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Volunteer Opportunities

 Volunteer Canada

This site provides information about volunteering and is a link to volunteer centres throughout Canada.

Katimavik (17-21)

This program offers young Canadians an exciting experience that incorporates learning and volunteer involvement. It is Canada’s leading national youth volunteer service program.  Program:  6 or 9 months, live and volunteer in different regions of Canada.

Canada World Youth (ages 15 – 25)

Have an experience of a lifetime! Discover new cultures in Canada and overseas.  They offer three different types of programs:  Youth Leaders in Action (6 month program for 17 – 24 year olds, spend 3 months in Canada and 3 months in one of the following countries – Africa, Asia, The Caribbean, Eastern Europe or Latin America); Global Learner (schools); and Interaction (2-6 weeks program in overseas communities doing volunteer work in a variety of fields).

World Vision Canada – Youth Ambassador Program (16-19)

Students selected for this program will have an all expense trip to a different part of the world struggling with poverty.  They will participate in a forum with other young leaders and develop their skills in global leadership. To be selected, students must have participated in the 30 hour Famine.

International Cultural Youth Exchange

This organization is an international non-profit youth exchange organization promoting youth mobility, intercultural learning and international voluntary service.  They organize long and short-term exchanges combining home stays with voluntary service in more than 34 countries around the world.  They also offer environmental opportunities.

Global Leadership Adventures

This is an American organization set up to offer a variety of  international programs ranging from cultural, volunteer, environmental and others.  However, the cost of these programs can be very high.

International Student Volunteers, Inc. (18 years of age or older)

This organization combines volunteer and adventure travel in to the most exciting experience of a lifetime.  Volunteer projects focus on local environment and community development initiatives.  Projects range from 2 to 4 week in length.  Possible locations: Australia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand,  Thailand, South African and many more.

Projects Abroad

The organization’s goal is to provide students with the opportunity to live and work in developing countries in a way that is both convenient and safe for the students and also for the countries themselves.  Volunteers can go for as little as 2 weeks and up to a year. This organization sends volunteers ages 16 and up to 24 countries to do over 150 different unpaid internships and service projects.  Founded in 1992, they have a team of 350 people that sends 3500 volunteers annually – most of them on gap years or during summer vacations.  For more information check out their website.

God’s Little Angels

This organization is a Haitian orphanage that has ministered to the children of Haiti since 1994 and has been involved in international adoptions since 1997. 

 Engineers without Borders

This organization creates opportunities for rural Africans to access clean water, generate an income from humble farms, and have improved access to services and infrastructure they need to improve their lives.  The main focus is on human development and to spread innovation and appropriate solutions to the challenges of poverty.

Doctors without Borders

This organization is the world’s leading independent international medical relief organization.  Medical and non-medical volunteers are needed.

AgriVenture – International Rural Placements

This organization offers a great introduction to a new culture and a different working world.

Canadian Humanitarian Organization of International Relief

The mission of this organization is to break the cycle of poverty by providing orphaned and vulnerable children and their families with access to health care, education, vocational training and the basic necessities of life such as nutrition and shelter.

Global Citizens for Change

This organization provides international volunteer opportunities for Canadians and is funded by the Government of Canada.  It provides a virtual community to network with other volunteers and agencies.

CUSO-VSO

This is a non-profit development agency that works through volunteers.  They send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 40 countries.  It is one of North America’s leading international development agencies. There are two year placements or there are short term placements for those with specialized skills.  Volunteers are needed in a variety of fields:  business, communications, community, education, engineering and technical, health, HIV and AIDS, and natural resources.

 Ecovolunteer

Ecovolunteer organizes trips to places that are not accessible to tourists. The goal of the trips is to protect nature and its inhabitants by helping local organizations with their conservation projects.  

POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

All educational institutions today will have an international student services office that will assist students with exchanges, volunteer experiences, internships and work experiences in other countries.  These offices are to support international students and to offer opportunities to their own students.

Examples of post-secondary educational international and volunteer sites:

University of Regina  International Student Services

University of Lethbridge Study and Work Abroad Information

University of Lethbridge Volunteer Opportunities

A number of universities also offer unique  interdisciplinary courses that provide students international experiences.  These opportunites assist students in gaining knowledge, awareness and skills within their designated subject areas from a global perspective.  An example of such a course is the University of Regina Luther College Interdisciplinary Studies Program – Global Citizenship.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Work and Travel Abroad – Government of Canada Information on travel and work opportunities around the world.

SWAP – Student Work Abroad Program

Tip Sheets for Working Abroad – Information about what you need to know and questions to ask before you work or travel abroad.

Student Scholarships – Volunteering Section: Lists a variety of organizations looking for help to run their programs or to offer services.  You can use this site to look up places listed by province.