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Help clean up our oceans and learn to dive – or improve your current skills – on a beautiful beach in Barcelona. Spend your days foraging for plastic waste and old fishing nets, analyse your ‘catch’, and then wave goodbye as it makes it’s way off for recycling. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore this epic city of course, and you won’t be disappointed!

Not only does this volunteer opportunity involve caring for and working with horses, but what is more you will be volunteering in beautiful forest land, helping in the local community and giving disadvantaged people more opportunities – with the horses as your companions and modes of transport at most times!

Take care of abandoned cats who are waiting to be re-homed or enjoying living out their days in comfort. As well as the usual tasks such as cleaning, feeding and walking, you’ll also get a chance to help with plenty of ‘playtime’ and cuddles. Explore the fascinating city of Barcelona in your free time – from visiting the beach to checking out the sights, there is almost too much to keep you busy!

Join an expert team on a ‘Big 5’ reserve, situated on the edge of the beautifully wild Kruger National Park. With over 400 baboons in various stages of rehabilitation, you’ll get to learn so much about these amazing primates during your time at this bespoke centre.

Get off the beaten track to live on a beautiful Costa Rican beach, protecting the turtles that nest and hatch on the golden sands. Live like a local as you make a genuine contribution to marine conservation.

Join an international team of volunteers who are working together to care for rescued elephants in an inspirational sanctuary. Together you will be helping these elephants to have a life as close to the wild as possible, a far cry from their previous lives working on the streets or in tourist camps. Highlights include bathing and walking the elephants, allowing you to really get to know these gentle giants.

Volunteer at Eastern Europe’s largest bear sanctuary, helping to care for the world’s most beloved animal. Watch the bears enjoying their newfound freedom as you look after their basic needs in this beautiful woodland haven. Romania is described by many of our volunteers as “Europe’s hidden gem”, and with its vast number of outdoor, historical, cultural and city pursuits, you won’t want to leave!

Live on the wild side and get stuck in to the life of an assistant game ranger on a stunning game reserve, home to Africa’s Big 5. Enjoy the thrills of taking a safari, all whilst helping to promote the survival of African flora and fauna. Experience the lions roaring, elephants trumpeting and antelope running as you work out and about on the reserve each day.

Bears, birds, orangutans, monkeys, gibbons, deer, otters – and much more! – are being cared for by volunteers like you at this inspiring sanctuary on the outskirts of Thailand’s largest national park. Help to look after over 700 neglected animals, rescued from the cruel tourist trade, and brought to this sanctuary to recover. If that isn’t enough of a draw, there is even an on-site elephant sanctuary that you may be able to help at too.

Become part of an elephant research team, monitoring these gentle giants in their daily lives together. The project is located in a beautiful park, where you will be working closely with rescued elephants as they recover from previous trauma and stress. In your free time, explore the stunning Garden Route and immerse yourself fully in this wonderful corner of Africa.

Coach football, netball, hockey, cricket, rugby, tennis, basketball or swimming in one of the world’s greatest sporting nations, bringing your love for sports into some of Africa’s poorest townships. Coach just one or a combination of these sports to improve not only the children’s sporting abilities and teamwork, but your own as well. If that’s not enough for you, you can even get involved with childcare and teaching projects.

Work closely with wolves in a beautiful sanctuary in one of Portugal’s Nature Parks. These shy creatures are no longer able to live in the wild after having been kept in zoos, traded illegally or hunted by humans. Help to provide care and a life as close to the wild as possible to the largest members of the much-loved dog family.

Take the first steps to becoming a game ranger on this amazing 8 week course, working towards the highly regarded FGASA Apprentice Field Guide qualification. Live the life of a trainee game ranger on a lush game reserve, learning all about and participating in animal care, reserve management, game drives and more. If that’s not enough, your classroom is a Big 5 game reserve, with amazing animals at every turn.

Volunteer with over 200 exotic Amazonian animals in a beautiful rainforest sanctuary. From monkeys to forest cats, from caimans to birds, from tortoises to rodents, this wildlife haven is home to amazing animals aplenty. Contribute to their rehabilitation and care during the week, and explore this stunning corner of Ecuador on your weekends.

See the very best of Southeast Asia on this affordable backpacking tour. As well as the must-see highlights, spend time exploring the less-known parts of these amazing countries. Jam-packed with activities, there is something for every type of traveler.

A shocking 33% of food that is produced worldwide each year goes to waste. This project aims to tackle food waste in its own small way by collecting unused food from supermarkets and restaurants – and redistributing it to some of the poorest people within Lisbon.

Become a research diver on an exciting volunteer marine conservation project in Thailand. Get involved in daily dives to explore the health of the marine environment just off the stunning island of Koh Phangan. Suitable for new and experienced divers alike, this project allows participants to play in active role in tackling marine decline, all whilst enjoying the wonders of life under the sea.

