FAQs - International Volunteer Projects
An International Volunteer Project is a short term project (2-4 weeks) bringing together a group of young people from many different countries. The group lives and works together on a specific project in a particular community. These can range from looking after turtle eggs in Mexico to helping prepare Buddhist festivals in Asia. The main categories of project are: Social, Environmental, Cultural, Renovation, Youth Work, Art and Construction.
Xchange Scotland is part of 2 main networks - CCIVS (part of UNESCO) and the Alliance. We believe in equal exchange of volunteers. We host international volunteer alongside local charities and NGOs here in Scotland - and we send volunteers to take part in similar projects overseas. We believe in projects being set-up and run locally and sustainably. We do not set up projects overseas ourselves. This is why we work within these networks. For more info about the networks - see further down...
£200 + travel to the project.
The £200 is the project contribution that goes to the sending organisation (Xchange Scotland). Volunteers are responsible for organising their own travel to the project.
Food and accommodation at the project is covered.
Some projects in the global South ask for an Extra Fee. This can vary from £50-£150. This is because these countries do not send many volunteers on projects, and this Extra Fee means that they can keep offering projects to come on.
Check out more information on the application process here.
Groups round the world can vary in size from 8 up to 30 at the very most. A typical project in Europe tends to have around 12 participants and at least one group leader. Each project has a mix of nationalities - living and working together - usually 2 or 3 per country. So, it could be 2 volunteers from the UK, 3 from Germany, 2 from Japan, 1 from USA...
Main Programme:
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Italy
- Japan
- Lithuania
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- USA
- Wales
North-South Programme:
Participants on an IVP in the North-South Programme may be required to attend a short Training Course before they go.
- Argentina
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- China
- Ecuador
- Ghana
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Uganda
The accommodation varies project to project. It really depends on where the project is. All accommodation will have cooking facilities and, of course, suitable access to washing and toilet facilities. Some have internet access. You could be staying in wigwams in the Romanian mountains or sleeping in beds outside in the Moroccan desert. It really depends where the project is being hosted.
Participants require enthusiasm, energy and a commitment to the project, but no need for specific skills. Requirements for each project do vary and it is always worth thoroughly checking the project descriptions. Throughout the duration of the project you will certainly be introduced to many new skills.
Xchange Scotland does offer a Training Day for all volunteers before they go away. This usually takes place at the end of May (although there are additional options). This provides volunteers a space to get prepared and explore some of the issue they will face during a project and how to get the most out of their time away. The Training Day takes place in Glasgow and we ask volunteers for a small contribution (£10/£20) towards the expenses of the Training Day.
At the end of the summer, Xchange Scotland also puts on a Gathering event. This is to bring together those that went away on projects through the summer or have been involved with Xchange Scotland through the year. This is a fun, social event to share each other's stories and experiences of being away, celebrate the achievements of volunteers and look at further opportunities to be involved with Xchange Scotland locally and internationally. Again this takes place in Glasgow, usually in early October.
Yes. All volunteers attending an IVP require travel insurance. It is up to the volunteer to arrange this. Also, if you are going on a project in Europe, it is advised that you have a European Health Insurance card with you. These are free and easy to get - just follow the link.
To see if you need a VISA to go to the country you are applying for check out the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. This is a wealth of up-to-date info on all kinds of things - including entry requirements for each country. We strongly recommend all volunteers research their country through the FCO site thoroughly before applying and before departing on a project.
If volunteers do require a VISA, it is up to the volunteer to organise it. The host organisation in the country you are going to will be able to provide a supporting letter if required.
This depends on where the project is being hosted. Each project will have one agreed common language for the duration of the project. In most cases, this tends to be English. However, it is important that you check this before picking a project.
It is worth bearing in mind that an IVP is a great place to pick up another language.
On the very rare occasion that a project is cancelled after you have been accepted, we will guarantee to place you on another project as close to the original as possible or offer you a refund. However, we have to say that refunds will not be made in circumstances that are outwith our or our partner’s control.
Xchange Scotland is part of 2 main networks - CCIVS (part of UNESCO) and the Alliance. These networks have a history going back many decades - CCIVS goes back to the end of WW1.
Over those many years, partner organisations have joined by meeting the requirements imposed by those networks. Those involved in the networks meet twice-yearly to discuss and evaluate projects and partner organisations. If there are any queries about partner organisations raised at these gatherings (or any other time in between) then these are investigated. If a partner organisation is not operating within the rules or ethos of the networks then they lose their place.
The years of cumulative experience within the networks and the partner organisations they are made up of means that we are confident when placing volunteers overseas. Of course, each country and organisation operates slightly differently - as you would expect - and we ask volunteers to bear in mind these different cultural conditions when they are choosing their project.
To continue to uphold the high standard of projects we always ask volunteers to fill in an evaluation form when they have finished their project and to keep us up-to-date about all elements of their time away.
