Ecoteer volunteers use their volunteering to start a career

As a small boy Nick Hogervorst(20) from Holland loved to watch wildlife documentaries on the Discovery channel. Especially Africa drew his attention. When he got older he really went for the adventure. A three months trip to south Africa, an amazing experience. Now back in Holland he shakes up the world. Be careful with nature!

“Most of my toys were plastic wild animals or stuffed animals”, is what he remembers. “ and besides my uncle had a dairy farm where I often stayed in the holidays and helped out. I think this is where my passion for animals developed.”

After High school Nick started a study to become a veterinary assistant. the plan was to study further and become a vet. But after a while the study started to bore him so it appeared not to be the right choice. “I needed to get out and do something completely different”

“With my mum I stated to look at travel agencies. I always wanted to experience Africa. After a few weeks we found the perfect organization with amazing projects. After a intensive preparation I went to Hoedspruit, South Africa. Where I had the best 12 weeks of my life! I got the chance to help raising lion cups and rhino baby’s, caring for a cheetah cup. Training vultures and lots more. Also I achieved my FGASA level 1. That is the first level in Field guiding. So now I’m registered as a recognized first level safari guide at the field guide association southern Africa. Witch I’m proud of. I’ve learned, seen and experienced so much. And especially I’ve met incredible people. As a turned just 18 this journey had a big effect on me. I started to get really annoyed by all the things humans where doing to the beautiful nature worldwide. I had to do something, but what could I do?”

After the travel the adventurer started a new study Ecology&Wildlife. While looking for an internship he found the Atlantic whale foundation in Tenerife.

A hit !

Atlantic Whale Foundation
“This organization gives students a chance to observe and study dolphins and whales on the south coast of Tenerife. But the biggest part of the work is spent on problems in the world like whale hunting, poaching in Africa, loss of habitat, marine pollution and many more horrible subjects” Nick says.” The AWF raises awareness thru media and presentations and they also fight these problems where they start. by letting people know who is responsible for these scandals. They are also setting up new projects in counties as Sierra Leone. That is where AWF will help the community after years of war by education and setting up small businesses. They will also make documentaries and provide the opportunity for students to study the fantastic wildlife of Sierra Leone.”

Nick was very impressed by the organization of Ed Bentham, the founder of AWF, a very inspiring man. “I’ve went to Tenerife four times now to help out.”

Volunteer with Cetaceans

AWF Goes Wild
“After this experience I found it very difficult to stay busy with conservation at home. So I decided when I was back in June to set up my own part of AWF. A fundraising mechanism where I can put in all my energy and idea’s. and do completely my own thing an raise money for amazing projects around the world.”

Jake Parsons
Nick: “in the meeting at the house in Tenerife I held a shout out to anyone who would want to help me out with all my idea’s. everyone was enthusiastic and same night we all got together and had a little brainstorm. But there was one person who stood out and stayed up the whole night with me. And that person is Jake Parsons who without I would’ve never been able to do this. After a few days we decided on a name AWF Goes Wild! After that the whole thing took off and we’ve got a beautiful website.” (www.awfgoeswild.com)

Amsterdam Goes Wild
This year Nick and Jake are raising money for Save the rhino trust Namibia. This organization protects the last living wild population of black rhino’s. they raise the money by organizing big party’s around Europe the first party was on the 28^th of Oct in Club Roses Amsterdam and was a big success! And soon they will have a bar crawl in Bournemouth.

Nick is a keen Ecoteer member and is currently helping to promote not only his new ventures but also Ecoteer.com

Volunteer abroad – Ecoteer.com offers volunteer opportunities around the world

Responsible Travel in Asia – Ecoteer Responsible Travel offers green holidays which include an aspect of volunteering in Asia

Volunteerabroadasia.com– directory of low cost volunteer projects in Asia

Turtle conservation – Help Our Penyu a sea turtle conservation project was initiated by Ecoteer

Making a difference at Uma Nivas

Although Uma Nivas has had a fairly quiet year so far with only six volunteers to date, Emma and Nuria and Sally and her family, lots is going on. The children’s English is coming on by leaps and bounds and after meeting our volunteers, the children are really motivated to learn to speak English, not just read and write in the usual Indian style. Even Sally’s children, aged 9 and 11, helped teach English, as well as how to play the musical instruments they had brought with them and a host of British games.

