Make a difference in the lives of others
Learn the 411 on humanitarian trips for all ages—youth, college students, teens, high school students, the whole family, and more.
For some folks living for themselves is just enough. And then there are those of us who know life is much bigger than our little bubbles. We read about challenges oceans away and feel compelled to do something—to act. If these feelings sound familiar, then a humanitarian trip is the move you need to make.
So what are volunteer / humanitarian trips all about? They’re a powerful way to fuse travel and volunteer work to help improve a challenging socioeconomic situation abroad. From natural disaster relief to molding the future leaders of tomorrow, there are plenty of fulfilling ways to get involved with humanitarian work. As you finalize your decision to go on a humanitarian trip, you’ll want to think about your volunteering interests and what culture you’d like to explore. The organization you decide to volunteer with also deserves mucho consideration!
Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don’t worry. We’re breaking everything you need to know about humanitarian trips down just below.
FAQs on humanitarian trips
Who can take them?
The awesome thing about humanitarian trips is that just about anyone can take one. Humanitarian trips for youth, humanitarian trips for high school students...you’ll find plenty of tailor made trips for people of all ages and backgrounds. There are humanitarian trips for teens looking for a truly meaningful way to complete community service (because stacking books in the library is a big yawn). Humanitarian trips for college students can provide young adults with a way to gain experience in a field while giving back to a worthy cause.
These projects give students a grassroots view of the ins and outs of humanitarian crises which is valuable in just about every industry. Or maybe you’re sprung from an entire family of do-gooders. There are even family humanitarian trips that you, mom, dad and big sis can sign up for and complete together. As a team, family humanitarian trips practically guarantee you’ll make double or quadruple the impact! One more thing! Don’t get caught up thinking you need to fit the stereotypical aid worker profile. When it comes to volunteering abroad, everyone has something to offer.
Medical humanitarian trips could mean more clean drinking water for more people.
Where can you go?
Humanitarian trips are all over the globe. Looking to teach children in Latin America? Start researching humanitarian trips to Cuba. Are you a teen whose drawn to Brazilian culture? Look into humanitarian trips for teens in South America. Just about any place you can think of will have a space for you and a need to fill.
[Browse Dozens of Volunteer Abroad Destinations]
South Africa. Just twenty-five years ago South Africa was emerging from the throngs of apartheid. So it’s no wonder the country is still reeling from the effects of its colonial past. South Africa faces a very wide income inequality gap as well as challenges in poverty, crime, women and children’s rights, HIV, drug addiction, high unemployment, and more. And yet despite those ills, incredibly diverse and beautiful South African cultures thrive, complete with a rich history. It’s why South Africa is one of the most popular places for humanitarian trips to Africa. Volunteers will find opportunities to lend assistance across many sectors all over the country. To make the experience even more special, visit a center like Joburg’s apartheid museum for a deeper understanding of Mzanzi’s historical landscape.
Uganda. Yearning for even more exciting humanitarian trips to Africa? In Uganda, you can help out with humanitarian work during the day and catch a sight of the big five after hours. On humanitarian trips in Uganda, volunteers could be stationed in the capital city of Kampala or in the rural communities, where most of the country’s population lives. Humanitarian projects exist in education, health awareness, animal conservation and more. The needs in Uganda are many, your personal rewards you’ll on a humanitarian trip in Uganda will likely be even more. Before you leave, squeeze in a visit to see the famed mountain gorillas. Or, for a more cultural experience, stop by the Igongo Cultural Centre for a walk through south western Ugandan history!
Thailand. It’s easy to chalk Thailand up to gorgeous beaches and delicious foods. However, beyond the tourist attractions the country is facing real socio economic problems. Issues like poverty, high youth unemployment, and in some pockets, political violence, means there’s plenty of humanitarian work to be done. Thai humanitarian projects span from refugee assistance to conservationism and teaching English. And humanitarian trip programs exist all over the country. So whether you’re volunteering in a tropical rainforest or bustling Bangkok, humanitarian trips in Thailand are some of the best opportunities to give back.
India. In a country exploding with over a billion people, humanitarian work volunteers in India will have no trouble finding work to do. Each corner of India offers a vast array of service projects and cultural experiences. While Delhi is a popular location for humanitarian volunteers, projects exist all around the country. Common humanitarian work fields available in include teaching, dentistry or general medical, community development, and women’s empowerment volunteering. Humanitarian trips for youth development are also available.
Unwrapping privilege while giving back and having an adventure is a tall order that’s worth every step of the journey.
Is it responsible tourism?
Now, you may have noticed that we’ve highlighted a lot of ways humanitarian trips can benefit volunteers. Well, because of that there has been debate about the effectiveness of humanitarian trips. For starters, shorter term volunteer trips can have little impact because realistically, two weeks in a country can only achieve but so much. A constant rotation of short term volunteers can even disrupt the flow of development projects in-country. Now pair that with the fact that volunteers generally have to pay humanitarian work organizations to participate. Humanitarian trips can quickly start looking like they’re more about the volunteer’s travel experience than the actual impact. The truth is, it's totally fine for volunteers to get something out of their experience, as long as reciprocity is weaved into the project.
[Find Out Which Volunteer Projects Have the Most Need This Year]
Other critics say “voluntourism” can instill a sort of paternalistic condescension. Translation: foreigners thinking they know more about how to fix problems than locals do. This is why applying to organizations with cultural sensitivity training ingrained is always a win.
