Volunteering Abroad for School and College Students

Discover what you’re capable of and join one of our volunteer or internship opportunities abroad during your school or college years. You’ll travel to a developing country, meet people your age from around the world, and become part of something bigger than yourself. You’ll realise your potential while having the adventure of a lifetime.

If you’re 15, 16, and 17 years old, we strongly recommend our High School Specials. On one of these programmes, you can help kids learn through play, roll-up your sleeves and help on a building site, shadow lawyers and business professionals, and more. Whatever you do, you’ll be working on long-term, sustainable solutions to specific problems, or you’ll be focused on gaining hands-on work experience. You can use what you do to enhance your CV or UCAS form.

Our High School Specials will also help you grow personally. You’ll hone soft skills like communication and problem-solving. And when you’re not working, you’ll be able to explore with your group and experience the culture. You’ll have support from our in-country staff 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about any of the details. We’ll take care of everything.

Can't find what you're looking for?

We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom project for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re well placed to answer your questions, big or small.

+44 (0) 1273 007230

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What can I do as a college or school student abroad?

Whether you’re volunteering abroad as a 16 year old, or you’ve decided to intern abroad as a 17 year old, we have a High School Special for you. Our staff are here to help you find the project that’s the best match to your interests and goals.

Here are some of our most popular options for young volunteers and interns:

Help children learn through play on a Childcare Project
Learn directly from doctors in busy hospitals and clinics and do hands-on outreach work on a Medicine Project
Help protect the planet and endangered animals on a Conservation Project
Join a Building Project and put your strength and creativity into building classrooms and houses and painting murals
Work with professional archaeologists to uncover the past and protect history on our Archaeology Projects
Boost your CV and work alongside lawyers and human rights professionals on a Law and Human Rights Project

We’ve seen an increase in young people travelling and choosing to use their time to help those in need. Joining a High School Special is a great way for you to become part of this and team up with a group of people to achieve a goal.

Projects Abroad volunteers travelling during their school and college years work to plant mangroves in Fiji.

Summer Volunteering Abroad for Students

Summer is the busiest time of the year for us. We recommend planning ahead to make the most of your summer holiday and book a place on the trip of your choice. When schools close for the summer, you can pack your bags, hop on a plane, and travel to a developing country.

Our High School Specials take place over fixed dates throughout the summer months of June, July, and August. Whichever programme you choose, you can expect to:

Meet and work with young people your age
Live with a local host family or in shared accommodation
Take part in fun, worthwhile activities at your placement
Do cultural and tourist activities with your group and our staff
Have support from our staff 24/7 during your trip

A teenager volunteering abroad over her summer holiday conducts a blood sugar test for a Sri Lankan woman during a community outreach.

Alternatives to High School Specials

If you're 16 or older and confident about travelling and working independently, look at one of our Flexi Trips that run throughout the year. The average age of volunteers on Flexi Trips is between 18 and 24, and we find that these placements are great for recently graduated students.

If you're looking for a more specific programme, we can work with you to arrange a custom group volunteer trip if you're with a group of five or more. We have extensive experience working with young students and teachers to arrange personalized group programmes, whether you are fellow students, friends, classmates, or part of the same team or club.