We have used the funds Sally and her team of volunteers fundraised last year to cover the high school garden with new topsoil and put water tanks on the roof. So now gardening has started in a big way. Lots of fruit and vegetables are coming up and we are well on the way to self-sufficiency. We also took over one of the two broken vehicles belonging to the orphanage, repaired it, got it working and have built a garage to keep it in. As a vehicle is a lifeline in remote villages, where public transportation is almost nil, this is no small achievement.

Didi Vratiisha has also been very active in other areas too, holding homeopathic medical clinics at different villages 6 days of the week. The clinics are always packed, and Didi is kept very busy, all this on top of her duty as high school principal.

Tatayara School, located in a village around an hour from the Uma Nivas project, used to run in a broken down building with many of the children studying outside in the open air under trees and some of them actually sitting on the dusty street. Now thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, Denise, her children and her friends, who put on a pantomime called Dracula back in the UK, there is a beautiful school building with 5 rooms for the children to study in. The roof is finished, so all 200 children have now moved into the school, although the plastering and doors and windows are not yet complete. Fantastic work, Denise! Thank you all so much! And Denise just now told me that they have raised the funds for the doors and windows. Incredible!

There are so many ways to help. You can go out there and get your hands dirty helping with the garden. You can teach English and a whole range of other skills, you can help treating patients if you’re a doctor, or you can simply play games with the kids. If you prefer to do something from home, you are most welcome to help us fundraise.

As you will realize, a little here can make a big difference over there….Together we can give these kids a better, brighter future.

If you would like to know more about our volunteering opportunities please go to our Ecoteer page at VOLUNTEER IN INDIA

2010 Volunteers Impacts on Community projects – Kenya

We are proud to have made some positive impacts through our eye-opening volunteer program to local grassroots projects.

As the year 2010 winds up and we look forward to greater achievements, we have significantly changed the lives of both the local communities and volunteers as stated by one of our community project member:

“Volunteers have awakened a new sense of pride to our initiatives in the small forgotten villages of the world, it is a spirit to be upheld” Ann Anam – Uhanga education water and sanitation project, Nyanza Province – Kenya.

Indeed, this is a spirit to be cherished and honoured just like those who have volunteered would testify. There are many other sentiments echoed by volunteers and the communities, such as appreciation, pride, and openness to other cultures… This appreciation and hope calls for the continuation of our programs for the benefit of the local people.

In this Year 2010, we have worked with more than 10 different community projects in Kenya dealing with environmental and wildlife conservation, humanitarian, teaching and healthcare.

In these projects, we have been able to get over 200 international volunteer applicants from all over the world. And this has helped the communities to take the projects to the next level, for the benefit of the whole community, through implementation of ideas shared by the volunteers, skills input and physical labour.

All in all, there is still a lot to be done and many community initiatives to be uplifted. We thus hope that Year 2011 will bring more smiles to volunteer’s faces and thumbs up developmental steps to the community projects we support. We appreciate the efforts that have been put in by our partners, such as Ecoteer, which makes it easier for volunteers to find suitable placements. We also want to thank all the volunteers who have offered their time and energy to community projects. And we welcome any goodwill among the young people around the world, who want to make a difference in development and will thus discover more about themselves.

Thank You for reading,

Please visit our Ecoteer placement page now

Volunteer Kenya

What Ecoteer volunteers get up to in India

In 2009/2010, we had a total of 15 volunteers at our rural development project in
the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 120 miles east of Delhi.  They included
three L.S.E. graduates, a nurse from the U.S.A., a computer scientist from Canada, a
language and media teacher from Germany, a high school graduate from Norway, a
mental health nurse from Barbados and a marketing manager from Spain as well as
six others from the U.K. – in other words, a very cosmopolitan mix. They all
enjoyed their stay and four of them, who live in or near London, joined our
executive committee on their return and are now trustees.

