AFRICA:

Madagascar
Madagascar has something to shout about: with more than 80 per cent of its wildlife found nowhere else on earth, this unique tropical biodiversity hotspot is an absolute must for nature lovers. The vast variety of flora and fauna mean that volunteers are able to get involved in various conservation projects, from working to save the critically endangered lemurs to carrying out important marine research in order to conserve the rich but threatened marine ecosystem. Elsewhere volunteers can involve themselves in various community projects such as teaching English and environmental awareness.

South Africa
Described by Nelson Mandela as the “Rainbow Nation”, South Africa is a country with it all. From the penguins inhabiting the southernmost point of the Cape to the notorious big 5 on the savannahs, the range of habitats and sights to see in South Africa are well worth a visit. Volunteering here can involve wildlife conservation projects, with opportunities ranging from hands-on help at primate sanctuaries to learning the skills and techniques necessary to gain a Field Guide qualification. Sports coaching is also a really popular choice here, with a range of disciplines available including football, rugby, tennis, cricket and basketball.

Tanzania
As with many other locations on this list, Tanzania is a big hit with those with a real interest in nature. Like South Africa, its national parks and plains are home to some of the most iconic and popular wildlife on the planet. Gaining valuable qualifications can be a major perk to volunteering, and Tanzania certainly has lots to offer in this department. Earn your PADI dive certificate on a marine conservation project, or get your BTEC in Expedition Management through trekking some of the most remote and spectacular terrain in the world.

CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA:

Costa Rica
As the most bio-diverse country in the world Costa Rica is unsurprisingly a volunteering hotspot for wildlife projects. Placements here will incorporate various aspects of environmental conservation, from species surveys to animal rehabilitation programmes. A big attraction for Costa Rica is the opportunity to learn or improve on your Spanish language skills, a hugely popular and increasingly useful language to know. Another excellent reason to visit Cost Rica is its close proximity to many other amazing countries in Central America, where you’ll find amazing beaches, historical ruins, friendly people and some top class food.

Ecuador
Moving south, we next look at wonderful Ecuador. Although it is the second smallest country in South America, it hosts a huge range of natural habitats from dense Amazon rainforest, snow-capped Andean mountains, misty cloud forest and an idyllic Pacific coastline. Anyone that’s always dreamt of exploring the Amazon will find what they’re looking for in Ecuador, whilst a selection of UNESCO World Heritage status cities offer an attractive escape from the wilderness. The variety of landscapes is reflected in the sheer volume of different volunteering options available here, with teaching, care & community, conservation and language schools all available in abundance. Medical and veterinary internships are also a possibility, not forgetting the world famous Galapagos Islands which can be enjoyed through voluntary work.

ASIA:

China
China’s is a country of wonderful contrasts. Visitors to this fascinating nation will discover a mixture of modernity and tradition in equal measure. This mixture means that volunteering here is an exciting possibility. Popular placements include working with the iconic panda at breeding centres, as well as working in schools teaching English, with many paid posts available too. Other interesting ideas for structured placements might see you interning as a journalist at a local newspaper, a great way to get some valuable experience and gain some unique insight into the country’s culture.

Cambodia
Visitors to Cambodia will both marvel and despair as they witness the remnants of its eventful past. The ancient sites at Angkor are unlike anything else in South East Asia with the standout Angkor Wat rivalling the most incredible ancient ruins in the world. A look at this country’s more recent past makes for a less inspiring history lesson, with the terrible acts of the Kmer Rouge still very much in the minds of the people. Volunteers can make a difference to various aspects of this beautiful country including teaching and orphanage placements, ethical adventure trails, as well as conservation projects working either in the remote and unexplored tropical jungles, or the rich marine ecosystem.

Nepal
Nepal is an adventurers dream location, with some of the most epic and awe-inspiring terrain in the world. Nestled between the towering Himalayas and the vast valleys and forests of the Indian plains, Nepal offers the perfect surroundings to combine meaningful voluntary projects with the world’s best adventure sports, including white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, canyoning and hiking. Hindu and Buddhist cultures come together in a country which only opened its doors to tourism in the 1950’s. Opportunities largely focus on community development such as teaching and orphanage placements, but be sure to choose something with plenty of free time to get your adrenalin kicks, or simply travel independently before or after you

PACIFIC:

Fiji
Anyone who has seen a picture of Fiji’s beautiful isolated beaches will understand why it is a hugely popular destination for holidaymakers and backpackers alike. Besides marine conservation projects offering you the chance to both enjoy and help preserve some of the best dive sites in the world, there is plenty more to get involved in too, with journalism and medical internships, teaching in local schools and sports coaching all available.