While at first glance, many humanitarian trip organizations may sound like they’re doing wonderful things for needy communities abroad, its crucial for volunteers to vet organizations properly. Projects without a proven track record of results in-country or that don’t hire local staff are red flags. So when you’re applying to humanitarian work programs, keep an eye out for the most transparent and effective organizations. A good program can ensure that even a short term humanitarian trip has sustainable results. You can vet programs by reading program reviews and by looking for actual long term impact.
Are humanitarian trips expensive?
Family humanitarian trips are a great way to expose your youngins’ to more cultures around the world.
The costs of humanitarian trips depends on several factors: where you’re heading, how long you’re planning to stay, and even the type of volunteer program you apply to. Countries with lower costs of living tend to have lower humanitarian work program fees. For example, with Vina Volunteer you could do agricultural development work in Vietnam for two weeks for less than $600 (not including roundtrip airfare but this is still a steal!)! Or, you could volunteer with children in Costa Rica for the same amount of time with GVI for $2245 per week (flights not included here either).
Whatever you do, don’t let higher price tags get you down. Many humanitarian volunteers find crafty ways to raise the money. Fundraising is one popular option in which you explain your humanitarian goals to friends, family, and professional contacts and ask them to donate to your travel plans. You can also get a part-time and start saving up or apply to volunteer abroad scholarships (yes, they do exist!).
How safe are humanitarian trips?
This depends on where you’re going and what you’re up for. Now’s the time to get clear about how deep into a challenging situation you’re comfortable going. If you’re dead set on volunteering in a warzone (we don’t recommended humanitarian trips for high school students in these spots!), then honestly, it’s not going to be the safest environment. On the other end, even the world’s most safe countries have pockets of very real poverty. Expectation management is also important here. Why?
[More Safety Tips for Volunteering Abroad]
Because in general, the places in the world that need the most help aren’t in the most comfortable or safe communities. No matter where you’re going, sign up with a humanitarian work organization with a structured safety and emergency plan. Simple protocol and heeding the advice of program staff is what keeps the majority of humanitarian volunteers safe abroad.
5 awesome short term volunteer trips abroad
1. International Volunteer HQ
These guys have over programs in over 40 countries around the world for volunteers from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds. Looking to volunteer in construction and renovation? Or what about special needs center or old age home abroad? Whatever your humanitarian interests, with your personal GVI volunteer travel expert, you be fully supported throughout your application period and on the ground as a volunteer.
- Where? 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Pacific.
- More info: Read International Volunteer HQ reviews
2. Projects Abroad
Ready to join a legion of over 10,000 volunteers and 425 humanitarian work programs? With Projects Abroad, you’ll be trained by a combo of in-country staff and seasoned former volunteers. The organization’s values include “changing individuals and communities”, “transforming through travel”, and “building meaningful connections”. Good stuff! And, if you’re looking for flexible options, projects abroad has programs for volunteers for tweens to the over 50 crowd, along with team trips options designed to help you tackle a goal paired with friends or relatives.
- Where? 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and The Caribbean, and the South Pacific.
- More info: Read Projects Abroad reviews
3. Maximo Nivel
If you have a passion for Latin American culture and want to make a difference in the lives of others, consider Maximo Nivel. They specialize in programs in the region, offering humanitarian trips in Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala (keep researching if you’re looking for those ever so popular humanitarian trips to Cuba packages!). Volunteers can work with children, teach English, help out in health centers or construction sites and more. Aside from their self-described affordable yet transparent programs, you’ll have the opportunity to learn Spanish during your project too. Want to receive college credit? Maximo’s School of Record will allow you to earn.
- Where? Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala
- More info: Read Maximo Nivel reviews
4. Global Dental Relief
In some parts of the world, even dental care is not a guarantee. However, on a humanitarian trip with Global Dental Relief, you can bring much needed dental care to children in Nepal or brighten the smiles of kids in Cambodia. This program offers fantastic humanitarian trips for college students which equal a priceless experience for anyone studying dentistry. During your free time, you'll have sightseeing opportunities to explore spots like Katmandu or the Maasai Mara. While volunteers with skills and passion for dental outreach are preferred for dental outreach work, the program has space for non-dental volunteers to help out too.
- Where? Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nepal, Cambodia
- More info: Read Global Dental Relief reviews
5. Cross-Cultural Solutions
This program has a quarter century of experience in childhood development. Even better? A key aspect of their humanitarian trips is that they’re in partnership with in-country locals. They have volunteers work in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Back in 2003, CCS was even granted consultative status by the UN. Basically, CCS has the sustainable volunteering game on lock! They offer volunteer programs around the world in everything from internships, gap year programs, and high school and group humanitarian trips.
- Where? Greece, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, Morocco, Peru, and Thailand.
- More info: Read CCS Reviews
Take your first humanitarian trip!
Now’s your time to give back.
Picked a program and a locale? Here’s a few things you can do before departure to help ensure your humanitarian trip will be as impactful as possible. Read in-country newspapers and blogs. This will give you even more of a feel for the socio economic challenges in the country. You’ll gain insight that will undoubtedly aid in your effectiveness on the ground. Another tip? Start learning the local language! You won’t have to be fluent, but the more you know the better you’ll connect with the people you’re there to help.
Alright, are you ready to embark on this epic journey? Humanitarian trips are often filled with emotional extremes. Some days you’ll feel like a proud papa when you look at the work you’ve contributed. Other days, you may feel like your project is hopeless. Embrace the rollercoaster but lean toward to the positivity. Once you’re abroad, you’ll probably start to redefine your definition of success and learn to appreciate the smaller wins. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and apply to humanitarian trips overseas now!
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