These volunteers did a range of activities while in the project. Two of the L.S.E.      graduates undertook a research project into the pollution of the countryside caused by a large paper mill that was set up in the area fifteen years ago. The third looked into the financial viability of running a computer course for local villagers and students.  Anita, whose particular interest is photography, took many excellent photos for us during her stay. She also assisted with the teaching of English in the project primary school.  Teaching English to the primary schools students is an activity that is always available to volunteers and visitors. Our volunteers also worked hard to stimulate the village children whose parents are often illiterate. They organised simple games, songs and art projects which the children loved.

There were also opportunities to teach Conversational English to older students who are studying in the degree college in the village. This is an important part of their education. Without a reasonable knowledge of English, villagers cannot compete for jobs against townspeople. The project’s aim is to bring the modern resources and facilities of the towns and cities to the villages.

During the year, we also had return visits from three people who had volunteered with us several years ago.

To find out more about our project please visit our Ecoteer page at Volunteer in India

Agro-ecological farm in Costa Rica

Our agroecological farm is located in San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica, near Dominical Beach. We are an Environmental and Conservation Project, or “School Farm,” with education as our top priority. At our farm, students, volunteers, and visitors can participate, learn and help.

We receive volunteers, students, and environmental interns locally and from abroad. Primarily we work with volunteer group organizations that are interested in environmental education, however all are welcome at our farm, from individuals up to large groups.

We are very interested in welcoming volunteers from your school, organization, or program and would encourage you to visit our Ecoteer page, volunteer farm Costa Rica for more information. There you will find a detailed description of our grass roots campaign and a summary of the numerous projects we are currently working on. Please feel free to share our mission and information with your friends, family, and co-workers to help us continue our environmental education. In addition to working at our farm, we also encourage our guests to visit the local sites including Dominical and Uvita Beach and Hot Springs and we are more than happy to organize guided tours.

We offer ideal opportunities for graduate students and researchers to extend knowledge, pursue specific interests, find field work or extend opportunities for thesis material. Undergraduate students who wish to pursue a career in conservation often need volunteer work and hands-on experience as a prerequisite. This experience is an excellent way to verify an interest in a specific field. We provide excellent opportunities for gaining experience and making contacts at the outset of a professional career in conservation. In addition, students with families are always welcome as we began as a family farm.

Our family believes the best way to preserve our Planet Earth is for everyone to become active and lend a helping hand to Mother Nature. We currently have major challenges, including green house gasses and global warming, ever expanding landfills, pesticides in our fruit, vegetables, and meat, and shortages of suitable drinking water to name a few. No matter what town, country or continent you live on, we must all live together under the same sun during the day and the stars and moon at night. If we all recognized the issues and started to change one bad habit at a time it would have an enormous effect on the planet immediately, but we all must work together. So start today and join us in our mission to change our planets course and educate future generations.

Thank you for your time and consideration from the Villalobos family and we look forward to hearing from you.

Volunteers making a difference in Sri Lanka

The volunteer Sri Lanka Project has developed to the extent of being unrecognisable. It has the advantage of the superior accommodation as well as the proximity of the beach, and therefore attracts a huge number of volunteers.

The project now places volunteers in 2 orphanages, 4 schools, 2 nursery schools as well as a nursery school for street children, a male elder’s home, another elders home for men and women, the local hospital and the Nurses’ Training School. In addition occasional projects are undertaken with volunteer funding support such as building a new home for a poor family living in a shanty town dwelling that wasn’t weather proof and a pumped well with water tower for a poor family whose well dried up. There are also sports classes, art classes for elders as well as children and language classes for teenagers. At the NTS a small IT centre has been established for improving the nurses’ IT skills. This will be extended to the wider community when resources allow.

Local orphans spent their whole day penned in a corner of a room, without any toys and without adults to play with them until the project persuaded the orphanage staff to allow volunteers in. Now the children are taken outside into an area cleared by project volunteers where they play under a tree in the open air for a few hours. They play with sand, water, balls, ropes and other toys. It’s a whole lot better than sitting in your own pee crying all day.

All this is the result of the tremendous energy with which Janaka de Silva manages the volunteer placements and accommodation. He is supported by his extended family who seem to spend their entire day, every day, producing delicious food for the volunteers.

