Volunteering Abroad?

[Pento240sx]

Hello Niconauts. I was wondering if anyone has done any volunteering of their own abroad and if so witch organization you went through, what fees did you pay and was it a good experience with them? I'm looking for one that will charge a low fee, even if I have to pay for the plane ticket. The areas, I would like to trave to would be; Asia and Europe (Especially Korea, Japan or Thainland). I'm just looking for some reviews. Thanks.

[Ace2cool]

Not me, but a couple of my friends went with a church group. The church pretty much covered everything including food/lodging. They built houses for earthquake victims in Haiti.

[Pento240sx]

Well I found this organisation called WWOOF. They seemed pretty legit. I been researching them and they seem like they are pretty cool. I will continue to research them.

[NolimitZ32]

Depends on what you want to do but if its up your alley, one of my ex coworkers is currently in South America working with engineers without borders building dams and schools and churches.

[VQpwrdSE-R]

Not me, but a couple of my friends went with a church group. The church pretty much covered everything including food/lodging. They built houses for earthquake victims in Haiti.

In my senior year of high school that's what I did. I went with the church to the southern half of Germany to work in the area of the Black Forest. 2 weeks spent in Germany working hard and having some fun too. One day we helped clean up a widowed woman's garden and yard. The back of her stucco type home was riddled with bullet holes from ww2. I have also worked on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. That was an eye opener.

OP I respect your willingness to volunteer. You won't be upset with your decision to do so. Traveling to other places outside of the US opens your eyes to how people live, the hardship you see will help put things in perspective. I know for myself I was less complacent about small unimportant things and grateful for what I have after some of my trips.

[Pento240sx]

What better than to help others and learn about other cultures. I been trying to volunteer since 2005. But never got the chance, but this time i'm set to go and volunteer. Anyways, it seems like an a month or two, I will be going to Osaka in the Kansai area or Fukuoka in the Kyushu area. Just need to see where they need the help the most. Also thanks for the support. Hopefully soon I will be there.

[VQpwrdSE-R]

Have a good time man, did your trekking/backpacking of Asia trip fall through? I remember you had posted that a while back. If so this is a good plan B. you'll get a real feel for the culture not the fake touristy experience.

[Pento240sx]

The cool thing about WWOOF is that they have host all over Japan. So I could be volunteering for week or two in one farm/community, than travel to another farm/community to volunteer. This way, I have a places to stay and free meals, well of course in exchange for labor. So I may be around Japan for a couple of months.

[Jmoore124]

Not really abroad, but I volunteered as a adaptive skiing assistant for the wounded warriors program in Maine. pretty much every ski resort has the program. You can find places that are like 20 bucks a night locally called ski hotels and if you volunteer for 15 days out of the year you get some pretty serious perks. Pretty lifechanging stuff too volunteering with those guys.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Not really abroad, but I volunteered as a adaptive skiing assistant for the wounded warriors program in Maine. pretty much every ski resort has the program. You can find places that are like 20 bucks a night locally called ski hotels and if you volunteer for 15 days out of the year you get some pretty serious perks. Pretty lifechanging stuff too volunteering with those guys.

I have a buddy (Navy) who lost most of his left arm and loves to ski/snowboard...would this program cover him?

[Jmoore124]

Have him get in touch with either the WW program or just start calling different local resorts adaptive skiing program. Most will accommodate him with no problem at all. There are a number of events inside and outside of the WW program that will provide food and a number of activities for wounded vets from marksmanship competitions one day, to triathlons and skiing the next. I am not sure how the different resorts will accommodate him but if you were to ski with him you are probably eligible for an extremely reduced rate ticket. I snowboard myself, and am basically there just to block regular skiiers from crashing into the guy I ski with and for moral support. It really lets you meet some awesome people.