There are various organisations and websites that you can contact to find out about different volunteering opportunities overseas. It is important, when looking for volunteering opportunities in the UK and abroad, that you research the organisation you are interested in and be sure that you are comfortable with what they are offering. Get as much information as possible before you commit to a particular organisation. Doing plenty of research and gathering testimonials from people who have previously been involved in a programme will help you to make a more informed decision.

The Worldwide Volunteering website has a searchable database of overseas volunteering opportunities (wwv.sds.rocktime.net)

The Volunteering England website has a useful section on volunteering overseas and has details of various short and long-term projects(www.volunteering.org.uk/missions.php?id=345)

The do-it.org.uk website also has a section on volunteering overseas and includes links to career related volunteering opportunities (www.do-it.org.uk)

East African Playgrounds is a Leicester based charity that aims to change the lives of children across Uganda by improving play, recreational and leisure facilities. Our one month volunteer projects enable students to help us build a playground from start to finish as well as initiate sports, arts and reading programs. The projects are community focused within the weekdays and adventure focused at the weekends.

(www.eastafricanplaygrounds.org)

Edirisa UK is a UK based charity that has been supporting community projects in Uganda since 2005. These focus on education, health, sanitation and clean water. They run three school based projects in Uganda that will enable you to experience another culture and to build your confidence whilst bringing your unique skills and experiences to the children(www.edirisa.org.uk/Home.html)

Lattitude Global Volunteering (formerly GAP Activity Projects), founded is one of the longest running overseas volunteering organisations and a youth development charity. They specialise in long term volunteering opportunities that are designed to challenge the volunteer and so build skills and confidence as well as truly benefitting the host community. They also run a bursary scheme that can help contribute towards the cost of overseas volunteering

(www.lattitude.org.uk).

Original Volunteers offers you the opportunity to volunteer overseas on a range of over 100 volunteer projects in 18 countries around the world

(www.originalvolunteers.co.uk).

Plan my Gap Year  - affordable volunteer programmes from two weeks to six months across 6 countries in Asia. Projects include Orphanage Work, English Teaching, Medical Internships, Community Outreach, Teaching Buddhist Monks and volunteering at local NGOs.(www.planmygapyear.co.uk)

Raleigh International is a youth and sustainable development charity that runs expeditions in Borneo, India and Costa Rica & Nicaragua. They focus on sustainable community and environmental projects, and bring together people from different ages and backgrounds (www.raleighinternational.org).

TEFL England provides classroom based and online courses that give people the skills and qualifications to travel abroad and find great teaching opportunities. If you can speak English you can teach it?(www.teflengland.co.uk).

Volunteach Peru runs volunteering and working placementss for graduate or undergraduates interested in working as English Language teaching assistants or teachers in Peru, in their schools and universities(www.volunteachperu.org).

Volunteers Direct focus on improving education, facilitating sport training and bolstering social services in schools and communities in South Africa (www.volunteersdirect.co.za).

Volunteer Maldives has a variety of volunteer projects and development programs to benefit local island communities and inspire individuals. Your participation can make a substantial difference to Maldivians, and have fun while you do it (www.volunteermaldives.com).

The Volunteering Team host a Travel and Volunteering Fair in the autumn term of each academic year. The aim of this event is to promote opportunities for volunteering and travel abroad to students at the University of Leicester. These may be short term opportunities that students can participate in during vacations or gap year opportunities. Keep checking the Events Diary for further information.

Please note: the organisations listed on this page are in no way endorsed by the Careers Service at the University of Leicester and are used as examples of opportunities you may wish to investigate yourself.