This volunteer project brings travelers to a local school in Palawan, where they will help teach English to primary and secondary school children. Other subjects may also include math, science and art.
Read More
Teach Refugees Art and Music in Jordan
For those interested in teaching art and music, volunteers have the opportunity to aid in facilitating workshops for refugees, helping them make positive impacts within their own lives and communities. Volunteers will teach students art and music while focusing on themes such as diversity, gender equity and sustainability.
Read More
Image courtesy of IVHQ.
Renovate a School in Bali
This community-oriented experience is based in Lovina on the northern coast of Bali, where volunteers work together to help renovate a school. Working with a local project coordinator, an average day involves performing repairs on a school, cleaning, gardening and painting.
Read More
Save Sea Turtles Along the Costa Rican Coast
Though the species’s fate remains fragile at best, there is still hope as volunteers can travel to Costa Rica and aid in conservation efforts. Participants have the opportunity to choose between two project sites: either Ostional Beach along the Pacific, where the arribada occurs, or Barra de Pacuare along the Caribbean Sea.
Read More
Dive to Keep Belize’s Marine Habitat Pristine
Once travelers arrive in the village of Placencia along Belize’s southern coast, they are taken to a small private island where they can partake in up to three conservation dives.
Read More
Fight Against Food Insecurity in Lisbon, Portugal
Volunteers work with a local community organization to help eliminate food waste from Lisbon’s restaurants and supermarkets by packing meals for vulnerable populations throughout the city.
Read More
Trek the Golden Sand Dunes of Morocco
Take a journey through the golden deserts of Morocco, where the sand dunes of the western Sahara transport experience-seekers to an otherworldly adventure. From the lively tea houses of Marrakech, to the historic citadels that tower above the desert, exploring Morocco opens gateways to witness natural wonders and experience the culture with locals over a cup of mint tea. The Todra Gorge, the journey’s first stop, allows travelers to go down winding limestone canyons overlooking the flowing river below. A camel ride near the city of Merzouga transports sci-fi lovers to a landscape straight out of Dune, where one can share stories with locals by a campfire. A drive along the Route of 1000 Kasbahs culminates with a stop at the fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toubkal National Park, the last stop on the trip, includes views of the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains (snow-capped in the winter) from the Berber mountain village of Aroumd.
This trip is organized by G Adventures, a travel organization focused on small group adventures that partners with local communities and travel guides. This trip lasts 7 days and costs $620 per traveller.
CHECK OUT MORE CATALYST TRIPS HERE
Practice Sustainable Coffee Farming in Costa Rica
Volunteers will be involved in every step of the coffee farming process, from harvest to packaging.
Read More
Research Dolphins off the Coast of Italy
Join dolphin researchers on a boat near the Italian island of Ischia during this marine-based volunteer opportunity with GoEco. On this trip, work directly on dolphin conservation efforts by collecting data, recording bioacoustics and photographing animals for identification purposes.
Read More
Road Trip through Northern Pakistan
Visit the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges, known for being some of the most beautiful on Earth. Explore Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, before flying north to Chitral. Experience an animistic culture in the Kalasha Valleys before adventuring on rope bridges, exploring glaciers and journeying into the high mountains.
Read More
Explore Istanbul Through Cuisine
On this trip, Atlas Obscura, a travel collective, offers the opportunity to explore the cultural and historical backgrounds of a wide range of cuisines. Examining the city of Istanbul through restaurants, tea shops, and kitchens, you will learn about the extensive cultures that make Istanbul such a vibrant and exciting city.
Read More
Travel in the Footsteps of the Incas in Peru
The trip begins with an arrival in Cusco and a short hike to start acclimating to the high altitude. The following day the hike begins in Chinchero and includes some farm work. Chinchero, while a small village, has many Incan ruins and is home to Peruvian weavers.
Read More
Explore the Horn of Africa by Visiting Ethiopia and Somaliland
It begins with a visit to Ethiopia’s otherworldly Danakil Depression and continues to the Tigray region’s rock churches and Somaliland’s Laas Geel cave paintings
Read More
Practice Community Development in Cambodia
Volunteers will then go through an orientation complete with cultural workshops, a Khmer language lesson, and introductions with the host family. In free time, volunteers can visit local Buddhist temples or head to the West Baray reservoir for a swim.
Read More
Volunteer Near the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ at Victoria Falls
Work for participants focuses on necessary research at the reserve such as freshwater ecosystem analysis, soil erosion control and animal monitoring. Tasks performed on the ground allow the reserve to protect vulnerable animal populations in the area.
Read More
Make a Difference in the Beauty of Cape Town
Though Cape Town, South Africa, is known for its natural beauty and seemingly endless outdoor activities, the city also faces many challenges. The “Volunteer in South Africa” trip lets enrollees tailor their abilities to help out, offering programs in sports development, kindergarten teaching, special needs care and surfing, skating and swimming. This program is available year-round, with accommodations in volunteer houses. Participants have weekends free to explore Cape Town, head inland for a safari, or see area attractions such as Table Mountain and the Garden Route. This trip is run by International Volunteer HQ, which has helped more than 110,000 people to volunteer abroad in more than 50 different destinations. The trip lasts at least one week with a cost of $325 and up to 24 weeks with a cost of $6,955.
Explore Sustainable Agriculture in Guatemala
On this trip, travelers learn extensively about eco-agricultural practices. Responsible farming relies more on individual workers than modern industrial farming, so help is a critical component in achieving agricultural sustainability.
Read More
Embrace Sustainability in Tropical Costa Rica
This Costa Rican adventure offers a strong mix of activity and relaxation, requiring moderate physical activity. Travelers can choose from plenty of other adventures: hiking, surfing, zip-lining, and rafting, experiencing the best Costa Rica has to offer. With 25% of its land protected from development, Costa Rica's dense rainforests provide the perfect backdrop for this journey. The “Costa Rica Extended” trip includes staying at an eco-lodge, hiking through jungles, eating organic meals grown on-site, relaxing in natural springs, and experiencing impressive waterfalls.
Under30Experiences brings together thirty people looking to learn about themselves and the world through a shared experience that builds lifelong friendships. This Costa Rica trip is a 2-in-1 affordable, diverse, and epic adventure. Participants will enjoy the country's best beach and immerse themselves in the rainforest, staying at a famous eco-lodge where food is grown on-site.
Travelers should expect to be on their feet for three to four hours most days, so an active lifestyle is helpful. The trip lasts for nine days, with a cost of $1,495 for early sign-ups and $1,695 for regular sign-ups.
Teach English Through Japanese Village Life
The “Japan - English Exchange” trip allows enrollees to volunteer in a Japanese village and immerse themselves in its traditions. Through daily interactions with local Japanese, participants will help improve their conversational English skills.
Read More
Help Children with Disabilities in Transylvania
Romania is a country in southeastern Europe known for its heavily forested region of Transylvania. Ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, it harbors well-preserved medieval towns with many fortified churches and castles—specifically the Bran Castle, which has long been associated with the legend of Dracula. Romania spent decades under the communist rule of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and continues to restore its rich heritage after his government’s collapse in 1989. The “Volunteering in Transylvania, Romania” trip is located in Brasov, a city in the heart of Romania’s Transylvania region. The volunteer work is locally organized and consists of helping children and adults who have special needs, such as autism or Down syndrome. The Romanian state generally fails to integrate these children into mainstream schooling. Therefore, this work is vital in developing their potential and in preparing them for the future. The volunteer work includes improving and refurbishing two of Brasov’s day therapy centers and also includes a variety of interactive opportunities with the recipients. This two-week trip costs $1,567.