How to Provide REAL Relief When You Volunteer in Refugee Camps

Why volunteer with refugees abroad? The world is experiencing the highest level of displaced people on record. The words “refugee crisis” have been said so many time that they almost have become banal. As of June 2018, 6.8 million people have been forcibly displaced around the world. These populations are facing persecution, war, or violence in their homes, and the prospects of them returning soon are looking grim. 

Relief efforts are often underfunded. The need is increasing, and organizations are scrambling to keep up. In 2014-2015, the United Nations received a little over half the funds they needed to manage the international refugee crisis. This means that now more than ever, relief organizations need people to volunteer with refugees abroad. 

It can overwhelming to learn about the tragic conflicts that have divided families, nations, and our world. However, you have the opportunity to volunteer to help refugees—and even volunteer in refugee camps. While you can't begin to imagine the plight of a refugee, when you volunteer abroad, you’ll get the chance to achieve a better understanding of what life is like for refugees. With the right skills, time, and emotional stability, you can get involved with refugee volunteer programs that are committed to making a real difference. 

Read on to learn how to provide REAL relief when you volunteer in refugee camps.

Key things to consider with refugee volunteer abroad

If you want to volunteer to help refugees, you should take a minute to mull it over—it isn’t a decision you should make on a whim. It’s a huge commitment that requires time, money, and an emotional commitment to the project. It also helps if you have a skill set that is needed. Many volunteers can make things more difficult by showing up without the skills and resources they need to support themselves, so it’s important to figure out what you can actually offer. Do you have legal knowledge? That’s always helpful. Speak the language? Translators are needed across the globe. There is also a need for medical aid, counseling, teaching, and manual labor. 

If you realize that you’re unable to volunteer with refugees abroad, you can still help but making a donation to organizations that provide aid. Places like the International Refugee Assistance Project in the U.S., for example, helps provide legal help to refugees who need it. Your donation might be more worthwhile than you realize.You can also donate to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, an organization that that is devoted providing refugees with the services they need. 

5 places in need of refugee volunteers abroad

1. Ghana

In 2017, Ghana took in 13,500 refugees. People have been seeking asylum in Ghana since 1989, when the Liberian civil war drove people out of their home country. There are also large populations that fled Coted'voire when hostilities shook the country in 2010 after the presidential election. 

Because of continual civil unrest in other parts of Africa, populations are continually migrating to find safety. Now, there are many opportunities to volunteer in refugee camps in Ghana. Settlements established in the late 90’s are still taking in people from DRC, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Chad, and Coted'voire. 

• Services needed: Medical, Teaching, Labor
• Recommended program to help: Love Volunteers 
• See all refugee volunteer programs in Ghana

2. Spain

You can volunteer to help refugees from around the world if you decide to go to Spain. People are coming to Spain in masses across the Mediterranean Sea from Northern Africa. The risky journey across the Strait of Gibraltar hasn’t deterred thousands of people attempting to cross on paddle boat, jet skis, and inflatable rafts. In Morocco, protests against unkept promises by the monarchy have led to dangerous situations. People are fleeing the country where their lives are in peril and their rights are being ignored. 

The need for refugee volunteer work in Spain has gone up, as the refugee population has grown significantly. In 2018, the International Organization for Migration saw the highest influx yet, with 6,990 new arrivals in 2018. The majority of people ending up in refugee camps are from Western Africa, Sub Saharan africa, and Syria. Don't just talk about it—actually participate in refugee volunteering. You're guaranteed a humbling experience, and a chance to actually make a difference in someone’s life.

• Services needed: Teaching, Translation
• Recommended program to help: Global Works
• See all refugee volunteer programs in Spain

3. Italy

Italy is experiencing an increasing need for people to volunteer in refugee camps. In 2018, most European countries have begun to slow down refugee migrations. However, Italy (and Spain) received significantly more than in previous years. People are being forced out of their homes and into the category of refugee. Volunteering with these people is a way to support another human, who may have been living a life not unlike your own, find a little normalcy in the chaos. 

