Women Empowerment Volunteer Abroad Programmes

Volunteers support local women's organisations with literacy classes, vocational skills such as tailoring or beautician training, computer literacy, and confidence-building or rights-awareness sessions. Work is guided by local staff and the women who use the centre, and tasks vary by location and are assigned once you arrive. Programmes sit alongside our women's empowerment, community development and teaching projects, so some placements combine teaching or community work with women's empowerment activities.

Most placements accept volunteers from 17+, with 18+ on some programmes such as Argentina and Cambodia. No formal qualifications are required, though a background in teaching, languages or a trade like sewing helps. A clean background check is required everywhere, since you'll be working alongside women and, in several locations, girls. See our safeguarding policy for details.

Days typically split between structured sessions, such as English or literacy classes and vocational or computer skills training, and informal support work like preparing materials or running small group activities. In places like Sri Lanka and Nepal you may help at skills or rehabilitation centres for at-risk women, always alongside trained local staff. You never lead sessions unsupervised, and exact tasks depend on the partner organisation's current needs.

Fees start from £454, with a £179 deposit to secure your place. The fee covers accommodation, meals, airport pickup and in-country support from the local team; flights, visas and insurance are booked separately. Costs vary by country and duration. See how programme costs are worked out for a full breakdown before you book.

Placements run from 1 to 24 weeks, so you can fit a short placement around study or work, or stay for a longer stretch. Start dates are fixed rather than rolling on this hub, with most programmes beginning on set weekly or twice-monthly dates and the next available start on 26 Sep 2026. Check the start dates explorer for exact dates by country.

Programmes currently run across India, Argentina, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Morocco, Nepal and 3 more countries, with the most placements in India, Argentina, Cambodia and Costa Rica. Each project is hosted by a local women's organisation or NGO, so the exact focus, whether education, vocational skills or rehabilitation support, differs by location. Related work is also available through our Community Development Programmes if you want to combine causes.

The projects are run by local women's organisations, who set priorities and direct the work; volunteers support existing staff rather than replace them or make decisions on their behalf. There is no contact-for-photos element, and sensitive work such as trafficking-survivor support is led by trained local staff, with volunteers assisting on agreed, non-clinical tasks. Background checks are required for every placement involving women and girls.

No formal experience is required for most programmes, though the Argentina placement asks for Spanish and Costa Rica is easier with basic Spanish; Morocco is smoother with some French or Arabic. Skills in teaching, a craft like sewing or embroidery, or basic IT are useful but not essential, since local teams match you to tasks you can do well. English is the working language on most placements.

Each placement has a local in-country team providing orientation on arrival and 24/7 support throughout your stay. Accommodation, meals and transport to the project are arranged before you arrive, and staff are on hand if plans need to change. As a certified B Corp, we follow set safeguarding and responsible travel practices across every programme.

Yes, on most placements. The Sri Lanka programme is open to female volunteers only, but the other locations accept volunteers of any gender. Tasks such as running literacy or computer classes, or supporting vocational training, are not restricted by gender, and local teams will brief you on any cultural norms specific to the community before you start.

Book with a £179 deposit to hold your place, then pay the balance before departure; programme pages show current fees and start dates. If your plans change, our flexible booking policy lets you switch dates or programmes free of charge up to 45 days before departure. Sort background check paperwork and any language prep well ahead of 26 Sep 2026 or your chosen start date.