Best Students Volunteer Opportunities for Upcoming Holidays

Enjoying the Christmas break away from your school dormitories? And thinking of helping out this Holiday season to make the most out of the spirit of giving? There are numerous volunteer opportunities fit for students just like you.

1. Travel across five continents

This highly acclaimed organization was the brainchild of Richard Walton, founded in 1997. GVI offers volunteer programs across the country like Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Australia. 

As of counting, this award-winning organization has given more than 24,000 student volunteer opportunities all over the world with helpful programs on construction, education, and animal care. The company welcomes applicants under the age of 18 where they can work that can last for over a year.

Furthermore, GVI offers a unique experience for their volunteers.

• GVI operates their own volunteer projects to guarantee real and justifiable impact on the field
• GVI provides full degree support before, during, and after the volunteer’s appointment
• GVI’s alumni connection provides augmented access to career development opportunities and higher education.

2. Volunteer opportunities in Guatemala

Lake Atitlan in Guatemala may sound like a perfect vacation spot. But this beautiful creation by Mother Nature is surrounded by three volcanoes that need urgent attention to keep its natural splendor.

So, think of a great destination where you can enjoy nature’s beauty this Christmas, while at the same time grab the holiday volunteer opportunities. This volunteer experience will include talking to the locals about recycling, and also lending a hand in cleaning the lake and all its surrounding hillsides to in retaining its natural habitat.

Furthermore, students with the following qualifications may also work on different programs, such as:

• Volunteers who speak the Spanish language have the opportunity to teach in local schools and with the indigenous women in Guatemala.
• Volunteers who cannot speak the language but wants to learn can take Spanish classes in either a group or one-on-one.
• Volunteers have the option to stay with the locals

3. Holiday volunteer opportunities in Morocco

Answer the following questions. Do you want to visit the beautiful city of Morocco? Do you like art? Do you support women’s rights? And want to be a valuable citizen of the society? If yes, this volunteer opportunity is for you because not only will you have the opportunity Morocco, you will also volunteer to help women and young girls alike through arts, sports, and educations.

Volunteerhq.org offers workshops and activities dedicated to women who want to help themselves. Other than that, you may also take Arabic and French languages as elective.

4. Work in India

Kerela, India is rich in culture with lots of activities for tourists while lending a hand. I-to-ii.com offers a two-week trip where you the opportunity to work in school while enjoying the beautiful landscape of Southern India. All you have to do is extend help with the local staff in a special needs school through the following:

• Games
• Arts and crafts
• Music

While doing charity work, you may also enjoy your vacation on the sideline.

• Enjoy the wonders Kerala
• Backwaters by houseboat
• Visit Kochi
• Visit the Athirapally waterfalls
• Go fishing
• Visit an elephant camp

5. Help in Japan

Ishinomaki’s seaside town in Japan was devastated by a tsunami in 2011. Since then, the residents have been welcoming every aid they can get to restore the place. With It's Not Just Mud is an organization that offers volunteer opportunities to help the locals rebuild their town.

This disaster relief organization offers a 3-day volunteer opportunity with the following programs including:

• Clearing drains
• Cleaning houses
• Shoveling debris from local infrastructures
• Helping in a temporary housing shelter

6. Visit a botanical garden in Dutch Antilles island of St Eustatius in the Caribbean

Do you like camping? Enjoy the great outdoor? Or thinking of a good island hoping destination this Holiday? There are holiday volunteer opportunities that can last for eight weeks in a botanical garden in Dutch Antilles island of St Eustatius in the Caribbean where you can do the following:

• Building trails
• Maintaining the flora and fauna of the island,
• Helping with surveys
• Patrolling at night during the nesting season of turtles

You will sleep at a tent out in the wild and try different physical activities such as:

• Snorkeling
• Hiking

7. Helping the kids in Bolivia

Do you have a passion in teaching? Do you love kids? Volunteer South America, an independent organization, are looking for volunteers willing to teach the kids of Luz del Mundo, a children’s center in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Some of the lessons are perfect for volunteers with qualifications in professional writing, paper writing because one of the lessons is teaching English to these kids. Other subjects include the performing arts and musical arts.

8. Three months in Costa Rica

Looking for student volunteer opportunities even after the Holidays? True Travellers Society is an organization that offers a 3-month program for volunteers willing to work directly with Casa Milagro Foundation who holds the following qualifications:

• Graphic design
• Community development
• International development
• Marketing
• Environmentalism

On a side note, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with sea turtles.

9. Rescuing animals in Ecuador

Fundación Fauna de la Amazonía offers a two-week program in Ecuador for volunteers who loves working with animals and working for the community. The strenuous program includes the following:

• Feeding
• Caretaking
• Cleaning
• Animal observation
• Maintenance work
• Helping with the community

10. Conservation work in Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland offers holiday volunteer opportunities for individuals who are interested in landscaping and wildlife monitoring. The organization runs the Thistle Camps and is welcoming volunteer this Holiday season.

11. Conservation work in the United Kingdom

The Brecon Beacons national park offers year-round programs who want to help in maintaining bridleways and footpaths. The work also includes grass cutting, coppicing, and thinning to help in conserving the national park’s woodland sites.

Spending the Holiday season doing charitable work is an admirable trait for any individual. Enjoying the spirit of giving during Christmas outside your hometown can now be both enjoyable and honorable.