Step off the trodden tourist trail and into the heart of stunning Sri Lanka, where elephants are still clinging on to life in the wild. Work closely with the local community to help promote the survival of the endangered Asian elephant, all whilst enjoying seeing these creatures roam in their natural habitat – a rare wonder.

Explore one of the most beautiful and untouched destinations on earth – New Zealand! Help local conservationists with their efforts to preserve some of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations. Chose from two gateway cities on the North Island and one on the South Island.

Actively help in the fight against plastics and rubbish clogging up our marine environment. On this project you will be doing daily dives to remove fishing gear, debris and plastics from the ocean around Lisbon. It is an amazing opportunity to make a difference and clean up our world.

Head into the heart of Borneo’s rainforest, helping to regenerate habitats and monitor local wildlife. From orangutans to pygmy elephants and from primates to crocodiles, you will be preserving these creatures and their habitat for generations to come. This is a once in a lifetime experience to live in a small remnant of paradise, immersing yourself in a way of life that has all but been forgotten.

Take part in a highly rated medical internship that gives you varied medical experience working on a mobile medical unit and within a children’s hospital. Work in a variety of medical settings and with a mixture of cases, shadowing doctors and nurses and actively contributing to the care of the patients.

South Africa is home to the amazing Marine Big 5 – sharks, whales, dolphin, penguins and seals – and their existence is under threat. Spend your days out on the water observing marine life, all whilst contributing to innovative shark conservation and eco-tourism measures. Help out at a penguin rescue centre and with beach clean ups to improve the damaged marine world. And if that’s not enough, why not tick something off the bucket list and go cage diving with sharks too?

Experience the rare desert elephants in the wild, helping these endangered animals and rural communities to co-exist in harmony. Enjoy all that desert life brings, from cooking over camp fires to sleeping under the stars, and throw yourself into the volunteer role, which includes tracking elephants, doing building projects and helping the local community.

Want to tour Japan without breaking the bank? Join our 13 day adventure which starts in Tokyo and heads west towards Hiroshima. This backpacking Japan tour has been carefully created to ensure that your experience is authentic and unique. You’ll stop at all the hot spots along the way and get to experience all that makes this country so iconic.

Borneo has gone down in legend as one of the best places in the world for wildlife lovers. One of its most beloved species, the Bornean sun bear, is under threat of extinction, but you can volunteer to help tackle this tragic predicament.

China – one of the largest countries in the world – is not only huge, but also diverse. Join our 25-day tour and travel an epic 3,392 miles, taking in the very best that China has to offer. Short on time? Opt for our shorter 16-day backpacking tour instead. This affordable and jam-packed tour of China will take you through spectacular countryside and into the busiest cities in the world.

Looking to see the best that India offers? Take part in a backpacking tour that will take you to the iconic highlights, as well as taking you to areas that are less explored. Choose to join either the 18-day tour of the north and west or opt for the shorter 13-day north India tour.

Gain unparalleled access to wildlife experts on a Big 5 game reserve, home to some of the most magnificent mammals on this planet. Shadow a vet on their rounds of the on-site rehabilitation centre and get stuck in to the veterinarian’s role on the wider game reserve – from darting animals to doing game captures, from health checks to autopsies.

Nepal – home to the tallest mountain and the deepest valley – is a country that everyone needs to visit at least once. Volunteer for women’s empowerment in Pokhara and take part in educational and health care initiatives. Live with a host family and other volunteers and witness first-hand the friendliness of the Nepali people.

Pokhara in Nepal is a dream location for volunteers looking for a city bursting with culture and beauty. Live in Lakeside a popular area in Pokhara and the start point of many world-famous treks. Teach English in Nepal in local school, working with incredible teams and energetic children.

Help to care for sick and injured animals in game reserves, vet clinics, farms and local communities on a mobile veterinary unit. See some amazing sights, help with some incredible animals and get unrivalled work experience on this internship in South Africa.

Bring games, laughter and fun to disadvantaged children in schools or nurseries in some of Port Elizabeth’s poorest townships. Your enthusiasm will encourage the kids to be passionate about their education and their future – these kids are desperate to learn, and your time as a volunteer will help not only with their studies, but their life chances too.

Sunny Sydney is the place to live and work for up to a year (or extend for two or three on the amazing work scheme…) Following a fantastic 7 day orientation programme including local attractions, get support in setting up your admin and find paid work with membership to an exclusive online job database!

Spend your summer living and working in the popular resort town of Banff in Alberta. You’ll be in the heart of all the action that Banff National Park has to offer. Make the most of your days off with all of the hiking, biking and water sports that are available. How are you going to afford this for a summer season? This is where the guaranteed job comes in!

