International Volunteer Projects

International Volunteer Project

What are you doing this summer? An International Volunteer Project (IVP) 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 community.

These can range from looking after turtle eggs in South India to helping prepare intercultural festivals in the Czech Republic. The main categories of project are: Social, Environmental, Educational, Cultural, and Archaeological. You do not require any specific skills to go on an IVP - just plenty of enthusiasm!

IVPs take place in over 60 countries worldwide, with over 1600 diverse and exciting projects throughout 2010. So there should be one to suit you. In each project we work together with local partners, which not only helps keep volunteer costs to a minimum but guarantees that the project meets the local community's needs.

Volunteers on these projects arrange their own travel and pay a project contribution - £200. Every volunteer has their food and accommodation provided free at the project.

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Click here to look through the database of projects and choose your favourite. Happy hunting!

Once you have selected the projects that you are interested in then just email us your choices and we'll get the application process rolling.

For more info, please check out the FAQs.

2010 International Volunteer Projects!

What are you doing this summer?

Click here to search through our International Volunteer Projects. There are over 1300 projects in over 40 countries to select. From Togo to Turkey, from Belarus to Bangladesh...

When you have decided which projects you would be interested, send an email with your top 2 or 3 choices to out@xchangescotland.org - and we will take it from there :-)

For more info on International Volunteer Projects, please click here and do not hesitate to contact us.

Experience...

In Summer 2009, Katrina from Fife went to Vietnam on an International Volunteer Project through Xchange Scotland. Here, she writes about her time...

"I had a fantastic month volunteering at an orphanage in Vietnam and really didn’t want to leave. Although the conditions were a bit shocking at first, we could really see that the work we were doing was making a difference."

"Everyone I encountered thanked us for coming and the project was very worthwhile. I feel by volunteering I really got to know the country and its people in a way I could not have had I simply been traveling through. Seeing the work you have done at the end and how much it is appreciated is an amazing feeling and I would recommend volunteering abroad to everyone. The only problem is…you might get addicted to it!"

What are you doing this summer?

From planting trees in Japan to organising an intercultural festival in Morocco, Xchange Scotland offers projects for all needs and all with minimal cost to the volunteer...

How long: 2-4 weeks
Destinations: Over 40 countries worldwide
Cost: £200 + transport to the project
Project themes: Social, Environmental, Educational, Cultural...
When: Throughout the year, but most are through the summer
Who can apply: Anyone 18+; training available

For more information, on International Volunteer Projects click here.

Muirkirk IVP - 17th-31st August 2009

Xchange Scotland teamed up with East Ayrshire Council’s Countryside Services Section and Muirkirk Enterprise Group this August (in beautiful weather!) to host an environmental International Volunteer Project (IVP) based in the Muirkirk community...

ABOVE: The international volunteers, team leaders and project hosts celebrate their work

Clyde Muirshiel IVP - 1st-15th August 2009

"This experience has been unforgettable and I think it will be just the beginning..."

That was how one volunteer summed up their time on the second Xchange Scotland International Volunteer Project (IVP) of the summer. 11 volunteers - from different countries such as Belgium, USA and Catalunya - came together at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park near Lochwinnoch for 2 weeks of environmental work, cultural activities and a bit of ceilidh dancing :-)

ABOVE: Xchange Scotland International Volunteers at the opening ceremony of the Parkhill Wood Maze

Kingslink Carnival IVP - 15th-29th June 2009

12 volunteers from all over Europe – from Sicily to Finland, Catalonia to the Czech Republic – came together to live and work in the Knightswood area of Glasgow.

The volunteers worked alongside local community charities from the West Integration Network to help out with events around Refugee Week, go into schools to help with workshops and also to support the Knightswood Fun Day and community parade. The volunteers stayed at Knightswood Congregational Church Hall.