Family volunteering enables families with children to join volunteer projects. This way they they can share the volunteer experience and help the community or the environment together with their loved ones by their side. Volunteering is the act of dedicating time to a project that is focused on improving the circumstances of a community or the environment.

Pros

• The opportunity to volunteer abroad and contribute to a meaningful cause together with your family and those you care about most.
• Create awareness about what is going on in the world among children.
• You get the chance to connect with the local community together with those close to you. It is a great opportunity for cultural interchange.
• Participants will see their travel destination in a different.
• Benefiting from the positive aspects of volunteering without sacrificing time with your family.
• Meeting and connecting with other like-minded individuals and their kids.

Cons

• Not everyone may be as enthusiastic about dedicating their time to volunteering.
• It may be tricky to decide on a volunteer program that everyone in the is excited about.
• Depending on the age of the children, some projects may not be accessible.
• Volunteering abroad can have a powerful effect on people. If you have younger kids, it may require you to be supportive of their emotions.

If you’re eager to volunteer but worried about leaving your loved ones behind, then family volunteering is right up your alley. You will gain experience in volunteering, contribute to a meaningful cause and not only learn a great deal about the challenges others are facing on a daily basis but most likely also learn a lot about your family.

How will you make a difference?
By introducing children to volunteering, you will be setting a precedent for them to carry on volunteering in the future. The world really needs more volunteers which is why volunteer organizations are creating programs where volunteers can contribute as a family. The most important aspect of a families volunteering program is the cultural interchange and social contact between your family and the local community. Gaining awareness about the volunteer destination will change the way your family views the world.

Have you decided where you want to go together? What about the kind of project you would like to help with? It’s important to take into account the age of the different family members so everyone benefits from this unique experience. Here are some of the possibilities that are easy to do together with children:

• Work at an animal conservation center or sanctuary
• Agricultural or farm work
• Cultural immersion programs
• Environmental conservation

There are several options. The age of the kids will play an important role when choosing the project. Make sure to contact the organization to check what the minimum age is for young participants.

The most important aspect of choosing a great program is that you do enough research on the different volunteer organizations and try to answer the following questions:

• What does the organization stand for?
• What is their objective and how are they trying to achieve it?
• How are the funds they receive spent?
• How do you think you will contribute?
• What do you think the effect of your volunteer work will be?

Read up on the organization, read reviews and ask previous volunteers about their past experience with the organization. There are wonderful organizations that are doing very responsible work.

There are projects available worldwide that will welcome your family. Take this opportunity to explore the world together with your loved ones and give back to less fortunate communities. Whether you’re adventurous and want to take care of elephants in Thailand or prefer a sustainable farming project in Costa Rica, there are several opportunities for family volunteering. Bali is another common destination for families to volunteer because of its laidback and friendly vibe. Volunteers who are afraid of a culture shock or don’t want to travel too far can also apply for opportunities closer to home. Family volunteer opportunities are waiting for your family’s help.

Join one of the family volunteering projects and you will help the communities of your project destination while you embark on an unforgettable adventure with your partner and kids. Volunteering is usually linked to positive things. Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits you can expect:

1. Valuable Learning Opportunities

   
   Choosing to volunteer with your loved ones will open up a new world. You will learn about the country and culture and interact with the local community. Learn from them and give back by helping where you can. Do this together as a family and you’ll be sure to learn a great deal about each other.

2. Meet new people

   
   You will meet other volunteers and travelers who are also volunteering with their family. What a great opportunity to connect with like-minded fellow volunteers. Build meaningful relationships with the other families and the locals. Take the time to allow cultural interaction to unfold.

3. New Experiences

   
   This is a brilliant way to expand your perspective on life. Issues that seemed huge problems before, may seem trivial after your volunteer experience. Become grateful for the simple things in life and instill these values in your children by sharing the volunteer experience with them. Rest assured they will come back with a different worldview.

4. Health Improvements

   
   Traveling and contributing are two ingredients that practically guarantee happiness. Supporting a meaningful cause will give you a sense a purpose as a family. A happy family tends to be a healthy family. Do a family volunteering and see what kind of benefits you will enjoy as a family.

5. Travel

   
   This is your chance to explore and discover some of the most interesting places the world has to offer together with your family. You’ll be doing this while contributing to a meaningful cause. What could be more exciting than doing this together?

You’re ready to do a family volunteering project but you’re not quite sure where to start? First of all, have a look at the different programs across the globe, and pick a few programs that have caught your attention.

Once you’ve done that, let’s take a look at the first 3 steps which will send you on your way to volunteer abroad with your family:

1. Check whether there’s a match between your family and the project by looking at their requirements. Age may be an important factor here.
2. Take a look at the location of the project and decide whether it would be a place your family is excited to go to.
3. Get in touch with the organization and see whether your expectations and schedules match up.

Once this is sorted. Let’s take a look at the practical steps:

Insurance (Health & travel)

We recommend getting both health and travel insurance. In fact, this is even a requirement for all volunteer programs abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.

Visa, Passport, and Documentation

Once you know your destination, take the following 3 steps before setting off on your life-changing adventure!

1. Look into the visa requirements for the country your family will volunteer in
2. Make sure everyone has valid passports considering the requirements of the host country
3. Make sure you prepare the correct documents to fulfill the visa application