Experience life as a jackeroo or jillaroo by completing an introductory farm work in Australia course in the vast and beautiful outback. Learn to ride dirt bikes and horses, muster and work with cattle, pick up fencing skills, use chainsaws and operate tractors. Oh, and did we mention you are guaranteed a paid job at the end of the programme?

Immerse yourself and your family in traditional Costa Rica, living in a remote village community alongside one of the most stunning stretches of beach that the country has to offer. Join a conservation team working to protect both nesting and hatching turtles off the Pacific Coast, working together to protect this endangered species.
Dates: Early July to mid-December
Suitability: Suggested minimum age of 5

Take your family off the beaten track to a leading baboons rehabilitation centre. It will be a family holiday to remember, hugely educational and rewarding as you all get involved with nurturing these orphaned youngsters for a life in the wild.
Dates: Throughout the year
Duration: 2 – 4 weeks
Suitability: Appropriate for children aged 8+

 

 

You and your family have the rare opportunity to assist with the care of over 100 bears in Eastern Europe’s largest bear sanctuary. This makes for an amazing family holiday, as not only will you be volunteering closely with the bears in this stunning haven, but you will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful country and its fascinating history in your free time.
Dates: Throughout the year except Christmas / New Year
Suitability: Children must be 10+ at the point of departure

Take an unforgettable holiday with your family, getting far off the beaten track and away from the norm. As a family, you will volunteer in Thailand to care for rescued Thai elephants – not something that many families do on their summer holidays! Together you can help these rescued elephants to enjoy a life of freedom that they have not known before.
Dates: Throughout the year.
Suitability: Children must be 16+ (younger volunteers with relevant experience will also be considered)

Contribute to a life-changing mission to restore hundreds of abused animals to health. You and your family will be caring for sun bears, monkeys, macaques, orangutans, deer, otter, birds and more at this growing wildlife sanctuary. An elephant sanctuary is just next door, so you can enjoy seeing these gentle giants too.
Dates: Throughout the year.
Suitability: Children must be 14+ at the point of departure (younger volunteers with relevant experience will also be considered)

 

Come together with other intrepid families on this volunteer holiday in the verdant rain forest. Become part of the community, working alongside locals to help protect their natural environment and creatures within it. Witness orangutans and other amazing wildlife in their natural habitat– a sight you will never forget!
Dates: Monthly departures
Suitability: Appropriate for children aged 8+

Live a nomadic lifestyle in the Namibian desert, helping with community work and conservation as you go. Camp under a blanket of starts, cook over a camp fire, see the rare desert elephants roaming in their natural habitat and help a remote community. Guaranteed to be a family holiday like no other.
Dates: Bespoke, set departure dates in July and August
Suitability: Children must be 8+ at the point of departure

Experience the thrill of seeing elephants living in the wild, and work together to help protect these majestic creatures. Not only will you be gaining a full cultural immersion, but you will be making a genuine contribution to the survival of elephants living in their natural habitat – a fantastic recipe for a family holiday in Sri Lanka.
Dates: Throughout the year.
Suitability: Appropriate for children aged 10+

Make your summer holiday count!

Why not use the mini gap between the end of school and start of university or college to hit the ground running with some valuable experience. Oyster offers a huge range of summer volunteer programs and summer jobs abroad.  Take part in a worthy cause such as an animal or wildlife conservation project with our fantastic volunteer organisations on several continents around the world. Enhance your C.V. by volunteering as a teacher, get involved in community development or obtain unique medical volunteering experience abroad. You can also work in Sydney or Auckland and gain a few dollars for the year ahead.

Increasing, numbers of school students are looking for overseas opportunities during their summer break, summer abroad volunteer programs are more popular than ever, as are summer jobs abroad for students. Volunteering abroad is a fantastic way to spend a meaningful summer, and animal welfare, conservation and teaching volunteer abroad projects are certainly becoming ever more popular. We cater for 17 year olds upwards.

Volunteer holidays are a great way to experience a gap year, yet with the flexibility of it being a short-term summer volunteer program. Summer volunteer projects can be done for as little as one week, but for up to 15 weeks. Get involved in one of our volunteering over summer programs and make this summer count!

You can in fact  join a wide range of summer volunteer programs throughout the year!  Summer program availability is a little more restricted than at other times, so we encourage you to book your summer volunteer abroad adventure early to guarantee your space. Program fees start from as little as £647 for one week.

If you are planning to take a course that involves many years of study, or one that doesn’t accommodate a full year out, then this may be a great opportunity for you to experience overseas travel. Use this time wisely to create an amazing experience and travel somewhere in the world that you may never get the chance to in the future.

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