Volunteers play a vital role in supporting dog shelters in Croatia that care for abandoned, rescued, and mistreated dogs. These shelters provide essential care and safety for dogs in need, and they rely heavily on volunteers to help with daily tasks and emotional rehabilitation.

As a volunteer, you’ll assist with feeding, walking, grooming, and socialising dogs—many of whom may have experienced trauma or neglect. You’ll also help maintain clean, secure shelter spaces and enrich the dogs’ lives with companionship and positive interaction to increase their chances of adoption.

This is a hands-on opportunity for dog lovers who want to make a meaningful impact. Experience the beauty of Croatia while helping build trust and wellbeing in animals that deserve a second chance.

Volunteers in this program support a unique blend of animal care, cultural preservation, and social impact in Croatia’s scenic countryside. Working alongside a historic equestrian club, you’ll help care for horses, support therapeutic riding sessions for children with disabilities, and assist in preparations for the traditional Sinjska Alka event.

Your role includes daily stable maintenance, grooming and feeding horses, and aiding instructors during therapy sessions. Through your involvement, you’ll not only improve the wellbeing of the animals but also empower young participants and preserve a living piece of Croatian heritage.

This experience is ideal for those who love working with animals and want to engage in cultural and community-based volunteering. It’s a chance to connect with local life, contribute to meaningful causes, and discover the heart of rural Croatia.

Volunteers play a key role in local youth programs across Croatia, supporting after-school centres and nonprofit organizations that work with children and teens facing social and educational barriers. These spaces offer support, structure, and creativity to help young people grow with confidence and curiosity.

You’ll assist with homework, lead engaging activities, share your culture, and support English learning in an informal, dynamic setting. Your presence helps foster inclusion and encourages youth to dream bigger, stay motivated, and connect to new ideas and experiences.

This program offers a rewarding opportunity to be a positive influence in young lives while gaining valuable cross-cultural and educational experience in a vibrant, evolving Croatian community.

Volunteers provide critical support to organizations in Croatia that care for adults with intellectual disabilities—offering companionship, creative engagement, and social inclusion in environments where such support is often limited. These day centres are essential spaces for community, learning, and personal development.

As a volunteer, you’ll join workshops, assist with everyday routines, and help staff run inclusive, respectful, and empowering activities. By bringing patience, creativity, and cultural exchange, you’ll help create a more engaging environment and contribute to a better quality of life for every participant.

This role is ideal for empathetic individuals looking to make a lasting, human-centred impact. You’ll be part of a community that values inclusion and connection—and you’ll help make that possible, one moment at a time

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!

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!

As a food rescue volunteer in Barcelona, you’ll help tackle food waste and food insecurity by supporting local initiatives that collect surplus food from restaurants, supermarkets, and bakeries and distribute it to people in need. Volunteers play a key role in preparing and delivering meals, sorting donations, and creating an efficient and respectful system that serves thousands every week. This is a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on hunger and sustainability in one of Europe’s most iconic cities.

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 of this elephant volunteering project in Thailand include bathing and walking the elephants, allowing you to really get to know these gentle giants.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 ability and teamwork, but your own as well! If that’s not enough for you, you can even get involved with childcare and teaching projects.

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.

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.

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.

A shocking 33% of food that is produced worldwide each year goes to waste. This food waste volunteering 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.

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.

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

This unique surf and conservation camp in Lisbon, Portugal, combines adventure with impact. Volunteers ride the waves on beautiful Atlantic beaches while supporting coastal clean ups, recycling efforts, and environmental awareness campaigns that protect marine life and promote sustainable habits.

As a volunteer, you’ll take part in daily surf lessons led by experienced instructors, and contribute to preserving Portugal’s shoreline through hands-on environmental action. Tasks include cleaning beaches and forests, collecting and sorting waste, and engaging the public in eco-conscious initiatives.

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced surfer, this is your chance to connect with the ocean, help reduce pollution, and live purposefully while immersed in Portugal’s beach culture.

This unique surf and volunteer project in Porto, Portugal, combines beach life with community impact. Volunteers enjoy world-class surf lessons while helping with inclusive surfing initiatives for children and individuals with disabilities, and supporting the protection of Portugal’s natural coastline through conservation efforts.

As a volunteer, you’ll help deliver community surf sessions that promote wellbeing and self-confidence, and take part in practical environmental work like beach cleanups and recycling initiatives. Whether you’re guiding a beginner into their first wave or helping remove plastic pollution from a protected shoreline, your actions support both people and planet.

