The 10 Best Summer Volunteer Abroad Programs for 2025

It’s never too soon to start thinking about plans for next summer. If making a difference, seeing more of the world, and having life-changing experiences sounds like your idea of a great summer, volunteering abroad in 2025 is for you.

Though some sweat and elbow grease might be required, volunteer work can be incredibly rewarding as you go beyond the tourist sites and meet the beautiful people and cultures of other countries firsthand.

To help you get started on your summer plans, we’ve put together a list of the top summer volunteer programs for 2025 and what each program has to offer. Keep reading and compare the top options to find your perfect fit!

Program length: 1-52 weeks
Starting from: $845 USD for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation with host family, breakfast and dinner 7 days a week, airport pickup

✅ Pros:

• Maximo Nivel has 10 programs to choose from, from animal care to eco-agriculture.
• Only volunteering 3-4 hours a day leaves you a lot of extra time for additional projects, language learning, or local travel.

❌ Cons:

• Prices are high but the cost goes down the longer you volunteer.
• Daily transportation to work sites is not included.

Maximo Nivel consistently provides top-rated placements in Latin America and their program in Costa Rica is no different. Whether you choose to teach English to kids, join a construction project with a local foreperson, or get involved in wildlife conservation, you can expect to be fully immersed in the experience.

As a volunteer, you’ll stay with a host family who will provide you with a shared room along with breakfast and dinner. This living arrangement is an invaluable opportunity to form lasting relationships and participate in a language and cultural exchange. With the ability to choose the duration of your placement, Maximo Nivel gives you valuable flexibility for your summer plans. You can stay for a minimum of one week, however, it is recommended to stay for two or more weeks to maximize your impact.

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $270 USD for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation, meals, airport pickup, 24/7 support, orientation, transport to and from volunteer site, pre-departure support

✅ Pros:

• The volunteer accommodations are clean and equipped with Western-style bathrooms and Wi-Fi.
• PMGY organizes plenty of social activities to meet new friends.

❌ Cons:

• There’s no hot water in the volunteer house but with the hot and humid climate, you may not even miss it.
• During the busy seasons, the volunteer house and programs can be very full.

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) runs several very successful and popular summer volunteer programs in Sri Lanka. Choose from projects focusing on teaching, sea turtle conservation, street dog care, mental health, and medicine. All of PMGY’s programs are highly rated and provide great support for first-time volunteers.

On a PMGY volunteer program, you’ll be supported from the moment you apply. If you’re new to volunteering abroad, this can give you the peace of mind you need to make the leap. Your program fee includes pre-departure webinars, access to a travel mentor, help booking flights, airport pickup upon arrival in Sri Lanka, orientation, social events, and more. Past volunteers felt programs were well-organized and gave them the chance to meet a lot of new people, not just in their project area but in other PMGY programs.

Program length: 5-10 days
Starting from: $0, no fee to volunteer!
What’s included: shared hotel accommodation, all meals, airport pickup, activities and excursions

✅ Pros:

• You’ll work as a conversation partner so no lesson planning is necessary.
• All expenses for room and board are covered and there’s no program fee to participate.

❌ Cons:

• The daily schedule is rigorous so get ready to work!
• If you want to continue volunteering at another location, travel costs are not covered.

If volunteering for free in 24+ European destinations sounds intriguing, check out Angloville. You’ll volunteer as a conversation partner in countries like Poland, Malta, and Italy helping adults or youth develop their English skills. This is as much of a cultural exchange as a language program and many past participants felt they gained a lot more from the experience than they put in.

Volunteers will stay in hotels and resorts in gorgeous locations and will enjoy locally prepared dishes for every meal, all in exchange for a day’s work of playing games and meeting new people. No prep is needed and participants are provided with conversation prompts and other materials to facilitate sessions. Although programs are relatively short, it’s possible to join more than one throughout the summer.

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $285 USD for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation in homestay or volunteer house, most programs provide 3 meals/7 days a week, airport pickup

✅ Pros:

• Over 18 program options in a variety of fields means you’re spoiled for choice.
• IVHQ is an established and respected organization which means programs are well organized and supportive.

❌ Cons:

• In-country transportation to and from placements and lunches are not included so you will need to budget around $100 a week to cover extra expenses.
• Medical programs require volunteers to be healthcare students or licensed professionals with some prior experience.

