For most people, a volunteer abroad placement is something they embark on solo or with a close friend to fit in with their individual work or study schedules. But with some careful planning, a group volunteer trip can offer some great benefits and a real sense of camaraderie as you work alongside friends, family and colleagues to achieve a common goal. Most volunteer abroad organizations are more than happy to plan group trips, based on the destination and project of your choice. They will even help to plan logistics above and beyond their usual role, including group sightseeing excursion ..read more

Wanderlust. Travel addiction. Whatever you want to call it, once you have the travel bug, it’s incredibly hard to shake! It can lead to hours researching your travel “bucket list” destinations and saving every last penny for your next trip. You become attracted to other people who you can share travel stories with and get addicted to documentaries filmed in far-flung corners of the globe. But unlike most addictions, the travel bug can actually be a good thing and spur you to see more of the world than you ever imagined possible. Yes, it may drain your money resources that could ..read more

Helping others is the first step in making the world a better place and improving the lives of those who aren’t as lucky as you. But it’s also shown to bring about a wealth of benefits for those who choose to help and might just be the key to happiness! Studies in recent years on the impacts of volunteering have shown a range of physical and psychological benefits that result from helping others, without needing any trips to the doctor. It helps to create stronger communities that are concerned with the well-being of each and every individual as you work towards a happier society for all. It m ..read more

It’s hard to argue with the wisdom of Gandhi, the Dalai Lama or Martin Luther King, Jr. who know a thing or two about making the world a better place. These are just a few of the global leaders who’ve had a favorable word to say about volunteering and serving others. If you’re in need of inspiration to take your first steps as a volunteer or affirmation that giving back is a great thing to do, we’ve selected seven of the most powerful volunteer quotes to motivate you. “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make y ..read more

When you start searching for volunteer abroad placements, it can be difficult to know where to go. There are projects in so many destinations around the globe, so how do you decide where your efforts are needed most and what countries are going to offer the most exciting experiences outside of volunteering? To help you plan, we’ve come up with some of the best places to volunteer, combining worthy humanitarian projects with captivating in-country attractions. Haiti Occupying the western part of Hispaniola Island, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean region and has been devas ..read more

There is ongoing research into the way we learn and retain information, whether it’s as children, students or adults. Older methods of rote learning have been replaced by critical thinking models and active engagement between teachers and students is now the norm. But one of the most interesting and engaging ways we can learn (at any stage of life) is through service learning. It gets students outside of the classroom into real-world situations where their problem-solving skills, ideas and traditional beliefs are put to the test. What is service learning? Combining community service with learn ..read more

Why is volunteering important? When you look at the reasons why volunteering is important, it’s not only about the impacts we can make in the lives of those less fortunate but the role it can play in making us more tolerant individuals and giving towards the global community. Each of us should be willing to offer our own time and expect nothing in return. But the truth is that volunteering will bring a world of rewards you might never have expected. So exactly why is volunteering important? The benefits of volunteering are well documented, from the positive impacts on affected communities to t ..read more

Gone are the days when businesses can do whatever they like and consumers will keep buying. With the rise of social media, corporations and businesses that abuse the environment, their workers or society at large are being called out and held accountable for their actions. Enter corporate social responsibility. Consumers today aren’t just looking for products or services at the lowest prices or highest quality. Many want to know that their money is being used in a responsible manner and to address social or environmental issues that matter to them….and companies are listening! Corporate social ..read more

Anyone who watches the nightly news on a regular basis or follows current events through social media will know that not everyone in the world is living a happy and safe existence. War is forcing millions to flee their homes as refugees, famine is affecting countless communities and natural disasters are leaving the poorest and most vulnerable with nothing. It can be overwhelming to witness (even through media reports) and many are left feeling helpless that whatever they can do is not enough to change the world. But this isn’t the case, as each and every one of us can make a difference throug ..read more

Through cultural immersion, we discover that our own societal values and norms are just a tiny glimpse of the huge diversity that exists, and the way humans choose to live their lives contrasts dramatically across the globe. The benefits of taking the plunge and stepping into a new community are far reaching, from the opportunity to learn new languages and taste new foods, to uncovering the key ingredients to happiness and well-being. Cultural immersion also helps put your own life in perspective and creates more compassionate individuals, something that is essential in the world we live in to ..read more