Attending school is obviously an important part of your child’s development. However, there are some skills that school simply cannot teach and experiences it can’t provide.
It’s time for them to tear up their textbooks (metaphorically) and embark on an adventure that could be genuinely life-changing. Our teenage volunteer opportunities abroad combine learning, immersion, and exploration for an educational experience like no other.
Interested? You’re in the right place. Keep reading to explore how your child can grow both academically and personally while travelling the world!
“Absolutely life changing, the only complaint I have is that it wasn’t longer. Volunteering in Cambodia and meeting like-minded individuals is an absolutely priceless experience. I absolutely encourage you to attend a project or, even better, send your kids here.” – Nate on Trustpilot
What teenage volunteer opportunities could my child do?
From the Andes in Peru to the tropical waters of Thailand, your child can immerse themselves in a brand new culture and experience the world like never before.
They could embark on one of our dedicated projects, designed specifically for teenagers aged 15 to 18, operating all around the world. These summer volunteer abroad experiences are supported by staff on the ground 24/7, with preparation support handled by our dedicated pre-departure team.
This means your child will always be looked after, and you can have total peace of mind wherever they are.
Taking place during the school holidays, your child will be volunteering alongside other teenagers from around the world. This experience will lead to the development of core professional and personal skills, perfectly setting them up for the next stage of their life.
Don’t take our word for it, the UK Government says that volunteering is great for skill development, networking, boosting confidence, and trying out different careers.
In fact, the results of our feedback surveys show that 93% of teenage volunteers developed new skills or knowledge that will help them in future. Plus, 91% feel more confident in handling life’s challenges.
“Excellent experience and excellent staff. My daughter was only 16 when she chose the public health project in Cambodia but she loved it and felt useful during her stay in Asia. We were reassured by the staff before she left and she was super well supervised during the stay. A big round of applause for Projects Abroad.” – CG on Trustpilot
What can my child gain from volunteering abroad?
There are many benefits to volunteering for teens, especially when you let someone else handle the stress and logistics. It is an educational adventure from start to finish, that could develop their:
- professional competence
- social skills
- cultural understanding
- compassion
- relationships
- language ability
- global perspective
- and more!
It’s impossible to contain all the benefits to a single list, and everyone’s experience varies depending on who they are and the project they choose.
For example, a medical volunteer will get experience in a real healthcare setting, primarily developing their practical and professional skills in that field. Alternatively, a teaching volunteer might mostly build their confidence, creativity, and patience.
One of the most profound experiences they’ll have is when they first leave the airport. The sense of independence, trepidation, and culture shock as they embrace a new challenge. It’s moments like these that truly define who they are.
They will also gain a sense of pride in the knowledge that they have helped work towards community initiatives around the world. Whether they contributed towards the construction of essential facilities in Asia, supported child education in Latin America, or helped protect endangered wildlife in Africa, they will have contributed towards a positive cause in the community.
“My 16 year old son went on a Projects Abroad trip to Kenya with his school. He had an amazing time and projects abroad made the whole process easy and worry-free. He had an amazing, life-changing experience! I would definitely recommend projects abroad (and already have)!” – Mandy Damico, Trustpilot
How could this experience make a difference to their life?
Our volunteer opportunities for teenagers are designed to help nurture their skills and independence, benefitting them for life, not just their time with us. Everything they learn will be transferable to a range of circumstances.
To start, an experience like this will stand out on their CV and give them an edge in their applications for university, further education, and job opportunities. This is doubly true if they get work experience in the field they want to pursue.
They will build real skills through the shadowing of professionals, attending relevant workshops, and carrying out work themselves. These skills might be industry-specific, like suturing in medicine, or more general, like teamwork and communication.
More importantly, some of the things they are exposed to, or experiences they have, will not be available at home. The best example of this would be in medicine, where they will learn about and treat diseases and conditions that do not exist back home.
Plus, international travel is a great way to develop their confidence, independence, and global perspective. Perspective is a difficult thing to learn when you only view the world from home, and volunteering abroad can often help teens return home with a greater appreciation for what they have.
These sorts of skills are useful to help make friends in new situations, come across better in interviews, and understand the world around us. In some destinations, they will also learn and use some of the local language on their project. Language skills like this are increasingly useful and desired in modern workplaces.
Travelling like this can ignite a passion for their work, a hobby, a language, or travel itself. This could shape their lives ahead, leading them to incredible job opportunities and personal experiences.
“I was definitely not able to have such an experience in Japan, that made it really meaningful and significant. Throughout this two week-program, I felt even more motivated to pursue my dream to become a doctor and hope to save as many lives as possible.” – Rikuto on Trustpilot
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A life-changing adventure across the world might sound scary, but when they are fully supported from start to finish, your child might just discover something that helps mark out their future.
If you think this is something they’d be interested in, and you want to find out more about it, sign up to our newsletter. You’ll be the first to see useful information and travel inspiration every month. Fill in the form below to be added to the list!