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How to Volunteer Abroad on Your Gap Year: A Complete Starter Guide
Volunteering abroad during your gap year will be deeply rewarding. You’ll get to travel, you’ll get to have fun, but most importantly, you’ll get to develop new skills such as language learning, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork.
A study on gap years and volunteer-tourism programs highlights that taking a gap year allows young people to participate in work, travel, and volunteer activities that broaden their experiences and expose them to global development issues. The gap year industry promotes making “worthwhile contributions,” fostering personal growth, and encouraging youth to engage meaningfully in the world (Simpson 681-682, 686).
Illustration of volunteering abroad on a gap year. Hand-drawn illustration for editorial use.
Gap years come in different forms and range in budget and values.
Let’s break down these types of gap year programs. We’ll look at where to start, how to pick the right group to go with, and what it’s like when you decide to do service in another country.
Why Volunteer Abroad During a Gap Year?
Volunteering abroad, of course, is about helping others. But it’s also a way to grow as a person, take care of your mental health, and figure out what type of work you might want to do in the future.
“Corro por Voz,” a charity race that raised funds for LAVOSI, a school for the deaf in Antigua, Guatemala
“Alcance por mi Barrio,” an after-school program that offered English lessons, art, drama, and tech clubs for children
But the experience that stuck with me the most was our Saturday sessions with the children and staff from our school’s support team. Each Saturday, half of us led computer or English classes for the adults, while the other half spent time with their children doing arts and crafts, baking, and playing sports.
These Saturdays were full of joy and connection. At the time, I didn’t realize how much these sessions would shape me. Now, I have the privilege of working at a student travel company that runs service programs just as meaningful. I supported my community, I grew personally, and today, I get to help others do the same.
A study on volunteer tourism found that volunteering abroad can drive personal growth, improve relationships, and change a person’s outlook on life. Sustainable forms of volunteer travel not only support self-development and a deeper connection with local communities, but also contribute to the sustainable development of destinations (Petroman et al. 297-298).
Volunteering abroad offers powerful cross-cultural connections through teaching, storytelling, and shared joy.
Volunteering abroad during a gap year can help you:
Try out different career paths such as teaching, helping the environment, social work, or healthcare
Popular destinations for volunteering include opportunities for cultural immersion and engagement with the community.
Did you know? 89% of gap year alumni traveled outside the U.S./Canada during their gap year; 46% spent time in three or more countries (Gap Year Association 5-6).
Popular spots to travel to during your gap year include:
Andes conservation, community development, Spanish immersion
Ancient cultures, affordable lifestyle relative to impact
Tip: Choose programs that align with what you care about, what language you want to learn in, or what you’re hoping to study.
Did you know? According to Google Books Ngram data, “gap year” was virtually nonexistent in published books before 2000 but now appears regularly in academic and travel writing (Google Books Ngram Viewer).
Top Volunteer Abroad Programs for Students (Compared)
Not all gap year volunteer programs are the same. The best service learning programs focus on: helping communities in the long run, providing you with proper training, and making sure the work matters.
These service-based programs are so impactful that only 21% of gap year alumni did not engage in volunteer or service work during their gap year (Gap Year Association 13-14).
The most valuable lesson that I learned on my gap year is to trust myself and do the things that make me happy. I think I spent too much time during high school trying to do what I thought others wanted that I forgot what I wanted. My gap semester changed who I am and who I want to be in the future. If I could give any advice to a student thinking about a gap year, it would be to do it. Don’t worry about the ‘traditional path’ because there is no such thing-there is only the right path for you.
Kelsey Smith Rustic Pathways Gap Year Alumna
Here are some solid options when you’re thinking of volunteering abroad:
Programs typically range from 2 weeks to 6 months.
In multiple programs, costs per week decrease for longer stays, which leads to more cultural immersion and learning opportunities.
