What's included when I volunteer Overseas?

Details
Hits: 32815

You can choose to volunteer and teach abroad, support wildlife conservation or marine conservation, participate in building/construction/painting volunteer work, or provide support to staff within orphanages, ABV has volunteer opportunities to suit all skills and motivations sets. If you’re studying a career in medicine or nursing or dental or EMT, or if you’re a qualified healthcare professional, there are a wide range of medical volunteer abroad opportunities to suit all levels of experience and specialities. Search our safe, affordable volunteer programs below to find a program best suited for your.

Accommodation & Food

Local host families/guesthouses have been handpicked by ABV local staff. Depending on the program 2, or 3 meals a day are provided. Housing for couples, and small groups can be arranged together.

Airport pick up & drop off

Our staff will be waiting in the arrivals area when you land in-country. At the end of the program you will be provided transportation back to the airport (or ferry/bus station)

In-country orientation with staff on arrival

Our staff will help you get acclimated when you arrive. They will escort you to your host family, help you exchange money, buy or rent a cell phone, get you acclimated to using local buses and taxi. Staff will go with you to your placement, and offer support and supervision during your ABV program.

24/7 support from our local staff and US staff

Staff are available 24/7. Emergency contact information is provided to each volunteer. Staff are responsible for your wellbeing, and work as a liaison with the local project, local housing, and also in daily contact with the USA staff.

Customized profile page MYABVProject

Volunteers get access to their own custom profile page which offers a plethora of pre-trip information. Volunteers can keep track of their payment and fundraising efforts and update their profiles with flight details, passport information and travel insurance.

Pre-departure support by phone, email and written orientation guides

To ensure volunteers are ready for their undertaking we provide packing lists, advice about visa and vaccination information, details about accommodations and program specifics. Staff offers flight advice and suggestions, as well as fundraising letters and information to pay for their trip.

Program Acknowledgment/Verification

Upon completion of the ABV program participants receive an ABV volunteer diploma, a letter of verification of service hours and Presidential Award recognition. Some locations will provide a diploma upon request while in country (hospitals, clinics, Schools, orphanages)

What's not Included

  • Flights
  • Visa expenses (if it’s required)
  • Internet and Laundry (paid in advance to the host family)
  • Special meals (Gluten free, extra portions, sodas, snacks)
  • Daily transport to/from the project
  • Travel/Medical insurance - ABV partners with an internationally recognized travel protection & discount card available exclusively for non profit organizations.
  • Coverage costs approximately US$56 Information is provide in your ABV profile and orientation materials.

Volunteer Information

Volunteer Schedule

Day One: Our local coordinator/staff will give you an orientation and will accompany you to your program. You will be shown how to manage the commute (bus, taxi, walking). You will be introduced to the site director and discuss your role at the project. Volunteers typically work a morning and an afternoon shift each lasting about 3-5 hours.

Weekdays: A typical volunteer day is as follows:

  • 7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house/homestay.
  • 8:00 AM Volunteers depart, and travel to their project site.
  • 8:30 AM to 13:00 PM Volunteer work and a lunch break.
  • 14:00 PM to 17:00 PM Spanish lessons or afternoon volunteer work.
  • 18:30-19:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house/homestay.

Note: This is an example schedule. Volunteer work hours can vary depending on the program and the location.

Evenings: For peace of mind and to ensure the well-being of our volunteers, a nightly curfew of 21:30PM is in place from Sunday to Thursday. Curfew is set at 12:00AM for Friday and Saturday. (All volunteers must comply with their home country’s legal drinking age).

Communication While Overseas

Volunteers have several ways to stay in touch with their family/friends back home and with the ABV local staff while they are overseas. All city/urban program locations have access to internet/cyber cafes which typically charge hourly rates ($1-$2). The majority of ABV guesthouses, homestays have WIFI access (fees apply), and have land line telephone numbers. Even rural program locations have mobile phone service, and small towns nearby with internet facilities. All ABV staff use mobile phones to stay in contact with their volunteers.

Before traveling volunteers should contact their mobile phone provider and ask about international call/texting plans. Volunteers should consider buying a portable wifi device (especially in rural locations). If planning on traveling with your own mobile phone volunteers should look at apps like Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp to stay connected through messenger or short calls home. Volunteers can rent a wireless phone or buy a cheap throwaway phone once they arrive in-country. In some locations you can do that for less than $50. In fact, your regular carrier may even offer overseas rentals. ABV local staff will assist you and show you where to purchase SIM cards.

Once you arrive in-country and settled in, our ABV staff will help you contact home to let someone know you arrived safely. All volunteers are also given an emergency phone number on their Volunteer Guide/summary, which is available 24/7 to contact ABV staff.

When can I travel?

Easy. Choose the dates that work best for you. Although some programs have date restrictions the majority of our volunteer programs are available year round. Volunteers select their own program start date and complete an online application. Once you have been accepted and dates approved, ABV will ask you to confirm your registration by paying a us$120 included in the overall fee.

Money Matters

A Broader View Volunteers work tirelessly year round to support our volunteers, and also to serve the local communities where ABV projects are based. As a tax-exempt 501 c(3) organization A Broader View receive 100% of our funding from volunteer contributions. Through your program fee contribution our non-profit charity organization can operate beneficial humanitarian aid programs which are successful and continuous supported year round.

Local, professional full-time coordinators, placement logistics, airport pick up and departure transportation, arrival orientation, food & local accommodations, are a major part of providing a safe, meaningful volunteer experience. When you join A Broader View, you will receive pre-trip visa and vaccination support, assistance with flights, fundraising planning, through our interactive online volunteer portal. Our local partners not only benefit from volunteers valuable contributions at the project, they benefit financially with year-round monetary support from A Broader View. In the last decade A Broader View has donated over 3.5 million dollars in international aid.

By joining A Broader View you are not only helping to make a difference during your own trip, your impact will last even after you go home.