Introduction to Volunteering

Volunteering is working for other people for minimal revenue benefit but maximum self satisfaction!

Overview

If you love to help others and have a zest for life then volunteering is for you.

You can find different types of volunteering opportunities with Ecoteer.

The majority of our placements are at ecolodges. Whatever your interests you will find something for you at an ecolodge, as long as you are passionate about helping other people and nature. For example, at an eco-lodge you could teach the local community, become a tour guide or even a linguist as you will be meeting many tourists from all over the world.

We also offer conservation, humanitarian aid, teaching projects and help you to study for your thesis abroad! These are more specialised opportunities but equally rewarding.

We know you will find your dream placement with Ecoteer.

Benefits

How it Benefits You

The benefits are endless. You will have the experience of a lifetime - the hardest part will be coming home again!

Apart from the normal backpacking benefits - finding yourself, becoming more independent, meeting new people, experiencing new food, cultures and different lifestyles - you will gain in so many other ways.

Volunteering with Ecoteer will allow you to become one of the community at your placement. You will learn new languages and embrace different cultures, changing your way of thinking. You will create true long-term friendships with people you would never even have believed were alive, let alone consider them good friends. You could take on new interests such as wildlife photography, canoeing, scuba diving, body rafting, first aid or sustainable living. If you volunteer at an eco-lodge you will meet people from all over the world everyday!

You never know who you may meet tomorrow! At many of our ecolodges film crews sometimes visit with celebrities such as David Attenborough and Steve Irwin.

Volunteering could change your future. You may meet people who could lead you to future employment anywhere in the world. Even if your future is not in the conservation/environmental industry, just think of your CV...

What would a potential employer prefer? "I spent 6 months working in a supermarket" or "I spent 6 months travelling on a round-the-world ticket, visiting all the big cities" or "I spent 6 months working in the Amazon rainforest where I learnt a new language, how to canoe, track wildlife, build tree houses and, oh yeah, I met people of different cultures everyday".

How it Benefits the Community

The benefits for the projects often escalate over time.

The project will benefit through the work that you will do but volunteers also bring with them new ideas and a fresh approach. Plus, if you are good at teaching you can help people learn your language - a very important aspect for eco-lodges and third-world volunteering.

Just by being with the local people they will become more accustomed to Westerners and this helps them and the ecolodges as they become more confident communicating with tourists and bidding for future jobs.

But most of all the community will gain a new friend! And the more true friends you have can only make your life better!