Volunteer abroad in South East Asia
Have you been dying to pay South-Eastern Asia a visit and are simply fascinated by Asian culture? Do you love Asian food and want to experience what it means to live in Asia first-hand? Are you looking to go on an incredible adventure abroad, while also growing as a person doing good? If any of this sounds like you, becoming a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia might be just what you need.
If this is the first time that you are even thinking about becoming a volunteer, we are here to help you. In what follows, we would like to introduce you to our top countries for becoming a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia. Find out what each of these destinations is all about and choose your perfect place to volunteer abroad!
Of course, we will also tell you about the kind of charity work that you can expect to be doing in Asia. Whether you are interested in working with children or saving the wild orangutan population of your chosen volunteer country, the possibilities are almost endless. Find out which volunteer projects are taking center stage in which country.
Once you are confident that you have found your desired country for volunteering, we encourage you to check out the respective country guide as well, where we provide you with even more useful information. For now, let's learn a little more about our top 6 countries for becoming a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia first.
Volunteer in Thailand
Did you know that there is a city in Thailand whose name consists of a whooping 169 letters? Or that 67 million people live in Thailand, the "Land of the Free," thus making it the 20th most populous country worldwide? The World Economic Forum has also found that Thailand ranks in the top 15th as far as the friendliest countries in the world are concerned. You will probably also know that Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand and that this country is home to many vegetarians. We could certainly come up with a ton of fun facts and more than a hundred different reasons why Thailand is worth a visit. In our eyes, Thailand has definitely proven itself as a really cool destination to volunteer in South-Eastern Asia.
How can I help?
While Thailand is gaining increased attention as a tourist destination, this is not great news for everyone involved. Instead, Thai elephants in particular are suffering. As such, more and more wildlife conservation volunteer projects are starting to form. If you want to make sure that Thailand's wildlife population is protected and become an advocate for responsible eco-tourism, then becoming a wildlife conservation volunteer is a great idea. Now you can do your part to support a local wildlife conservation volunteer project of your choice.
Please be sure to take your individual interests and skill set in mind as you are choosing which volunteer project to lend a helping hand to. This will help in making sure that your time as a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia will prove to be an all around beneficial experience for everyone involved.
However, if you care more about Thailand's people than you do about its wild animals, you might want to become a part of a different kind of volunteer project. The Thai education system is always happy about volunteers stepping in, wherefore you might like to consider becoming an education volunteer. Not only will you be teaching the locals English, but they will teach you more about Thai culture in and outside of the classroom as well.
Volunteer in Cambodia
Cambodia is famous for many stunning sights, Angkor Wat, for example, which is also pictured on the country's flag. This is considered a true novelty, as Cambodia is the only country with a building included in its flat. Given that Cambodia is a rather young country - with half of the population being below the age of 15 -, there is much that you can do to help this country achieve its full glory.
In recent years, Cambodia sadly has made headlines as the country with the highest deforestation rate in the entire world. This is probably just one of the many reasons why more and more NGOs are focusing their efforts on Cambodia and are thus in dire need of your support to accomplish their mission. Before we tell you about the types of charity work that you can pursue as a Cambodia volunteer in South-Eastern Asia, here is one more fun fact for you: Birthdays are not being celebrated in this South-East Asian nation. In turn, this means that many old people in Cambodia do not know just how old they are.
How can I help?
Given that Cambodia is a nation that is very much still in its infancy in several important regards, there are tons of different NGOs and volunteer projects that could use your help. Some of them are even looking for a responsible individual to spearhead such meaningful projects. If you are at all interested in pursuing NGO management or marketing, Cambodia is the perfect place to volunteer.
However, if you want to become a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia because you are hoping to really get to know the locals and their culture, you might want to sign up as an education volunteer in Cambodia. From teaching English to math, your students will be lucky to have you. Therein, becoming an education volunteer in South-Eastern Asia can even help you prepare for your future career of being a teacher.
Volunteer in Vietnam
Perhaps it is the mix of Chinese, French, Japanese, and American influences that makes Vietnam stand out. Or perhaps you simply love the Vietnamese kitchen and are drawn to Vietnam for that reason. Two things are certainly for sure: If you google authentic Vietnamese food, the images you see will be considered food porn and will leave you wanting more. Moreover, if you do in fact decide to volunteer in Vietnam, you will be greeted by an incredibly diverse and unique culture that will welcome you with open arms. So why not experience Vietnam for yourself?
