Orphanage and Care Work Abroad

Orphanage and Care Volunteer Work Abroad

Volunteer care work is one of the most worthwhile activities you can get involved in, whether it is in a developed or a developing country. Throughout the world, there are vast numbers of children who are orphaned or neglected, and in need of love, care and affection.

Care placements are a chance for volunteers on a college vacation, gap year or career break to really make a difference to children who would otherwise have little or no mental stimulation in their lives.

People are often unaware of the impact they can have on another person's life, with even the smallest gesture. Spending as little as one month working in an orphanage or care center, a volunteer can have a hugely significant and positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children.

Care volunteers don’t need to be qualified or have previous experience. The only qualities that our volunteers need to possess are compassion for fellow human beings and a desire to improve the lives of those with domestic or physical circumstances less fortunate than their own.

Orphans and Volunteering Abroad

Volunteer in Ghana As a care volunteer working with children in orphanages, you would be helping the kids to learn life-skills that parents would normally teach. By getting involved in the day-to-day running of an orphanage - making sure children are fed, washed and dressed, and paying them personal attention - you will be making a really positive impact on their lives.

There is always scope for any talents or interests you may have to be utilized. Art & crafts or music are always popular activities and many care placements have outside areas where sports and games can be played. Many volunteers also help to educate the children in personal hygiene and social skills.

Opportunities exist in some orphanages for our volunteers to be more involved in the ‘teaching’ or ‘medical’ side of care work. You may spend your afternoon helping the older children with their homework on their return from school, or if you have the relevant skills you can administer first aid to any children in need. The work volunteers do can be challenging at times but the strength and resilience of the children will inspire you to persevere.

Your day may start early to help get the children up and give them breakfast, however, you will probably finish early too or have several hours off at lunchtime before returning to play with the children in the afternoon. Many volunteers like to take some of the children out on a trip from time to time. An afternoon at the beach or walking around the market can be a revelation for some of the children, who rarely get the chance to travel more than a few miles away from their homes.

Children and Adults with Special Needs and Volunteering Abroad

Volunteers work within a number of care homes with people with physical or mental disabilities such as AIDS hospices and schools for the handicapped, the blind or the deaf. Conditions are often basic and staff heavily overworked. Volunteers are desperately needed to provide another pair of hands, helping some of society’s most vulnerable people to lead a full and rewarding life.

Orphanage fun

Volunteers assist in improving the children's competence and awareness in social areas, such as understanding and following the rules of society, adjusting their behavior to the situation, problem solving and understanding others. Helping the children in these areas is vital in order to give them the best chance of living independently in the future.

While a volunteer’s impact will be beneficial to the placement, in turn the placement will often prove to be beneficial to the volunteer. Having responsibility for others and developing personal relationships in a new cultural setting has been shown time and time again to develop individuals. In our supportive role, Projects Abroad staff is used to seeing volunteers returning home with more self-confidence and a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Volunteer in a Day Care Center Abroad

Volunteering in a care center, you will be working with children of different ages. You will help with a variety of activities such as art, games and songs, and assist local staff to develop stimulating new ideas to interest young children in learning. Any encouragement you can offer goes a long way towards building a child’s self esteem and confidence.

Volunteers can get involved in working with street children in a number of our destinations. You could help to prepare free meals, provide personal hygiene advice, teach literacy skills or possibly take the children to the beach for the day, giving them a much needed break from their daily routine of begging on the streets.