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Charity Trips Abroad
Charity trips abroad: support community-led projects in India, Peru, Tanzania and South Africa and more, from 1 to 24 weeks, fees from £454.
What a charity trip involves
A charity trip abroad puts you alongside local staff on a project that already has a plan, not something invented for visitors. Depending on the destination you might help at a daycare centre, support a classroom, assist a community programme, or work alongside coaches on a sports project. Most placements run 1 to 24 weeks, and volunteers join from age 16+ (18+ on some programmes). Groups, gap-year travellers, career-break professionals and couples all take part; no special qualifications are needed for most projects, though medical placements require health training.
Volunteering Solutions has organized these trips since 2007, with in-country teams across India, Peru, Tanzania, South Africa, Ireland, Kenya and 15 more countries handling logistics, orientation and day-to-day support, so volunteers work under local supervision rather than taking charge alone. Fees start from £454, with a £179 deposit securing your place, and cover accommodation, meals and in-country support. See programme costs explained or read about our B Corp certification.
Projects you can join
79 programmes across 21 countries, straight from our booking system — filter by country.
Showing 24 of 79 programmes. Every programme is listed on its country page: India (9) · Peru (6) · Tanzania (6) · South Africa (5) · Ireland (4) · Kenya (4) · Morocco (4) · Nepal (4) · Philippines (4) · Portugal (4) · Spain (4) · Sri Lanka (4)
Where charity trips run
Each country page lists every programme there with live prices, start dates and the local team's details.
Who can join, how long you can stay, and what it costs
Before you apply
- Minimum age 16+ (18+ on some programmes); most projects welcome first-time volunteers with no prior experience.
- A clean background check is required before you join any programme that involves working with children or vulnerable adults.
- Medical, dental and nursing placements are reserved for pre-med, medical, nursing or registered health professionals; other charity projects need no qualifications.
- Basic local language helps on some projects, such as Spanish in Peru or Argentina, but is not required everywhere; check the programme page for specifics.
- Fees from £454, with a £179 deposit, cover accommodation, meals and in-country support; flights, insurance and visas are arranged separately.
- Programmes run 1 to 24 weeks with fixed start dates; book ahead if you need a particular date, see the start dates explorer.
Cost by country
| Country | Programmes | Minimum age | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 4 | 17+ | 1–24 weeks | £454 |
| India | 9 | 17+ | 1–18 weeks | £468 |
| Tanzania | 6 | 17+ | 1–24 weeks | £488 |
| Kenya | 4 | 17+ | 1–24 weeks | £510 |
| South Africa | 5 | 17+ | 1–24 weeks | £556 |
| Morocco | 4 | 18+ | 1–24 weeks | £586 |
| Bali | 2 | 17+ | 1–12 weeks | £612 |
| Peru | 6 | 17+ | 1–24 weeks | £633 |
| Ghana | 2 | 17+ | 2–12 weeks | £680 |
| Vietnam | 3 | 17+ | 2–24 weeks | £688 |
| Cambodia | 3 | 18+ | 2–24 weeks | £697 |
| Madagascar | 1 | 18+ | 2–12 weeks | £739 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 16+ | 1–20 weeks | £743 |
| Spain | 4 | 16+ | 1–24 weeks | £818 |
| Thailand | 3 | 18+ | 2–12 weeks | £884 |
| Philippines | 4 | 17+ | 2–24 weeks | £969 |
| Ecuador | 1 | 18+ | 3–24 weeks | £978 |
| Costa Rica | 3 | 18+ | 2–24 weeks | £1,074 |
| Portugal | 4 | 18+ | 1–12 weeks | £1,099 |
| Argentina | 3 | 18+ | 2–24 weeks | £1,402 |
| Ireland | 4 | 18+ | 3–12 weeks | £1,695 |
"From" is the all-in fee for the shortest stay and includes the £179 booking deposit; accommodation, the meals listed for the programme, airport pickup where listed, orientation, placement and in-country support are covered. Flights, insurance, visas and personal spending are not. Each programme page has the full week-by-week price table.
Which programme can I choose during a charity trip abroad?
No matter whether you are a student looking for a work experience abroad, or a couple willing to do something different during your next vacation abroad - opting for a charity trip will surely turn out to be an amazing journey.
If you wish to volunteer abroad, you can choose from the following programmes and travel abroad for a charity trip:
- Medical Mission Trips (only for pre-med, medical, nursing, and dental students as well as healthcare professionals)
- Teaching Programmes
- Childcare Volunteering Programmes
- Community Development Programmes
- Women Empowerment Programmes
- Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Programmes
- Disabled Care Programmes
If you have a time crunch, you can also join the specially curated Short-Term Travel and Volunteer Programmes, which will give you the chance to work for 2 weeks in your preferred destination, while exploring.
What are the highlights of a charity trip abroad?