The latest development is the weekly evening dinner for the families of the street kids. Volunteers love to assist with this, as well as keeping company with the families. It’s good for the street families to be honoured in this way so that on Friday nights at least they feel as they matter.

Volunteers have the opportunity to affect the well being of whole sections of this area of Galle by following the ethos of this project.

This project shows how a gap year Sri Lanka and volunteer Sri Lanka can make a real difference.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka and make a real difference

Success of volunteers in Uganda

Our school project in Uganda is now just 2 months off the completion of its second full year. The changes in the school are amazing. The whole list is too long but here are the highlights. As a result of volunteer’s generosity the school now has a 60,000 litre underground water tank and a hydration programme for the pupils, a free mug of maize porridge every day for every child which means they can concentrate in the afternoon instead of trying to work on an empty stomach, a secure store room, a staff room, tables and chairs for the staff room so for the first time they have a flat surface to mark all the exercise books – sometimes 200 from 1 lesson!, 4 cupboards, a 4 stanza ecosan pit latrine, shutters on all the windows, a night watchman is now employed, electricity in 4 rooms, a computer, 3 laptops, a combined printer/scanner/copier, resurfaced blackboards, a sickbay with bed, a properly levelled football pitch with metal goalposts and a simple score board, some books and resources including Ugandan musical instruments such as drums. Amazing! There is also a girl’s sanitation project so that the girls don’t miss 25% of their time off school – some children are 18 by the time they leave primary school so nearly all the girls will benefit from this.

There is still much to do. The teacher’s accommodation needs completing so that most can live at school and then night classes can be held for the community. The school needs a library, a separate store room and a separate staff room. Also, the store of text books and science equipment need building up so that pupils don’t have to share books and can really learn science well. At present the children’s science ability is very poor so it is a priority area for development. Volunteers often want to try to bring out supplies to help the school and many buy them in country which is much better as it contributes to local income.

As long as volunteers continue to volunteer, the school will continue to develop. No volunteers equals no development as there isn’t any funding otherwise. The school achieved the best results in the sub county at the end of the last school year and it’s vital that the development is maintained and further developed as these children are the future for Uganda.

Moses, the Project Manager, is a man of extraordinary vision, especially given the impoverished background from which he has striven to raise himself. He is a phenomenon. Moses relates to all people as equals. He soaks up everything he can from volunteers who have experienced so much more of the world but he has a great deal to give too. No-one I ever met matches him for tolerance and patience and humility. He has catered for the needs of people from so many very different countries which are just coloured shapes on a page in an Atlas to him. Yet he is able to relate to everyone and volunteers become very fond of him and his whole lovely family. Moses’ motivation to improve the lot of his fellow Ugandans through the project knows no bounds.

Potential volunteers should know that they will make a huge difference to the future of these children and their descendents when they come to this school to work with Moses and the staff to improve teaching, learning and general conditions at the school. They can have great fun with these kids who love the volunteers and readily play and laugh with them and if given half a chance will get up to all sorts of mischief too!

volunteer in Uganda and continue the good work of this project

Gap year in Asia

Taking your gap year in Asia is a great way to see one of the worlds most diverse and enthralling continents while also making a positive difference. Gap year Asia means gaining a far greater insight into the local cultures and everyday life rather than merely passing through, making for a far more authentic volunteer Asia, careerbreak Asia or travel Asia experience. Plus, if you want to take a gap year in Asia its not necessary to have any specific skills or qualifications just bring along your passion and an enthusiasm to give something back and keep an open mind! In return you will gain an unforgettable and worthwhile gap year Asia experience that you’ll treasure for years.

Gap year Asia with Ecoteer whom provides you with a wide choice of worthwhile gap year volunteer programs and projects. You can get involved with one of our popular wildlife conservation projects, presenting thrilling gap year opportunities to work with some of Asias most endangered animals, such as Turtles in Malaysia. You may also consider gap year volunteering in Asia to make a contribution towards improving the lives of disadvantaged children and adults in local communities, or you could make a vital difference by contributing your time to gap year in thailand or gap year in India. Our recent gap year projects in Sri Lanka enable gap year volunteers to help reestablish communities destroyed by the 2004 tsunami and 6 years on have long been forgotten. Whatever you do when you take your gap year Asia you can be sure to find the adventure thats right for you.