With a range of meaningful volunteer options across Peru, you’re sure to find the best program for you through IVHQ. Project areas include childcare and teaching, animal care, agriculture, healthcare, conservation, and construction. Daily volunteer schedules range from 3-7 hours of work and placements last anywhere from one to 24 weeks.

International Volunteer HQ’s projects in Peru align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and are run by locals to ensure the work meets the community’s needs.

Program length: 2-4 weeks
Starting from: $2,650 USD for 2 weeks
What’s included: accommodation in a volunteer house, 3 meals a day during the week, airport pickup, 24/7 support, workshops and training, activities

✅ Pros:

• Get a well-rounded experience by volunteering at hospitals, local homes, and community health education centers.
• Stay at a fully-equipped volunteer house with a pool.

❌ Cons:

• Those without training or qualifications may be limited to observation or health education rather than patient interaction.
• The 4-week time limit may not be enough for some volunteers wishing to stay longer and immerse themselves in a project.

With African Impact you’ll dive head first into 4 weeks of medical volunteering focused on supporting communities of need around the Livingstone area. Projects address topics like public health, nutrition, physical health and disease prevention, and health education. You will find opportunities to assist in a range of activities with more emphasis on your personal areas of expertise and interest.

Volunteers are supported by an intern supervisor as well as project coordinators who help support your professional development throughout the experience. Outside of volunteering, Livingstone is a stone’s throw from Victoria Falls and other areas of stunning natural beauty in Zambia. As a volunteer, you’ll stay at a cozy backpacker’s hostel where you will meet countless new friends you’re unlikely to forget.

Program length: 1-12 weeks
Starting from: $2,395 USD for 1 week
What’s included: shared accommodation, meals, airport pickup, 24-7 support, specialized wildlife conservation course with certificate

✅ Pros:

• The education of volunteers is at the forefront of GVI’s programs so be prepared to come away with tangible knowledge and skills, including a certificate recognized by the University of Richmond.
• Conservation programs include a number of cultural activities that promote mutual understanding and respect among participants and local residents.

❌ Cons:

• Program fees are among the most expensive for short-term summer programs.
• Accommodation is rustic and located deep in the mountains so keep this in mind if you’re used to comfortable Western-style housing.

If you have a passion for wildlife and conservation then GVI‘s conservation programs in Thailand are for you. Animal lovers are invited to join in animal welfare projects, supporting efforts to rescue, monitor, and promote the health of wildlife in their natural habitats.

Volunteers can choose from programs focusing on elephants, sea turtles, gibbons, or a combination of the aforementioned species. You’ll learn the integral parts that make up conservation such as data collection and tracking, analysis, and observation. You will also become familiar with biodiversity and animal behavior and biology while living on base deep in the Mae Chaem District of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Program length: 12 days-6 weeks
Starting from: $4,575 USD for 12 days
What’s included: homestay accommodation or shared dormitory, meals, private transportation

✅ Pros:

• Once the program is completed, participants receive a leadership certificate and up to 36 service hours.
• You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish through lessons and real-world, conversational practice.

❌ Cons:

• On certain programs, you may also be required to have prior knowledge in Spanish, such as completing 2 years of Spanish classes.
• You may also be living in a rural area without hot water and wifi, so come in with an open mind!

Teens aged 13-19 interested in learning Spanish and strengthening their leadership skills this summer should check out Amigos de las America‘s Authentic Service and Immersion programs in Costa Rica. They offer educational youth programs that combine aspects of group travel, cultural immersion, and service learning together.

As an AMIGOS volunteer, you can choose from a wide range of program focuses such as sustainable development, environmental or marine conservation, global citizenship, farming, and more. You’ll make friends, travel together during unique excursions like visiting ancient ruins or hiking local volcanos, and collaborate on service projects with other likeminded volunteers.

Depending on the program, you may live with a local Costa Rican host family or in a shared dormitory with other participants. Volunteers who sign up for 3+ week projects have the opportunity to gain college credits.

Program length: 1-13 weeks
Starting from: $241 USD for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation with host family or shared apartment, breakfast provided 7 days a week, in-country transportation to cultural sites, 3 hours of German or Arabic lessons a week

✅ Pros:

• Receive quality Arabic or German language instruction outside of your volunteering hours.
• Support refugees from places like Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq through language learning and community-building initiatives.

❌ Cons:

• If you’re not interested in teaching English, there aren’t many other volunteer options.
• Lunch and dinner aren’t included so you will have to cover those meals on your own.

