At Travel Roots, we believe in transforming lives through volunteering, adventures and meaningful journeys. Our mission is to create a positive impact on the environment and communities by offering unique eco-friendly experiences. These all combine travel, learning and giving back. No matter what volunteering opportunity you want to do, choosing an experience through Travel Roots ensures you immerse yourself in giving back to others and the environment.
We are committed to promoting responsible, sustainable tourism and actively contribute to global conservation and community development efforts. So, everything you do on your volunteering journey with us will have a positive effect on the world and the beings within it.
However, it can be hard to figure out how long you should volunteer abroad for? Should it be 1 week of volunteering abroad or 6 months? Well, this question depends on what you want to achieve from your volunteering experience, what type of volunteering opportunity you would like to do, and where in the world you want to go. Explore the best times to volunteer abroad based on personal gains and the type of volunteering opportunities.
What is the best time for volunteering for personal gains?
Volunteering abroad can offer you plenty of personal gains. Depending on what you want to achieve for yourself, the type of volunteer work and the organisation the opportunity is for will depend on the amount of time spent.
Volunteering can give you positive personal gains no matter the amount of time spent. We have provided a guide on what benefits can be achieved over various time periods to help you decide the best time for volunteering.
Short-term volunteering
With short-term volunteering, you can gain some personal benefits that fulfil simple and small personal goals. Spending a few days or 1 week volunteering abroad can lead to an increase in confidence and self-esteem. You can also gain an improved mood, a sense of achievement and a boost in social skills.
Taking part in short-term volunteering can give you that feel-good feeling, leading to better life satisfaction and happiness. If these are the types of personal goals you want to achieve from volunteering abroad, then a short-term opportunity is ideal for you.
Medium-term volunteering
Spending 1 month volunteering abroad or a few weeks can allow you to reap more positive rewards for yourself. You can create deeper and more meaningful connections and gain a sense of purpose. You can also gain a huge development across a variety of your skill sets, including new skills you have learned through your experience.
Committing to a slightly longer period of time for volunteering can enhance your health and well-being as you immerse yourself in the project. Having this regular time commitment across weeks, a month or more is the best way to benefit your physical and mental health. If you are looking to achieve this personal goal, a medium-term volunteering opportunity is the option for you!
Long-term volunteering
Volunteering long-term can be anything from 6 months of volunteering abroad to a year, or even more! This is ideal for achieving long-term goals and personal growth achievements. Through longer volunteering opportunities, you can acquire a vast skill set and gain a strong sense of community involvement. You can find by immersing yourself in volunteering across 6 months, or more, that you grow as a person. You can add new values, perspectives and beliefs through working with communities and others.
Your overall mental health and well-being can improve drastically as you gain a sense of achievement. You can find that your happiness increases and the aspirations you have in life can change too!
How long do different types of volunteering opportunities abroad take?
At Travel Roots, you can find a variety of volunteer projects abroad that aid communities, various animals and the environment. So, depending on which project you are interested in, will depend on the best amount of time spent on the project. However, it is entirely up to you on how long you commit to volunteering with us for.
Animal Conservation
Our animal conservation and wildlife rescue programs are ideal for 1 week of volunteering abroad or longer! They aim to care for, learn about and interact with a variety of animals across the world. These programs are perfect for any animal lover who wants to make a huge difference to the animal's quality of life. You can spend as little or as long as you like volunteering for any of our animal conservation programs, it’s really up to you! Prices will range per week depending on the length of time you choose to volunteer for. Explore some of our animal conservation opportunities to gain a feel for what the experience will be like and help you decide how long to commit to the project for.
Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Centre- Java, Indonesia
This volunteer project aims to provide support to the Indonesian government. It applies the highest standards of welfare and care to confiscated live animals. You can surround yourself in the beautiful natural environments of Sukabumi while working with iconic species. Some of these species include slow loris, orangutans, birds of prey, and crocodiles. You will help in the day-to-day running of the wildlife rescue centre and contribute to unique projects from conservation breeding to sustainability programs.
This opportunity will immerse you in local communities as you can meet and help them with fun and creative activities at the centre. Plus, there’s plenty of chances to experience adventures on your days off to embrace the local culture, sights and attractions!
This program fee is low to make it as accessible as possible for everyone. If you choose to stay from 1-6 weeks, it will cost €163 per week. If you would like to volunteer in this program for longer (5 months or more), it will cost €115 per week.