Based near the scenic Douro River, this is a perfect opportunity to connect with the ocean, promote inclusion, and live meaningfully in one of Europe’s most welcoming coastal cities.

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 Thailand Coral Reef Restoration 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Qualify as a CSIA Level 1 ski instructor in Whistler Blackcomb and join a world-renowned ski school, teaching children how to ski for the season. You get a job and staff accommodation for the whole season and get to enjoy the breath-taking scenery  and diverse cultural scene of Whistler Village.

This is the perfect opportunity to spend every day on some of the best slopes in the world suitable for all skill levels. While others typically require a Level 2 CSIA qualification to apply for Whistler Blackcomb positions, with Oyster, you’ll leap straight into an instructor role as a freshly qualified CSIA Level 1 graduate!

Experience the buzz of working in the heart of a busy snow school as a member of support staff for Whistler Kids, or as part of the mountain operations team. Depending on your experience, we have a variety of roles available. Choose from being a kitchen assistant, preparing meals for the students and instructors; work as a den master, or as an Outdoor Ranger supervising the outdoor play facilities.

Whether it’s your first time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.

Front of House Experience : Work in one of Whistler Blackcomb’s most prestigious hotels or spas for a whole winter season. The work is tough but the pay is good and the days off are awesome! If you have hotel or hospitality work experience, use your skills to work in Whistler. All of the jobs are in Whistler Village and everything is within walking distance of the ski lifts. On days off, getting up on the mountain is a must!

Back of House Experience : This year we are also opening up the Chef and Kitchen team opportunities – if you have experience working in kitchens, or have just finished working in a culinary specific qualification or internship, you can join the teams at the one of the best 5* resorts in North America.

Join us in Whistler’s top hotels and spas for an amazing kitchen adventure! Picture yourself cooking up a storm in the heart of this famous ski spot. From creating tasty menus to working behind the scenes, you’ll be part of the action. Get ready for a thrilling ski season where your kitchen skills meet snow-filled fun. This is your chance to level up your cooking game with a big-name brand while enjoying the mountain buzz. Come join our team for a tasty journey that’s as exciting as it gets!

Our program is tailored for those who are ready to take the first step into the culinary world.

With guidance from Oyster Worldwide, you’ll have support from application to placement and beyond. The professional skills you’ll gain, combined with the personal growth you’ll experience, make this an unbeatable start to your career. And when you’re not working? You’ll be hitting the slopes, exploring local attractions, and enjoying the vibrant social scene of Whistler.

No prior experience? No problem. This program is ideal for young people eager to grow their skills, earn great pay, and explore a world-class ski resort. Join a vibrant international community, develop your talents, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whistler awaits—are you ready?

Bag yourself a qualification as a ski or snowboard instructor whilst on holiday in Whistler Blackcomb. Our 4 week course is designed to give you all the training you need to pass the CSIA or CASI Level 1 instructor exam. AST Level 1 is also included.

Express route to gaining both your Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor qualifications in awesome Whistler Blackcomb.

Gain your CSIA or CASI Level 1 and 2 qualifications as a skier or snowboarder on our professional 11 week course in Whistler Blackcomb – North America’s number 1 ski resort. Avalanche Skills Training (Level 1 and 2) is also included so you get to experience the backcountry as well!

Earn money working full-time in a customer service role in the Rockies.  There are certainly worse places to do this job, on a tough day at work, you can look out of the window and see the awesome Rocky Mountains. On your days off, you can be hitting the slopes! (Candidates must have at least one full year of full time work, before applying)

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 your job comes in!

Fancy taking a safari but with the chance to make a difference at the same time? This family Big 5 South Africa volunteer holiday is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to experience the Big 5 in their natural environment, whilst also working together as a team to preserve it. This is a working holiday of a lifetime, offering amazing wildlife, gently educational experiences and the chance to make a difference.
Dates: Set departures throughout the year see BOOK NOW calendar
Suitability: Appropriate for children aged 8+

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 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.

