Volunteer holidays

[Phteven]

Anyone ever done any kind of volunteering holiday?
DH and I are thinking that it would be good for the boys if we sacrificed some comfort on a holiday and did some volunteering work. I have a friend who goes to Nepal every couple of years and does some volunteer work so I was thinking something along those lines but preferably working with people not environmental projects.

Organisations, websites, tips etc will all be gratefully accepted.

[Chocaholic]

There are heaps of websites for short term volunteering. Maybe GVI Australia or Projects Abroad websites might be useful.

I think the minimum time is 1 week and there are various options on the type of volunteer projects available.

[Pholi]

I've done heaps of volunteer holidays - always with an environmental focus, though (UK, Iceland, Thailand). Make sure that the company you go with has been around for a while, as there are plenty of shady companies that are happy to take your money, but don't give you much of an experience ar meet your expectations. Expect volunteer holidays to be expensive - just because you're donating your time doesn't mean they don't need money, as well. I've rarely seen pure volunteer holidays that accept children. I know that companies like Intrepid (with whom I've done a few standard trips) have specific trips for families, and that they often have human/environmental or animal volunteer work scheduled as a small part of the holiday - perhaps that would be a good option until you know it works for your family?

Good on you for even thinking about it! Best of luck.

[fionas]

just subbing. Would like to do something similar when the girls are a bit older.

Onyx, just a thought but our local papers often have stories about people who've volunteered overseas and some of the projects are run by local (to our little town) people eg. a local woman has started an orphanage in Cambodia. Might be worth keeping an eye out and seeing if you can contact them directly.

[Phteven]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've had a bit of a poke about on the interwebs. Lots of places don't take children under 14 but a few do.
Projects Abroad has family volunteering for families with children 3 and over. Most of the other organisations that take younger children were based in the US or UK and for the sake of ease I would rather use an Australian based company.
Since it will be a while until we can afford it I guess I have plenty of time to find other options.

I just realised the no environmental stuff might look a bit dodgy. I'm not a climate change denier or anything, it's just that they are rather spoilt and entitled little people and it would do them good to see how the other half lives.

[Pholi]

Onyx, your 'no environment' bit didn't seem dodgy at all to me. I know many people who choose 'people' charities to donate to rather than environment or animal charities. I choose to donate my time to environmental charities because I work in a caring profession (physio), so I like a change for my holidays!

[lilima]

I did some work with International Volunteers for Peace. It was back a few years ago now. They did family trips back then.. Not sure if they still do.

[Phteven]

Of course. Join the UN. Why didn't I think of that?

[TeniBear]

I hear they get free apples though!

[peanutter]

I would like all the pleasure and the rest.

Does it come with sashimi? I am very fond of the sashimi too.

Preferably cut thin. Very thin. With a little vinegar.

I have heard that apple vinegar is the thinnest of the vinegars.

And it is helpful to the environments as well.

All of them.

The End.