In 2018, Tunisian nationals were the largest population in refugee camps, comprising 20% of the total population. Remnants of the 2011 Arab Spring continue to elicit violent protests, as citizens revolt against corruption, unemployment, and the weakened economy. Italy is taking in thousands of these people, making it the perfect place to volunteer with refugees abroad. 

• Services needed: Legal, Teaching, Translation
• Recommended program to help: United Planet
• See all refugee volunteer programs in Italy

4. Nepal

Almost 20,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal after being expelled from Bhutan over 20 years ago. The government at the time forced out thousands of ethnic Nepalese from the country, the UNHCR calling the campaign an ethnic cleansing.  

There is a bright side, though. Eighty percent of the refugees have been resettled in third country, making it one of the most successful resettlement programs UNHCR has headed. However, the remaining population is still in need. Volunteering to help refugees in Nepal is a worthy cause. 

Refugees in Nepal need medical help, teaching, and general labor assistance. As a refugee volunteer abroad, you can begin to help people transition into a better life. There are also populations of internally displaced people from natural disasters, namely the devastating earthquake of 2015. Projects to help rebuild schools, housing, and provide medical outreach have sprung up to support those in need.

• Services needed: Medical, Teaching, Labor
• Recommended program to help: Projects Abroad
• See all refugee volunteer programs in Nepal

5. Greece

Greece has been a top European destination for refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria since 2011; over a third of the migrants were Syrian nationals in 2018. Thousands of people streamed into Greece daily in 2015, which hit the country hard. Camps were often in dire conditions, and refugees struggled to obtain basic amenities to sustain themselves. With so much need for help, volunteering to help refugees in Greece is perfect for a jack of all trades. 

If you are looking for a rewarding service project, volunteer in refugee camps in Greece. Today, Greece has become “a holding pen" for 50,000+ refugees, because they’re unable to travel deeper into Europe. That means that the country is constantly in need of people able to dedicate themselves to refugee volunteer work. 

• Services needed: Medical, Teaching, Translation
• Recommended program to help: Involvement Volunteers International 
• See all refugee volunteer programs in Greece

[Explore ALL Refugee Relief Programs Abroad]

Next steps to volunteering to help refugees

Now that you’re more aware and ready to provide REAL relief as a volunteer in refugee camps, it’s time to carve out time to complete the next steps. Choosing an organization to support isn't as hard as it sounds, especially if you follow this process:

• Assess your skills. And whether or not it might be more impactful for you to donate money to organizations already on-the-ground doing work or if you can offer a specialization that’s in need. Got it?
• Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should become a refugee volunteer abroad is paramount. Have a short list of locations that would benefit from your trade, skills, prior experience, etc.
• Choose from the most reliable refugee volunteer organizations out there. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, location, and how the project's needs match what you bring to the table. Some programs may even share contact info for past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right volunteer program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Be sure to raise a little extra money to donate to the organization that you'll be working with. Earn some extra to donate directly to the cause. Learning how to fund your volunteer abroad trip is essential prior to your travels!
• Get prepared! Preparing to volunteer abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for. 

You’re ready for refugee volunteer work 

Become a refugee volunteer abroad. Less talk, more ACTION.

A shocking 44,400 people are forced out of their homes every day, and the need for help has never been more important. If you are willing and able to volunteer your time, energy, and skills to refugee volunteer work, there are countless programs looking for volunteers like you. And if you want to help but can’t afford to, a small donation can still make a difference—just $20 could provide fleece blankets to keep 2 refugees warm at night. 

It's hard to imagine what it's like to be a refugee. Volunteering can give you a better sense, but it will still shield you from the utter pain and frustration these lost souls are forced to grapple with every. single. day.

It can be overwhelming to learn about the war-torn countries and ethnic violence happening around the world. But that doesn’t mean you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.Get involved! When you volunteer with refugees abroad, you will make a difference. You don’t need to achieve world peace single-handedly to change someone's’ life. 

Get Matched with 5 Refugee Volunteer Programs Abroad for FREE