Volunteering abroad is one of the best ways to get to know a country and make a difference. You'll get to connect with local residents, embracing the country's culture and customs while contributing to projects that could positively benefit communities and the planet. If you approach volunteering with an open mind, you'll definitely be in for an exciting and gratifying experience.
Whether you’re interested in human rights advocacy in Thailand or conserving wildlife in South Africa, we’ve identified the best countries to volunteer in 2024.
At Go Overseas, we want our community members to have the resources they need to find the destination that best fits their travel goals! To determine the locations for this article, we looked at various factors, such as the location’s history, cost of living/average salaries, things to do, and the number of programs offered in the location.
Lastly, we used our own industry knowledge to ensure we're recommending locations that are vetted both by you, the community members, and us, the experts, so that we feel confident the locations included are the best of the best!
Best for working in health
📍 Popular cities for volunteering: Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata
🔨 Popular volunteer projects in India: bandage wounds for patients in busy clinics in low-income areas; join a mobile health clinic delivering care to rural communities
For volunteers passionate about healthcare and looking to share their skillset, India could be a destination worth exploring. Though the country has experienced rapid economic growth, many communities still do not have access to clean water, proper housing, or basic medical care. India has a population of nearly 1.4 billion people so there are numerous opportunities to help.
Flexibility is key as clinics and hospitals may be underresourced -- it can be hard to work with limited supplies but the local medical professionals will be there to guide you. Some programs require volunteers to be healthcare students or licensed healthcare workers but whether you have a lot or a little experience, there is likely to be a place for you to contribute.
Medical and dental volunteers are needed to help assist in clinics and hospitals, as well as spread public health awareness to promote the basics of health and topics like COVID-19, infectious disease, global health programming, and more.