Recommended gap year Asia projects

Gap year in Malaysia

Gap year turtle volunteer project in Perhentian, Malaysia

Cost – GBP200 per week

Be part of our fledgling gap year turtle conservation and marine awareness project in the most beautiful islands of Malaysia, the Perhentian Islands, off mainland Malaysia. Green turtles are in dire need of our help especially in Terengganu, where 4 species of marine turtle nest but three of them, the hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Leatherbacks are almost locally extinct. Gap year volunteers help protect two important turtle beaches, run weekly after-school clubs at the primary school and teach tourists about marine conservation and turtle protection.

Join the Turtle gap year volunteer project now

Gap year Malaysia and teach English at learning centres

Cost – GBP749 for 4 weeks

Ecoteer are combing forces with a local NGO to help them expand their network of learning centres across Sabah, Borneo Malaysia. This gap year volunteer project will be the second project to be run by Ecoteer. Help teach English to the children of palm oil workers during your gap year asia. Provide the children education which they would otherwise have no access too.

Teach English in Sabah, Borneo Malaysia.

Orangutan gap year volunteering in Borneo

Cost – Over GBP200 per week

The gap year orangutan project is a collection of orangutan conservation projects in both Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, funded by gap year volunteer contributions. The GOP’s strength lies in its unique collaboration of orangutan conservation organisations or individuals who exchange knowledge, advice and ideas towards orangutan conservation in this part of the world. Each project has the shared vision of increasing the size and health of Borneo orangutan populations, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

Join the Orangutan volunteer project new

Marine gap year volunteers in Sabah

Cost – GBP100 per week

Giant Clams the pearls of coral reefs are almost locally extinct. Become a marine volunteer in Borneo and help save these Giants. Gap year Asia volunteers help with the spawning of giant clams and coral re-planting work. Gap year Asia volunteers are also involved in the environmental education work with school children.

Become a marine volunteer in Borneo

Gap year in Cambodia

Volunteer in ecotourism or teach in Cambodia

Cost – Free

The lodge offers bed and breakfast accommodation to “green” and eco-friencly travellers, but it is also open to all kinds of visitors who want to stay somewhere completely different to conventional lodging in town. Gap year Asia volunteers teach English to the youth of the tribal groups to make them more employable. English is not included in the national curriculum so gap year Asia volunteers teaching English is of great need.

Volunteer teach english and help the Cambodian youth find future employment

Gap year in Laos

Volunteer in Laos textiles

Cost – GBP50 per week

This gap year volunteer project in Laos is dedicated to Lao cultural preservation through the promotion of Lao textile arts. It is our goal to economically and socially benefit Lao rural mountain artisans and thereby contribute to the wider community especially to women.
Unique aspects are that our new gap year Asia volunteers do not come into an existing role rather they become part of the community and co-steer the process of building up the future work of the ladies. A small team is in place to supervise and the founder of the Foundation can guide through various ideas connected to the projects aims.

Volunteer in Lao textiles now

Gap year India

Volunteer at tiger reserve ecolodge

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

Nestled deep in the picturesque Ramganga valley and surrounded by lush hills, the Lodge lies in total seclusion with the meandering Ramganga virtually cutting it off from human habitation. The lodge is strategically located on the banks of the river, the lifeline of Corbett, before it enters the park at Domunda. We provide a unique gap year Asia volunteer wildlife experience for nature lovers and our lodge easily ranks as one of the wildest jungle lodges in India. The rustle of the breeze in the adjoining forests, the calls of birds, the rumble of the river as it goes over rapids and sitting around a campfire at night to hear alarm calls of sambar and barking deer, provides an unforgettable dimension to the ambience. What makes it unique is the diversity it offers. The envious location affords long walks into the surrounding forest, something not permitted inside the park. A good mix of riverine, forest and high altitude habitat makes it a birdwatchers haven. With exclusive fishing beats replete with Golden Mahseer, anglers have rated it as the best sportfishing destination in North India. The added attraction of elephant safaris in the wild country makes this an irresistible proposition for your gap year in Asia.