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 4+

We can accommodate up to 75 volunteers on this incredible group trip! Step off the beaten tourist path and immerse yourself in the breath taking beauty of Sri Lanka, where endangered Asian elephants still inhabit the wild. Collaborate closely with the local community to promote the survival and conservation of these magnificent creatures, all while enjoying the unique opportunity to witness them roaming in their natural habitat—a truly rare and unforgettable experience. Age 12+

Perfect for school groups of up to 15 participants, this unique experience offers a stay in a stunning beachfront villa on a secluded stretch of Costa Rica’s coastline. Venture off the beaten path to participate in sea turtle conservation efforts, protecting both adult and baby turtles. Patrol the beach at night to observe nesting mother turtles and assist in releasing hundreds of hatchlings into the ocean. Immerse yourself in the local culture and engage with the community, gaining an authentic insight into life in rural Costa Rica while making a positive environmental impact. Ideal for educational trips focused on conservation and eco-tourism. Age 16+

Groups of up to 20 welcome in Borneo’s rainforest as you embark on an unforgettable adventure to make a meaningful impact by helping to regenerate vital habitats and monitor diverse local wildlife. From orangutans and pygmy elephants to various primates and crocodiles, your efforts will play a crucial role in preserving these incredible creatures and their ecosystems for generations to come.

This unique opportunity offers you the chance to live in a small remnant of paradise, immersing yourself in a way of life that has nearly vanished. Experience the beauty and complexity of one of the world’s most biodiverse regions while contributing to essential conservation efforts. Age 15+

Choose from 7, 10, or 14-Day Sports Coaching Programmes! Our volunteer opportunities are perfect for school, college, sports clubs, and university groups aged 16 and above. Can take up to 80 participants at one time. Experience the thrill of coaching football, netball, hockey, cricket, rugby, tennis, basketball, or swimming in one of Africa’s premier sporting nations.

Bring your passion for sports to some of the continent’s most underserved townships, making a positive impact on children’s sporting abilities and teamwork skills, while also enhancing your coaching experience. Engage in extracurricular group activities included in the program to further enrich your stay and connection with the local community!

Experience an unforgettable adventure with one elephant per person in this unique research project, limited to a maximum of 12 participants. Become an integral part of a dedicated elephant research team, closely monitoring the daily lives of these gentle giants as they thrive in a stunning natural environment. Age 15+

Located within a picturesque park, this project focuses on the rehabilitation of rescued elephants, allowing you to witness their remarkable recovery from past trauma and stress. During your free time, take the opportunity to explore the breath taking Garden Route and fully immerse yourself in the beauty of this incredible corner of Africa.

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.

Head to dynamic Vietnam – a country rising in popularity with the traveling community. Take part in cultural and sightseeing activities, gain a TESOL qualification and then teach in Vietnam for up to a year!

Head to Hua Hin or Chiang Mai in Thailand and gain an internationally accredited 120 hour TESOL/TEFL qualification which can be used to teach abroad. Want to live and teach in Thailand? Use your qualification to gain a TESOL job in Thailand, in a reputable school and experience life living the beautiful ‘Land of Smiles’.

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 a good level of fitness 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)

Bring a group of 10-12 to our Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand! Experience a life-changing opportunity to work closely with rescued Asian elephants at this renowned elephant sanctuary. This impactful project has successfully liberated many elephants from the harsh conditions of begging on the streets of Bangkok, offering them a safe and loving environment to thrive in.

Additionally, the sanctuary is home to a remarkable wildlife sanctuary that shelters sun bears, primates, and various other wildlife species. We can arrange for you to participate in wildlife conservation activities for at least one week of your stay, enriching your experience while making a positive contribution to Thailand’s diverse ecosystems. Age 16+

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.

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.

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.

Sunny Sydney is the perfect place to live and work for up to a year, with options to extend for two or three years on an amazing working gap year in Sydney. Start with a fantastic 7-day orientation programme, including visits to local attractions, and receive full support in setting up your admin. Find paid work quickly through our exclusive online job database. Prefer another city?

Options to start in Melbourne and Perth are also available – please ask

An elite groom job at a prestigious stud, pre-organised to departure. This Australia horse training programme is found nowhere else. A once in a lifetime opportunity for those passionate about horses to earn money and enjoy Australia for up to a year!

Enjoy 8 nights orientation with admin set up, jet lag recovery time, and the chance to make loads of new solo traveller friends from the offset. Bonus city work available and 12 month job support.

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?

Discover the North Island’s finest offerings on an unforgettable stain Auckland and a 3-day Bay of Islands Adventure. Witness dolphins and marine wonders, explore the iconic Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island, and unwind at the serene Otehei Bay and Paihia Beaches. Our Auckland team stands ready to assist, from facilitating essential tasks like setting up bank accounts, tax file numbers, and SIM cards to providing insightful presentations on job hunting. With 12 months of ongoing support for paid work and abundant guidance for your travel endeavours, your journey promises not only employment opportunities but also countless moments of joy and exploration.