Although volunteer placements in Asia span a diverse range of projects and focus areas, the following placements are some of the most common in the region.

Education. Due to the often limited resources and educational structure throughout many nations in Asia, education becomes a top priority for many volunteer programs. Teaching English in Asia is by far the most popular placement within the field of education, with opportunities to teach both children and adults. Teaching in Asia often goes beyond just educating individuals in low-income or rural areas, by providing education in local communities volunteers will also help empower their students. If you happen to know a foreign language you will have even more opportunities to teach in Asia, as your options may include teaching subjects other than English.

Medicine & Healthcare. In many rural regions of Asia, health care systems are very limited. In some nations, the expanse of land encompassed by one hospital or medical facility is simply insufficient to provide sufficient care for the local people, or the facility lacks the needed funding and technology to appropriately treat patients. Individuals who volunteer in healthcare can help offset this disparity by acting as another set of hands and assisting local medical professionals. Volunteer programs in maternal and child health, for example, aim to provide essential services to new mothers and young children to help ensure adequate child development and general well-being. Healthcare volunteers are also often tasked with educating parents on appropriate childcare techniques to promote the health of themselves as well as their children.

Human Trafficking. Human trafficking throughout Asia has been a serious issue for decades. Individuals who volunteer in Asia in human trafficking placements may work in a variety of roles to assist victims of sexual exploitation, who are most often young girls and women. Volunteer organizations in Asia that help combat the effects of human trafficking typically provide shelter, food, and education to help rehabilitate victims and empower them to rebuild their lives.