Volunteer with tigers at India ecolodge

Volunteer and teach english in India

Cost – GBP20 per week

Gap year Asia volunteer opportunity in India and teach English and core subjects to the poor children and orphans in the beautiful hilly town of Shillong, North East India. Little Prakash and his friends in Shillong need help! In a poor tribal area of Shillong, a primary school with an attached orphanage housing 10 children is being run by Didi Ananda Kalyanbrata, a yoga nun. The school currently has 120 children, some of whom study free as their parents are unable to pay even minimal fees. All the children learn meditation and yoga.

Volunteer in India now

Volunteer at sustainable ecotourism lodge in India

Cost – Free

Gap year Asia volunteers can work at this retreat which is a unique project that combines sustainable ecotourism with sustainable agriculture and environmental education. Our eco-lodge is situated on a certified Organic farm in the rainforests of the Western Ghats of karnataka. We cater to environmentally conscious gap year asia volunteers who want to experience a harmonious existence with nature. We also organize and host workshops and educational programs with emphasis on organic farming, sustainable living, rainforest ecology and biodiversity for students and special interest groups such as organic farmers. We are recognized as one of india’s leading eco-lodges and have received a 1st prize award from eco-club international in 2005.

Volunteer in ecotourism in India

Gap year Thailand

Volunteer and help rural communities of Thailand

Cost – GBP20-50 per week

The rural population in Thailand is poor and has only little access to education. Gap year Asia volunteers share their lifes with the local community. The gap year Asia volunteers support is making a big change in the villagers. During your gap yer volunteering at this project you can get involved in teaching English, construction and just about anything that makes the lifes of the local community better.
Highly recommended.

Volunteer and make a difference in Thailand

Gap year with Elephants in Thailand

Cost – GBP100 per week

The gap year Asia Elephant project is unique and set in Northern Thailand. Established in the 1990″s their aim has always been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. Elephant gap year volunteer jobs are varied, from bathing elephants to basic health care. Gap year Asia volunteer roles also include assisting elephants keepers bathing elephants and general duties around the park and surrounds.

Become an elephant volunteer in Thailand

Gap year China

Teach English in Shanghai, China

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

Gap year Asia volunteer teaching in Shanghai: After a one week Induction course in Shanghai (include, Induction, culture course, Mandarin lesson and sightseeing explore) you will spend 4 weeks to 12 weeks teaching english to 7 to 18 year olds. Your teaching will usually be spread over 11 lessons to 15 lessons per week (35 to 40 minutes per lesson), Monday to Friday.

Volunteer and teach english in shanghai China

Gap year Japan

Sustainable living volunteer in Japan

Cost – Free

The ethos of this gap year Asia volunteer project is to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. The mission statement is: “To inspire and educate the citizens of Earth to create their own environmentally sustainable lifestyles and businesses, through participation in the creation and operation of a self-sufficient education center, organic farm, restaurant, fair trade shop and eco-technology development and demonstration center”. The farm and Cafe are run by an international volunteer team of staff from all over the world. About 4 or 5 team members and volunteers live on Mt Fuji full-time. We are also largely supported through the help of our Short Term Farm Volunteers, who help with everything from planting to cooking.

Volunteer at sustainable farm and lodge, Japan

Gap year Sri Lanka

Gap year Asia volunteers help rebuild communities

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

This is a rare opportunity to volunteer during your gap year asia and do a variety of different work in the poor areas of Sri Lanka. The people in the poor areas of Sri Lanks are still suffering from the devastation left by the Tsunami in 2004. Gap year Asia here and help these people whilst gaining an insight into day to day Buddhism. Gap year Asia volunteers do not, however, have to participate in religious activities.
The gap year Asia volunteer Sri Lanka Project is a small, personal, multi faceted project which was started after the devastating Tsunami in 2004 by Janaka De Silva, the General Manager of a local hotel and a dedicated philanthropist. He spends his spare time helping poor Sri Lankan families living on the outskirts of Galle town.
The project is totally non profit making. Any money left when the volunteers have been fed & accommodated, is ploughed straight into buying equipment, books & building works for the project.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka now