Elephant Sanctuary- Thailand
This volunteer project aims to return as many elephants as possible to their natural habitat while providing education to combat illegal wildlife trade. You can have the chance to work and help protect the Asian Elephant while getting to understand the charismatic species. You can also get involved in local communities as you can live and work with local villagers and learn about elephants.
For this project, you can choose a 2–3-day visitor experience from only €180 or a 1–8-week internship from only €439!
Marine Conservation
Our marine conservation projects are also perfect for 1 week of volunteering abroad or longer. They aim to protect, care for, and teach people about marine life. These projects are ideal for people with a passion for marine life and who strive to protect and aid sea life and communities.
Remote Island Turtle Conservation- Indonesia
This projects mission is to safeguard the endangered turtle habitats on spawning islands by reducing conflicts between local communities and protected marine life. You can experience remote island living within the pristine and uncrowded islands of Maratua. There’s a wonderful opportunity to learn island survival skills, protect the sea turtle and have a direct impact on turtle conservation. This project is also perfect for being part of a small and closely connected team, developing your social skills along the way.
Due to its remote location, a minimum of 15 days volunteering is required which costs only €855.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation- Spain
This program aims to protect and preserve the whale and dolphin populations of Tenerife through dedicated monitoring, pioneering research and comprehensive education. You can work to protect the iconic species of the bottlenose dolphins and learn boat safety! You can even learn what life is really like below the water through lots of scuba diving. There are also chances to embrace the local culture, sights and attractions on your days off.
For this 1 week volunteering abroad opportunity, it can cost €297 per week for 1-3 weeks. If you choose to do 6 weeks or more, it will cost €178 per week.
Community Development
Impact various communities across the world with our community development volunteering programs. These are perfect for 3 weeks of volunteering abroad or longer as they involve committing more time to the project to really make a difference. You can guide, understand, help and learn about various communities from vulnerable children and orphans to girls and women and third-world communities.
Take a look at some of our community development programs to see if you would like to get involved with a medium-term to long-term volunteering project.
Education and Community Development Projects- Uganda
CACI’s programs aim to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children, girls and women's employability prospects by preparing them for quality jobs and helping others succeed as entrepreneurs. You can change the lives of countless children and communities through creative education while volunteering in the vibrant culture of Uganda. You will also focus on helping to improve girls and women’s employability future prospects, aiding to change their lives for the better.
This opportunity is only €78 per week with Travel Roots and your contribution will make a meaningful impact in their community.
Teaching and Community Development Projects- Tanzania
This volunteering project convenes locals and visitors to work hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart towards a bright, equitable and sustainable future in Zanzibar. You can work with and help develop sustainable livelihoods within communities on the island. The work you do can help change the lives of countless children through creative education. You will be able to develop new transferable skills and gain industry experience that match your passion and interests too!
The type of community development project you want to do affects the price of these opportunities and may even affect the length of time you choose to stay. These projects start from as little as €285 per week to €1828 per week.
Environmental Programs
At Travel Roots, we have a plethora of environmental volunteering programs to choose from. These programs aim to improve the environment and teach you about the importance of protecting the planet and sustainability techniques. Due to the extensive research and learning within many of these environmental programs, they are ideal for 1-6 months of volunteering abroad or even more!
Find out more about what environmental programs we offer to help identify how long you should volunteer for.
Nature Conservation Projects- New Zealand
This project's mission is to safeguard the native biodiversity of New Zealand through active conservation efforts. You can learn about the conservation challenges and contribute directly to biodiversity protection across four distinctive environments. Not only can you volunteer within the lands of the Hobbits, but you can learn so much about New Zealand ecosystems and rainforests!
If you book with us for a 4-week volunteering abroad project it will cost €1372 and if you want to stay even longer, additional weeks will be €342 each.
Environmental Programs- Iceland
This programs mission is to provide a platform for people to meet, learn about each other’s backgrounds and find common ground in the increasingly interconnected world. You will promote nature protection, partake in peace-orientated activities, friendship and internal understanding among people with similar passions and interests to you. Work and help to protect the islands unique ecosystems and create forever lasting friendships and memories!
This opportunity only costs €1240 for 6 weeks or get young people involved in our summer camp for €3316!
Before booking your volunteering holiday of a lifetime with Travel Roots, consider how much time you have to spare, what your interests and passions are and what you want to gain from your experience. All of these will affect how long you should volunteer abroad for. Some of our programs require a shorter period of time spent volunteering, while others may need longer or are completely up to you! From animal conservation to community development, you can easily find something you love to dedicate your time to.
Discover all of our volunteering projects where you can spend from as little as 1 week volunteering abroad to a year!
Commentaires