and experiences will help others looking to make a similar decision.


This free eBook is just written to help volunteers. So please use this book just as a general reference or source

of information. We cannot guarantee the validity of information as changes in the field can be sudden. As it is

impossible to provide a definite or authoritative guide it is vital you verify information directly with a relevant

and up to date source. We cannot be held liable in any way for damages caused should you choose to overlook

this advice.

Paid Volunteer Abroad Guide

Travel

Transcript of Paid Volunteer Abroad Guide