Volunteering Around Asia

Contact with locals is great and something most tourists will not experience. Below I have listed some organizations offering volunteer work in Asia, but I cannot tell you which organizations will have opportunities with lots of local contact. You'll have to check out the organization yourself.

i-to-i International Projects - Provides a variety of volunteer work experiences including teaching English as a foreign language, community development, conservation, construction, and free TEFL training. i-to-i is one of the largest volunteer service organizations and their service is top quality, but they are expensive.

Cross-Cultural Solutions - An international volunteer program, with opportunities in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, and Thailand.

Earthwatch Institute - An international non-profit organization supporting scientific field research and offering members of the public the opportunity to work with distinguished field scientists.

Youth International - Information about experiential learning in East Asia or Africa, including intercultural exchange, community service, and home stays.

Greenway - Offers short-term and long-term volunteering opportunities abroad.

Globe Aware - A nonprofit organization, currently offers volunteer vacations in Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cuba, Nepal, Brazil and India.

Global Volunteer Network - A non profit organization which places volunteers abroad in community projects.

Childlife - Provides the street children in Mae Sai with a safe refuge, shelter and home, food, health and non-formal education.

World Endeavors - Through village-based volunteer programs and volunteer camps, volunteers promote mutual friendship, world peace, and solidarity.

Citizens Democracy Corps - Supports hundreds of small and medium sized businesses in Central/Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus Region, Thailand, Guatemala, and Central Asia.

Global Service Corps - Provides volunteer opportunities for people worldwide to live and work abroad in developing countries.

Developing World Connections - A volunteer & cultural vacation coordinator with the goal of introducing participants to volunteer opportunities and cultural tours in developing countries.

Mondo Challenge - Sends volunteers abroad (gap year, university, post university, career break, early retirement etc) to help with volunteer development programs in Africa, Asia and South America. All our volunteer programs are community based and the normal stay is from 2-6 months.

AidCamps International - A registered charity offering volunteers the opportunity to participate in short term voluntary work development aid projects overseas run by local non-governmental organisations in the third world.

One! International - Canadian-affiliated charity working with street children in Mumbai (Bombay). Volunteers teach basic hygiene and English, organize meals, sports and music, etc.

Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange - Sends volunteers abroad to work with communities overseas in social and welfare placements abroad for one year or six months.

Global Volunteers - Sends teams of volunteers abroad to work on short-term development projects worldwide. Coordinates over 150 teams per year. Trip information and contacts for Minnesota non-profit organization.

Global Crossroad - Offering a variety of volunteering abroad, internship, trekking, adventure and cross-cultural experience to international volunteers in Nepal, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Mongolia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, Ghana, Tibet.

Cosmic Volunteers - Programs for volunteering abroad, internships, study abroad, language study, and custom travel programs around the globe.

Openmindprojects - Offers volunteers a cross-cultural opportunities in Thailand and with IT Isan projects.

Global Humanitarian Expeditions - A non profit organization that sends both non-medical and Dental volunteers abroad to provide humanitarian assistance in Nepal, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Peru and Ecuador.