I came into the trip with five specific goals in mind, and specific steps that I would take to get there. They were goals ranging from Spanish speaking abilities to personal growth, and I made significant progress with them. But where I really grew, what I really learned, manifested itself in a combination of conversations, connections, and moments.
Hands-on projects like building infrastructure are a core part of many volunteer gap year programs abroad.
A book review of Volunteer Tourism: The Lifestyle Politics of International Development by Jim Butcher and Peter Smith in the Journal of Tourism Futures discusses how volunteer tourism serves as both a way for young people to express global responsibility and as a tool for developing their ethical identity.
While the authors critique some limits of volunteer tourism’s impact, they also praise the value it brings in terms of improving cross-cultural understanding and expanding global awareness (Butcher & Smith 87-88). This aligns with a broader shift in how gap year programs are perceived: not just as travel opportunities, but as experiences that shape values and global perspective.
When you pick a program, make sure it’s safe and actually helps the community, not hurts it.
Questions to ask before you go:
Is it staff around 24/7 and are there pre-established plans in case something goes wrong?
Coverage for volunteering, travel delays, and any special activities you’ll do.
How to Apply and Get Started
Language immersion and mentoring local youth make for a meaningful and enriching volunteer experience abroad.
Here’s a simple way to begin your gap year volunteering journey:
Figure out what excites you – Do you want to teach kids, help the environment, or support healthcare?
Set your budget – Think about how much you can spend, including flights, housing, and extra costs.
Compare programs – Check sites like GoAbroad or GVI to explore different locations and types of volunteer work.
Get your documents ready – Make sure your passport is valid and take care of things like visas, background checks, and vaccinations.
Apply early – Good programs fill up fast, so try to apply at least 3 to 6 months ahead.
Final Thoughts
Volunteering abroad during your gap year is an adventure that will give you the chance to grow, help others, and learn more about yourself. You’ll pick up useful life skills, see the world in a new way, and come back more confident and focused, ready for whatever comes next.
It’s not just travel. It’s a game-changer.
You have the freedom to do what you want in your life, and get out of school. It can be hard to notice that straight away because of the system you’ve been brought up in. But maybe take some time away and have six months off, have a year off, have multiple years off, to just try things that kind of clings to your natural interest and to explore the things that you like in the world and the things that make you feel alive. And that might be your passion, is worth exploring. It’s worth looking at, because if you can find that thing now, if you not have your head in the sand, if you can realize the things that matter and the things that are truly going to give you fulfillment and not an idea of fulfillment that’s been put on you by other people, which is an idea of just security, then I think you’ll live a very adventurous life. A happy life. And probably a wealthy one as well.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering on a Gap Year
What are the best volunteer programs for a gap year?
The best volunteer programs for a gap year are IVHQ, Rustic Pathways, GVI, Projects Abroad, and All Hands and Hearts, depending on your budget, goals, and location.
Is it safe to volunteer abroad?
Yes, it is safe to volunteer abroad as long as you choose reputable organizations that offer proper training, clear safety protocols, and support from staff on the ground.
Gap Year Citations & Research Sources
Butcher, Jim, and Peter Smith. Volunteer Tourism: The Lifestyle Politics of International Development. Routledge, 2015.
Gap Year Association. Gap Year Alumni 2020 National Survey Report. Gap Year Association, 2021, pp. 5–6.
Google Books Ngram Viewer. “gap year.” books.google.com/ngrams. Accessed 21 May 2025.
@pcfgstudy. “Advice from someone who took 3 gap years (in separate times).” TikTok, 6 Mar. 2024. View Video
Petroman, I., Cornelia Petroman, and Loredana Văduva. “Volunteer Tourism.” Quaestus Multidisciplinary Research Journal, no. 17, 2020, pp. 292–299.
Simpson, Kate. “‘Doing Development’: The Gap Year, Volunteer-Tourists and a Popular Practice of Development.” Journal of International Development, vol. 16, no. 6, 2004, pp. 681–692. View Source
