If you haven’t done the research necessary for going it alone overseas, here is a checklist:

Volunteering - Have you contacted the organisation or project directly? - Is your volunteering arranged? Or do you plan on trying to sort it out when you are there?

Visa – Have you got the correct Visa? Check you can volunteer or work on the Visa you have.

Health – Have you had all the jabs required?

Insurance – Just don’t travel without it.

Logistics - Have you planned your itinerary – do you know where you are heading and where you will stay when you get there?

Stay in touch – Give a friend or a member of your family your itinerary – make sure you touch base every few days, or at least once a week.

Money and Stuff – Ensure that you have enough money and easy access to emergency funds. Check that your bank cards and credit cards will be accepted and work at the cash machines in the host-country.

Don’t accept drinks off strangers and don’t go near drugs, in some countries you may end up celebrating your 60th birthday in prison for drug offences – even though you were 19 years old when you set-out!   

Arrival in-country

Very hopefully, you have reached this stage – if you have , well done, the fun now starts.

First things first, head straight for your accommodation – get sorted out and contact the organization or project, let them know you have arrived (if your lucky) , they would have collected you from the airport or coach station.)

 Don’t forget though, if you have arranged your own volunteering program, and haven’t paid any fees, it’s good manners to make some some kind of contribution (besides your time). If you haven’t sorted out a project you will have to start networking as soon as possible.

Best places for finding contacts who can help you find voluntary work in-country:

·         Ex-pat communities

·         English Schools

·         Local NGOs (direct contact, not through third-parties) 

Again, if you do manage to secure voluntary work independently, any financial contribution would be most welcome.

And finally, don't forget to stay in touch with your family back home - they will worry about you and would love to hear from you at the very least , once a week.

If you know of organisations overseas who offer cheap or free volunteer programs , let us know, and we will include them on our site.