If you are like me and want to travel the world but are looking for ways to travel on a budget Worldpackers is for you! This volunteer program allows you to stay in places all around the world for FREE.
It is super easy to get started volunteering with Worldpackers. I am going to show you the 7 simple steps to start volunteering with Worldpackers.
This post is all about how to start volunteering abroad with Worldpackers.
7 Steps to Start Volunteer with Worldpackers
Step 1: Visit the Worldpackers Website and See if this volunteer program is right for you
Step one when finding a volunteer program that is right for you is to read all about the program. Figure out the company goals and what they have to offer. Worldpackers goal was to make travel more accessible to everyone. The company understands that the traditional way of travelling isn’t an option for many people so they created Worldpackers as a way for those that want to travel on a budget to see the world. Worldpackers offers many great perks. Once you are a member you have tons of volunteer opportunities around the world you can apply to. Each volunteer project has been vetted by the company and each offers different inclusions but ALL offer free accommodations. You also have Worldpackers insurance and 24/7 support from the team if anything were to go wrong. To learn more about Worldpackers click here.
Step 2: Purchase Worldpackers Membership
The amazing part of Worldpackers is that you buy a membership with Worldpackers for the full year (which doesn’t cost much) and then you have all these amazing volunteer positions at your fingertips. There are different types of Worldpackers memberships, there is…
Plans to travel solo:
- Solo Trips ($49 USD for 12 months)
- Solo Pack ($99 USD for 12 months)
- Solo Pack Plus ($129 USD for 12 months)
- Couples/Friends Trip ($59 USD for 12 months)
- Couples/Friends Pack ($119 USD for 12 months)
- Couples/Friends Pack Plus ($149 USD for 12 months)
Step 3: Make Your Volunteer Profile
After you are a member of Worldpackers you have to create your profile because it tells the volunteer hosts about yourself. Your profile should include a bit about yourself, including the languages you speak, your skills, your background, and any other information you think would be helpful for volunteer hosts to know about yourself. To make your profile stand out from the rest of the volunteers I recommend taking some of the courses that Worldpackes offers and you can even add a video to your profile to make it even more personal.Step 4: Research the tons of volunteer opportunities around the world and find ones you are interested in
There are TONS of volunteer opportunities with Worldpackers so you need to do your research and pick ones that really stand out to you. When doing your research Worldpackers makes it easier for you by providing a filter that you can edit and find volunteer positions that are just right for you. You can filter by:- Destinations (There are destinations all over the world with Worldpackers so if there is a certain destination on your travel bucket list Worldpackers will most likely have volunteer opportunities there)
- program type (work exchange, eco project, social impact)
- highlights (higher chance of approval, top hosts, opportunities for couples and pairs)
- purpose of the trip (e.g. connect with locals, connect with nature, learn about sustainability, etc.)
- availability (choose the months you want to volunteer in)
- How do you help (e.g. welcoming and helping guests, eco-activities, teaching, etc.)
- skills (e.g. gardening, handyman, cleaning, etc.)
- host type (e.g. hostel, NGO, homestay, guest house, etc.)
- style (e.g. contact with nature, family, rural, city and town, etc.)
Step 5: Apply to volunteer opportunities
Once you find one or more volunteer opportunities that you are really interested in it is time to apply. Each volunteer opportunity can have different questions they ask in the application but they usually ask about how you would be helpful to their project and usually they will ask a few more personal questions to make sure you are a good fit for the project. I recommend you apply to a few projects you are interested in because some hosts get a lot of applications or sometimes you aren’t the best fit for the project. But don’t worry if you don’t get the first volunteer opportunity you apply for there are tons more out there that will be just as amazing!Step 6: Talk with the volunteer host to confirm dates and get to know each other
If a volunteer host thinks you will be a good fit for the volunteer project they will message you to confirm the dates you will be volunteering. I also recommend calling or even better video calling with your host to get to know them a bit more and you can ask any questions you have before you confirm your trip. Once you talk with the host and agree on your volunteering dates you can accept your volunteer opportunity and get ready to travel the world with Worldpackers!Step 7: Book your flight and travel the world
GET READY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD!! After your volunteer opportunity is confirmed your last step is to book your flight and get ready to travel. I recommend checking out Google Flights when doing your flight research. Also before you go volunteering abroad check to see if you need any vaccinations for the places you are travelling and whether or not you need a visa. After all of that is sorted you are ready to go!
Hope that was helpful for anyone wanting to volunteer abroad or travel on a budget. Worldpackers makes travelling more accessible so take advantage of this amazing opportunity and travel the world while saving money. Have an amazing trip!
This post was all about the steps to volunteer abroad with Worldpackers.