Help medicinal plants volunteer in Sri Lanka

Cost – GBP20-50 per week

We are a grassroot NGO involved in conservation of fast disappearing native plant species and documentation of indigenous knowledge or ethno botanical values associated with native plants. We possess a wonderful arboretum with rare medicinal and wild fruit plants with plenty of valuable traditional knowledge and all volunteers are placed in our arboretum in eco friendly architecture. Our main objective is to propagate these rare plants amongst Sunday schools in rural church parishes and Buddhist monasteries with hands on experience.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka now

Gap year Mongolia

Health care gap year Asia volunteer opportunity in Mongolia

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

As a gap year Asia volunteer, you will be assisting the Family Hospital in their effort to improve health care in poorest district in Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding areas. Two or three days a week, according to the community’s needs, you will accompany a mobile clinic that goes out to rural communities around the capital that often have little or no medical facilities. The drive to these communities generally takes about an hour-and-a-half. The mobile clinic usually visits Day Care Center, Black market, Orphanage center and Ger district, so that the doctors can give the children medical check ups. On the days that you are not going out on the mobile clinic, you will assist in the Family Hospital medical centre, which provides basic medical aid to children.

Volunteer in health care, Mongolia

Teach English in Thailand

Ecoteer have been superb at helping us locate excellent volunteers to come on English teaching projects this summer in Surin, Thailand, but our work is never done. We are continually looking for volunteers for the year ahead to come out on one of our three English teaching projects. As well as teaching English to children and adults and our childcare project we are particularly keen on finding volunteers to spend a week on our English camp project. We have schools waiting for us to run these camps, but to do so we must find at least 3 volunteers willing to come on the same week. The English camps are a lot of fun and ideal for people who only have a short amount of time to spare. If you are planning to come to Thailand for a holiday, then why not do something different whilst you are here and get a friend or 2 to join you on an English camp? We guarantee you will have an unforgettable experience and get to see the real Thailand. For more information on this and all our projects, check out our listings on Ecoteer

For our English camps go to English education work camps in Thailand

Also check out our other projects

Teach English to children in Thailand

Teach english to adults in Thailand

Help orphans in Thailand

Volunteer Southeast Asia

Volunteer in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia (SE Asia) is a collection of related but dissimilar states squeezed between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The area has long been a favorite corner of the world for globe-tramping backpackers, well-known for its perfect beaches, tasty cuisine, low prices, and good air connections.

Southeast Asia is perfect for the volunteer looking for a tried and tested location perhaps its your first volunteer project, gap year, travelling independently or careerbreak.  Volunteer in SE Asia and you will not be disappointed or lost in the middle of nowhere.  Use volunteering in south east asia as a stepping stone to other locations like India or China.  Southeast asia’s perfect beaches and lush forests make it a wise choice for any eco traveller.

Recommended volunteer abroad projects in Southeast Asia

Volunteer in Malaysia

Turtle Volunteer project in Perhentian, Malaysia

Cost – GBP200 per week

Be part of our fledgling community-based turtle conservation and marine awareness project in the most beautiful bay in the Perhentian Islands, off mainland Malaysia. Green turtles are in dire need of our help especially in Terengganu, where 4 species of marine turtle nest but three of them, the hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Leatherbacks are almost locally extinct. Volunteers help protect an important turtle beach, run a fortnightly after-school club at the primary school and teach tourists about marine conservation and turtle protection.

Join the Turtle volunteer project now

Orangutan volunteering in Borneo

Cost: Over GBP200 per week

The orangutan project is a collection of orangutan conservation projects in both Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, funded by volunteer contributions. The GOP”s strength lies in its unique collaboration of orangutan conservation organisations or individuals who exchange knowledge, advice and ideas towards orangutan conservation in this part of the world. Each project has the shared vision of increasing the size and health of Borneo orangutan populations, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

Join the Orangutan volunteer project new

Volunteer and teach English at borneo learning centres

Cost: Unknown

Ecoteer are combing forces with a local NGO to help them expand their network of learning centres across Sabah, Borneo Malaysia.  This volunteer project will be the second project to be run by Ecoteer.  Help teach English to the children of palm oil workers who would otherwise have no education.

