When people talk about having their hair done for their birthday, they’re usually referring to a stylist, not having Sussie, a rhesus macaque (monkey), pick through it. But when Fiona Young-Brown, a freelance writer from Lexington, Kentucky, was looking for a special way to commemorate a milestone birthday several years ago, she opted for a volunteer vacation at a primate preserve overseas, fulfilling a long-held dream.
“When we were in college, my friends were saying, 'Well, I can see so and so being married with kids, I can see so and so doing this,” Young-Brown recalls. “I said, ‘Well, what about me?’ And they said, ‘Well, that's obvious, you'll be somewhere helping gorillas or chimpanzees.” Because of her long-held affinity for primates, she chose to spend three weeks at the International Primate Rescue near Pretoria, South Africa, working with various species of monkeys and apes, including capuchins, marmosets, and spider monkeys.
For many, the opportunity to help others while exploring new parts of the world is appealing. According to the nonprofit Greenheart Travel, roughly 1.6 million people globally volunteer abroad.
After Susan Menendez’s children graduated from high school, she was interested in expanding her volunteer experiences. Her children had participated in immersion trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic through their school, which she always found intriguing. “With my time a little more flexible, I began to look at more opportunities to volunteer beyond just the neighborhood here,” she said. Her online research uncovered a nonprofit organization called Global Volunteers. She found it had a good reputation and booked a trip to Ipalamwa, Tanzania, in 2022, to help a small community eradicate stunted growth among children. Since then, she has taken other volunteer vacations, spending two weeks in Cuba and one week in Crete.
Terese Rölke leads the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce in Freehold, New Jersey. One of the organization’s members founded Sylvia’s Children, a nonprofit organization that helps children at a primary school in Uganda, and invited Rölke on a trip to learn more about the organization’s work. During her 10-day trip, Rölke says volunteers observed teaching in classrooms, packed more than 1,000 goodie bags for the children, and participated in celebrations and performances by the children. “Everything is like a treasure for these children. They were so appreciative of everything we gave them,” she says. Rölke added that it’s a trip she won’t forget.
If volunteering in a new location appeals to you, those who have done it before have a few tips to share.
Do your homework
It's recommended to work with a reputable organization that either operates in the area or has a history of working with groups that serve the region you wish to visit. Part of the reason Menendez chose to travel with Global Volunteers was their strong ties, and they have a policy of only sending volunteers into areas where they have been invited by the community. Rölke says Sylvia’s Children provided a thorough information packet with travel requirements and details about the trip.
Look up the organization or charity with groups like the Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator, and search online for reviews. Make sure your passport will be valid when you travel and apply for any necessary visas or other travel documents you may need in advance.
Understand the costs
Volunteer vacations incur many, if not all, of the costs associated with a typical vacation, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand U.S. dollars per week. Be sure you understand the expenses for which you’ll be responsible, including airfare, local travel, meals, lodging, and incidentals. Young-Brown also recommends investing in a travel insurance policy that covers issues such as lost luggage, delays, and overseas medical care.
Consider safety
When traveling overseas, you may need to take medical precautions, such as getting additional vaccinations. Research the area you'll be staying in through the State Department. Discuss with the organization you'll be visiting how they protect volunteers, including travel from airports and local arrangements. Young-Brown knew she would be in a remote area with little internet access, so she stopped by an internet café once each week to send updates to her friends and family.
Be open to the experience—and ready to work
Accommodations and the nature of the work will vary depending on the location. You may be staying in modest lodgings, so keep that in mind if you’re used to upscale surroundings. Menendez recommends leaving behind preconceived notions of the area and “How things should be,” saying, “Do what you’re asked to do and be respectful.”
While planning a volunteer vacation may take some effort, the experiences and memories will last a lifetime. For more ideas and information on planning a volunteer vacation, visit Create the Good®.