The Excellence Center seeks to empower refugees in Germany by helping them improve their conversational English. Refugees have been forced from their homes due to conflict and war and need help building lives in Germany. Language skills, both German and English, are imperative for integration into the community and accessing job opportunities. This is where you come in as a volunteer English language teacher.

In addition to teaching English, you will also be a language-learning student yourself. Three hours of Arabic or German study are included in the volunteering experience. Stay with a local host family and get involved in cultivating a supportive and caring community for refugees!

Program length: 16 days or 1 month
Starting from: $1,774 USD for 16 days
What’s included: accommodation, meals, airport pickup, orientation, activities and excursions, 24/7 support, in-country transportation

✅ Pros:

• You’ll be welcomed with open arms by a local Fijian family who will be your host.
• Think Pacific partners with the Fiji government so you know your program will be impactful for the community.

❌ Cons:

• You’ll be living in a remote village so the basic living standards can be hard to get used to for some.
• Village life is very communal so there can be a lack of personal space and alone time.

If you want to not only volunteer but also become a part of the local community, Think Pacific‘s programs in Fiji immerse you in the culture and lives of the Fijian people. All projects are community-led and requested ensuring you’re helping to accomplish the highest need goals. Choose from volunteer work in construction, youth mentoring, mental health promotion, and sports development.

Numerous past volunteers said they found a second family in Fiji through Think Pacific. Programs focus on cultural exchange in addition to the target project so you’ll come away with knowledge of another culture and meaningful friendships. Even introverts couldn’t help but feel embraced and comfortable by the warmth and hospitality of the people in their village. If you want a social and productive summer, this could be the program for you!

Program length: 14 or 21 days
Starting from: $2,795 USD for 14 days
What’s included: accommodation, meals, filtered water, in-country transport, activities and excursions, 24/7 support,

✅ Pros:

• Combine volunteering and travel in a short period of time.
• During your week of volunteering, you’ll wake up to the sounds of waves crashing on the beach outside of the volunteer house.

❌ Cons:

• If you’re looking for a longer volunteer experience, this program is highly structured to be completed in 14 or 21 days.
• Project areas are limited to teaching English and construction.

Want to volunteer this summer but are short on time? GIVE Volunteers offers short-term volunteer experiences in Tanzania that combine community development projects and adventure travel. You’ll spend 7 days contributing to projects to teach English, build a school, or empower local women to raise chickens by constructing coops.

Included in the programs are excursions to swim with wild dolphins, go on safari for 2 days, sail the Indian Ocean, and take part in activities that will immerse you in Maasai culture. If you choose the 21-day program, you’ll end your volunteer experience with a trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro which will take you through 5 different ecosystems.

Picking your perfect program is one step of many to bring your experience together. You’ll need to consider the length of time you’d like to volunteer and how much you can spend in addition to planning the nitty-gritty like flights and what to pack. Check out our tips to help shed some light on the specifics of volunteering abroad in the summertime.

Costs are generally dependent on the amount of time you spend abroad. That said, costs for our programs below range from as low as $180 per week up to $3000 for 3 months. You’ll also need to budget extra for things not included in the program fee. For example, not all programs provide all three meals a day.

Read more: How Much Does It Cost to Volunteer Abroad?

Most programs run from one week up to the entire summer, although these seasonal experiences tend to be tailored to those who are looking for shorter commitments. Some volunteer organizations recommend minimum time limits (usually two weeks or more) for certain projects to ensure maximum impact.

According to USA Today’s Travel Tips, you can find the best deal for international travel 4-5 months before your departure date. Some sites may tell you you can score last-minute deals right before your travel date although this isn’t recommended unless you want to be frazzled in the days leading up to your trip! Skyscanner is a helpful website to locate the best prices if your schedule is flexible. You might even want to see when tickets are the cheapest and plan your volunteer experience around that.

Check the climate in the area where you’re headed and pack accordingly. Your chosen volunteer organization can give you better guidance on suggested clothing and personal items. You may also want to ask if there are any items you can bring to donate, such as books or school or medical supplies.

Read more: 10 Things I Wish I Had Done Differently as a First-Time Volunteer

Pack your bags this summer for an experience of a lifetime! There are projects all over the world in need of enthusiastic volunteers willing to give their time and energy to meaningful and lasting work to improve the lives of people everywhere. Start comparing volunteer programs today for a summer you won’t forget.