As a part of the charity trips with Volunteering Solutions, you'll be:
- Making a positive impact on communities in need
- Gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives, while exploring the destination
- Fostering personal growth and empathy as well as developing new skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving
- Making friends from different parts of the world, and working with them to make a difference
- Promoting a sense of fulfillment and inspiring others to follow your footsteps
Keeping charity work responsible
Charity trips can drift toward projects designed to please visitors rather than communities, so we work only with placements requested and supervised by local partners. Volunteers support existing staff; they do not take sole charge of a classroom or childcare group, and only registered health professionals join medical placements. Wildlife-related community projects, where they exist, are welfare-first, with no riding, bathing or posed animal contact. Background checks are required for any project involving children or vulnerable adults, and our in-country teams provide orientation on boundaries before work begins.
- Projects are chosen with local partners, not created for tourism.
- Volunteers assist local staff; they do not diagnose, prescribe or take sole charge of children.
- See our child & vulnerable adult protection policy for details.
Our standards
- Safeguarding policyVetted placements, a code of conduct and background checks where you work with children or vulnerable adults.
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionHow placements with children are run and what volunteers may and may not do.
- Responsible volunteer travelCommunity-led projects, no work that displaces local jobs, honest about what a short stay can do.
- Certified B CorporationIndependently assessed on impact, transparency and accountability.
What our volunteers say
Charity Trips Abroad: frequently asked questions
What is a charity trip abroad?
A charity trip abroad combines travel with hands-on volunteering on a community-led project, such as childcare, teaching or community development. You work alongside local staff rather than running a project yourself. Volunteering Solutions has organized these trips since 2007, and as a certified B Corp, we place volunteers only where local partners have asked for support.
Who can go on a charity trip abroad?
Most projects accept volunteers from age 16+, with some requiring 18+; there is no upper age limit. No qualifications are needed for childcare, teaching or community projects, just a background check and a flexible attitude. Medical placements are reserved for pre-med, nursing or medical students and registered health professionals. Groups, solo travellers, couples and career-break professionals all take part.
What will I do day to day on a charity trip?
Day-to-day work depends on the project and location. You might support a daycare or kindergarten, assist a classroom teacher, help run a community programme, or work alongside coaches on a sports project. You always work under local staff supervision rather than taking sole charge. Specific duties, hours and settings vary by programme, so check the individual programme page before booking.
How much does a charity trip abroad cost?
Fees start from £454, secured with a £179 deposit, and typically cover accommodation, meals, airport pickup and in-country support. Flights, visas and travel insurance are arranged separately. Costs vary by country and project type; see programme costs explained for a full breakdown of what is and is not included.
How long do charity trips last and when can I start?
Programmes run from 1 to 24 weeks, so you can build a short trip around a vacation or stay longer for a deeper placement. Start dates are fixed rather than open-ended; the next available start is 24 Oct 2026. Check the start dates explorer for the full calendar by country and project.
Which countries can I do a charity trip in?
Charity trips currently run across India, Peru, Tanzania, South Africa, Ireland, Kenya and 15 more countries. Each country hosts a different mix of projects, from childcare and teaching to community development and sports coaching, and fees and minimum ages vary by location. Check individual country pages for current programmes, since not every project type runs in every country.
Are charity trips abroad ethical?
We work only with projects requested by local partners and run under our responsible volunteer travel policy. Volunteers support existing staff rather than replacing them, never take sole charge of children, and any medical work is restricted to qualified professionals. Placements are chosen for genuine local need, not visitor demand.
What safety and support is provided?
Every volunteer has access to 24/7 in-country support from local staff who handle orientation, accommodation and day-to-day logistics. Background checks are required for placements involving children or vulnerable adults, and our safeguarding policy sets out how projects are supervised. Travel insurance is required and arranged separately from the programme fee.
Do I need a background check to volunteer?
Yes, for any project working with children or vulnerable adults, which covers most charity trip placements. You submit a clean criminal background check before departure as part of preparation. Medical placements additionally require proof of relevant qualifications or professional registration. Check the requirements listed on your chosen programme page before booking.
Can I join a charity trip as part of a group or with family?
Yes. Groups, university cohorts and families can join many charity trip projects alongside individual volunteers. If you are organizing a group or fundraising together, see group volunteering for details on booking and support built for multiple travellers. Family-friendly placements are also available; ask your coordinator which programmes suit younger participants.
Can I fundraise to cover the cost of my trip?
Yes, many volunteers fundraise part or all of their programme fee. See how to fundraise your trip for practical guidance on setting up a fundraising page and reaching donors. The £179 deposit secures your place while you raise the remaining balance ahead of departure.
What is included in the programme fee?
The fee covers accommodation, meals, airport pickup, in-country orientation and ongoing local support for the full length of your placement. It does not include flights, visas or travel insurance. Fees start from £454 with a £179 deposit; see where the fee goes for a full breakdown.
Start planning your charity trip abroad
79 programmes · 21 countries · from £454 · next start 24 Oct 2026
Free advice, no obligation. Change programme, dates or destination free of charge up to 45 days before you start.