Cook Islands
The Cook Islands are made up of 15 paradise islands marooned in the Pacific Ocean. Anyone looking to truly get away from it all will definitely find what they’re looking for here, with the rich Polynesian culture and some of the most beautiful and mesmerising natural scenery anywhere in the world. The beaches aren’t bad either. If you’re lucky enough to be heading here on a voluntary placement, you’ll likely find yourself involved in some kind of community based project, possibly teaching local school kids anything from English to music.

For more information on gap year projects and opportunities to volunteer abroad, visit the Frontier website.

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Congratulations to Two Adults and Two Halves to Bahir Dar, Animals Unlimited and Into The Wild for being such great volunteers, conservationists and all-round eco-warriors.

1) Two Adults and Two Halves to Bahir Dar

Join Kate and Tim Darlow on their adventures in Ethopia with young children Ellie and Seb in this brilliant blog which journals their daily challenges in Bahir Dar, where Kate has gone to volunteer and train doctors, midwives and medical students in obstetrics and gynaecology. Tim has taken time off work as an engineer to care for the children in their new and very different temporary environment. We’re big fans and love keeping up with the Ethopian version of Corrie, learning how to make desserts in a land that doesn’t do desserts (and doesn’t have the ingredients) and following the Darlows’ great picture stories. Read this insightful and heart-warming blog just once and you’ll see why it wins our gold award.

2) Animals Unlimited – found tweeting @AnimalsUnlimit

This is our top blog for animal lovers because it has it all – great photos of amazing wildlife, latest news, conservation projects and even advice on pet keeping. It also covers all those nature questions you’ve been pondering in the back of your mind for years – such as ‘How do Atlantic Salmon find their way home?’ and ‘What’s the difference between tortoises, terrapins and turtles?’ We think it’s great and have awarded it our silver badge.

3) Into The Wild – found tweeting @FrontierGap
This blog is penned in conjunction with Frontier – a non-profit conservation and human development organisation which helps people secure voluntary placements all over the world. It was set up to educate and inspire people about the benefits of travelling with a purpose and does exactly that. The photography is excellent and, if you’re looking for something meaningful to do with your gap year, then you might just find the ticket here. It gets our bronze award for being a brilliantly inspiring travel resource.

4) Do-it

Now this blog is nothing fancy looks-wise but it’s one of the best in terms of gaining a real perspective on what it’s like to volunteer at home and abroad. It’s solely dedicated to volunteering and how to make it possible and carries to end of real life stories from different people who are actively volunteering in different parts of the world. It’s a great place to start for anyone who’s thinking about volunteering but still has many questions to ask.

5) Becky Badluck’s Flight of Fancy

Rebecca Ashwood’s blog is brilliantly written – incredibly honest and witty – and journals her antics in Rwanda as a VSO volunteer. She touches on a lot of things, from what she’s learnt so far and common pitfalls of volunteering abroad, such as missing friends and major life events, to Rwandan culture and wildlife – not least her experience of camping with warthogs and impala. Not bad for a girl from Brighton.

6) Act for Wildlife – found tweeting @ACTforWILDLIFE

Act for Wildlife is a wildlife conservation campaign led by Chester Zoo – focusing on conservation projects around the world in which it’s involved. It’s there to raise awareness and, of course, money but the blog is pretty fantastic as a stand-alone. It doesn’t just focus on zoo-related posts, but on the great things happening around the globe.

7) Coral Cay Conservation Blog – found tweeting @CoralCay

Conservation specialist Coral Cay is dedicated to providing resources to help protect coral reefs and rainforests – with David Bellamy among its patrons. The blog is a great place to find out about the latest conservation research that’s taking place – whether it’s bat protection or coral reef research.

8) Diary of a Muzungu – found tweeting @CharlieBeau

Diary of a Muzungu means, quite simply, ‘Diary of a white person’ and is written by Charlotte Beauvoisin who’s been on a three-year journey as a volunteer in Kampala. Although she’s now working in tourism, her volunteer blog is featured on Lonely Planet and is well worth a read for her tales of bush adventures, embarrassing moments and desperately trying to find a man. And if you ever wanted to know how to feed a baby elephant, then this is your blog.

9) Think Pacific – found tweeting @thinkpacific

This organisation specialises in meaningful journeys to the South Pacific – and to Fiji in particular. Although a small organisation, its blog features some fab photos and real life accounts from volunteers from all over the world. It also offers some fascinating insights into local Fiji life.

10) VSO UK – found tweeting @VSOUK

Rather than just one blog, here you’ll find a collection of blogs from more than half a dozen different volunteers helping out in various parts of the world – all working for VSO, the British version of the Peace Corps. It also offers lot of hints and tips on how you, too, can get involved.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here. Well done!

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