Volunteering tagged posts

Shay Gleesom found his purpose after spending six months travelling, working on farms, helping in back packer hostels and volunteering teaching, exchanging a few hours’ help for accommodation and board. Those experiences gained and people encountered guided him to his future path and into something that he genuinely wanted to do with his life.Read More

Volunteering in exchange for a bed and food has become a common means for young people to travel the world on a budget, the two dominant trends being in agriculture (WWOOFing) and hostel work (Helpx and Workaway), which are constantly in need of cheap young labor. My experience revolves around the latter sector.Read More

HelpStay connects small projects looking for a hand with independent travellers looking to save money on accommodation. For travellers there is also the opportunity to add purpose to their wanderings, get a local insight into the area, and learn new skills as well as passing on their own. We've selected 14 of our favourite current projects around the globe, offering a mix of helping in schools, hostels, eco projects, animal rescue centres and NGOs.Read More

Running away to sea has long been a thing but unionisation and modernity are just two reasons why adventures under sail are scarcer than they once would have been. Classic Sailing has some advice on how to work in tall ships and for those with the appropriate skills might have some paid job vacancies too.Read More

Surfers are generally a relaxed, friendly bunch, so when they put down roots and find themselves in a position to open a hostel they tend to welcome kindred spirits to help them out around the place. While the itinerant surfer helpers they once were get a free bed, usually food, and perhaps use of a board too, the hostel owners benefit from having someone keeping an eye on things while they hit the waves themselves.Read More

There are plenty of places around the world for horse riders to get a quick equine fix but only by volunteering can travellers hope to spend any length of time directly with horses. Most work exchange hosts will prefer volunteers to stay at least a month, but longer stays are often required.Read More

When most people think of Thailand and big cats they think of the ethically dubious Tiger Temple but not far away from there is a place where backpackers can get up close and personal with a tiger but do something far more worthwhile for the creatures than exploiting them for a cool social media profile photo.Read More

HelpStay connects independent travellers with farms, house holders, art retreat centres, ecovillages, backpacker hostels, surf lodges, vineyards, ranches, schools, monasteries and kibbutzim who are looking for a few hours of help in return for a place to stay. Food is usually provided too, while others perks can include horse riding, free use of bikes or surf boards, and the chance to learn new skills. Read More

Billing itself as the world’s most unusual building site, Chateau Guédelon is an archaeological experiment. Using 13th century building methods a team of quarrymen, stonemasons, woodcutters, carpenters, blacksmiths, tile makers, basket makers, rope makers, carters, and their horses, are building a castle out of wood and stone using techniques resurrected from illustrations and other sources.Read More

If you think the carrot has mystery, (though not so much that flowers are essentially tarts; prostitutes for the bees), then we have five help exchanges – ranging from stately homes to alternative lifestyles - for green fingered volunteers.Read More