Teach English in Sabah, borneo Malaysia.

Volunteer in Cambodia

Volunteer in ecotourism or teach in Cambodia

Cost: FREE

The lodge offers bed and breakfast accommodation to “green” and eco-friencly travellers, but it is also open to all kinds of visitors who want to stay somewhere completely different to conventional lodging in town. Volunteers teach English to the youth of the tribal groups to make them more employable.  English is not included in the national curriculum so volunteers teaching English is of great need.

Volunteer teach english and help the Cambodian youth find tourism employment

Volunteer in Laos

Volunteer in Laos and become part of the community

Cost: GBP100 per week

Our volunteer project focuses on community-based voluntourism in the Northern region of Laos. We help 7 villages to organize and run their own tourist products. We believe responsible tourism is the only way to reduce poverty in this region and are succeeding!  Volunteers live like a villager in Northern Laos and take part in everyday tasks.  Volunteers teach English and assist the community.  Volunteering in Laos is a great way to experience what Thailand was like pre- mass tourism.

Highly recommended.

Volunteer and immerse yourself in Laos culture

Volunteer in Laos textile

Cost: GBP50 per week

This volunteer project in laos is dedicated to Lao cultural preservation through the promotion of Lao textile arts. It is our goal to economically and socially benefit Lao rural mountain artisans and thereby contribute to the wider community especially to women.

Unique aspects are that our new volunteers do not come into an existing role rather than being able to co-steer the process of building up the future work with their commitment. A small team is in place to supervise and the founder of the Foundation can guide through various ideas connected to the projects aims.

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Volunteer in Thailand

Volunteers help the rural community of Thailand

Cost: GBP20-50 per week

The rural population in Thailand is poor and has only little access to education. Volunteers who share their lifes and support them can make a big change.  Volunteers at this project get involved in teaching English, construction and just about anything that makes the lifes of the local community better.

Highly recommended.

Volunteer and make a difference in Thailand

Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand

Cost – GBP100 per week

The Elephant Park is a unique project set in Northern Thailand. Established in the 1990″s our aim has always been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. Elephant volunteer jobs are varied, from bathing elephants to basic health care. Volunteer roles also include assisting elephants keepers bathing elephants and general duties around the park and surrounds.

Become a elephant volunteer in Thailand

Teach English in thailand

Cost: GBP100 per week

Most children in the Surin region will have never seen a foreigner and by meeting volunteers first hand and understanding the bigger picture, they can really grasp the reason and importance behind their studies. Volunteer roles at this project vary from teaching English to adults and children running educational camps and volunteer at orphanages.  Surin is one of the most poorest areas of Thailand and volunteer helpers are needed desperately.

Volunteer and teach English in Thailand

Volunteer in Borneo

Marine volunteer in Sabah, Borneo

Cost – GBP100 per week

Giant Clams the pearls of coral reefs are almost locally extinct.  Become a marine volunteer in Borneo and help save these Giants.  Volunteers help with the spawning of giant clams and coral re-planting work.  Volunteers are also involved in the environmental education work with school children.

Become a marine volunteer in borneo

Orangutan volunteering in Borneo

Cost: Over GBP200 per week

The orangutan project is a collection of orangutan conservation projects in both Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, funded by volunteer contributions. The GOP”s strength lies in its unique collaboration of orangutan conservation organisations or individuals who exchange knowledge, advice and ideas towards orangutan conservation in this part of the world. Each project has the shared vision of increasing the size and health of Borneo orangutan populations, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

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Volunteer and teach English at borneo learning centres

Cost: Unknown

Ecoteer are combing forces with a local NGO to help them expand their network of learning centres across Sabah, Borneo Malaysia.  This volunteer project will be the second project to be run by Ecoteer.  Help teach English to the children of palm oil workers who would otherwise have no education.

Teach English in Sabah, borneo Malaysia.