How can I help?
Apart from being smitten with the friendliness of the locals and the delicious foods that you will be served during your time as a volunteer in Vietnam, you will also get to experience Vietnam's not so glamorous side. After all, there are plenty of children that could use your help. In turn, this makes becoming a childcare or education volunteer in South-Eastern Asia all the more worthwhile. By supporting Vietnam's children, you can make sure that their future looks even just a little brighter.
However, if you have no desire to work with children, there are plenty of other opportunities for you to volunteer in Vietnam as well. In particular, Vietnam is one of the countries where you can support NGO managements or become a marketingvolunteer in South-Eastern Asia. If you are never one to shy away from an important leadership position, you will want to contemplate signing up for one of these volunteer projects.
Volunteer in Indonesia
Did you know that Indonesia is a huge country? We mean massive! After all, Indonesia is made up of well over 17,500 different islands. As such, there simply is no way that you will get to see all of Indonesia during your time as a volunteer abroad. From the fact that Indonesia covers three different time zones to it being the home of countless monkeys elephants and tigers as well as tree kangaroos, which you probably have never heard of before, there is lots for you to discover here!
How can I help?
Sadly, Indonesia is no longer the animal paradise that it once used to be. Instead, both its marine and wildlife populations are in need of your help. In particular, deforestation continues to be a huge issue in Indonesia. If you want to protect the Indonesian wild animal population from such catastrophic habitat losses, you might want to seriously consider becoming a wildlife conservation volunteer in South-Eastern Asia.
However, you cannot just do your part to protect Indonesia's animal population on land. Instead, there are plenty of volunteer projects that would love your help as a marine conservation volunteer in South-Eastern Asia as well. If you simply love the ocean and are all about the island lifestyle, this might be the perfect opportunity for you to volunteer in South-Eastern Asia.
Volunteer in Malaysia
From some of the world's oldest jungles to its stunning caves and magical beaches, Malaysia is rich in natural beauty. However, manmade construction is taking over more and more parts of wild Malaysia. After all, this nation is not only home to the biggest roundabout in the entire world, but the length of Malaysia's highways is also 1.5 times the size of the Earth's entire circumference, which might shock you. If you are interested in protecting Malaysia's more than 1,000 plants species that are said to have medicinal properties, this might just be one excellent reason for you to volunteer here.
How can I help?
Given that deforestation is not just an issue in many other Asian nations, but in Malaysia as well, this country could really use your help as a wildlife conservation volunteer in South-Eastern Asia. Now you can do your part to make sure that Malaysia's wildlife is protected from potential extinction.
As with most other volunteer destinations in South-East Asia, wild animals are not the only ones that need help. Instead, you can also put your work as a volunteer in South-Eastern Asia in the service of Malaysia's people. You can do this by becoming a community development volunteer for example. What could be more rewarding than that?
Volunteer in Philippines
Did you know that the Philippines are made up of more than 750 islands? That more than 150 different languages are spoken in this diverse nation? If you have always been curious about visiting the 12th biggest nation in the entire world, this might be the perfect opportunity to do so. Even though this country has more than 100 million people who speak well over 100 different languages, communicating with the locals should not be a problem at all. After all, you will find the fifth larges population of English speakers in the Philippines.
If you want to make sure that you will not just be volunteering, but having a great time as well, you might be delighted to find that 3 of the biggest 10 malls in the world can be found in the Philippines. One more fun fact for you: The Philippines are the largest producer of coconuts in the entire world. We see a coconutty drink somewhere on a beach in the Philippines in your future!
How can I help?
While the Philippines are becoming an increasingly popular tourists destination, there are some regards, in which this country is still struggling. In fact, you might be surprised by the number of Filipinos that do not have access to a properly functioning toilet. Luckily, there is something that you can do to change this. Become a volunteer in construction and do your part to provide the locals with the infrastructure that they deserve. Since about half of the population of the Philippines is dealing with dire poverty on a daily basis, there surely is more than enough work for you to do here.
If you are not so much interested in becoming a construction volunteer, but would like to more closely interact with the locals, this is also possible. Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher? If the answer is "Yes," it is time to put on your teacher hat and sign up for voluntary work in the Philippines. Keep in mind that you will likely be working in a rural area. As you are teaching your students the finesses of the English language, they will be sure to teach you a thing or two about their culture as well - that much is guaranteed!