In today’s world volunteering has become an ever growing sector as more and more people wish to dedicate their time to ‘giving back’ to those societies or communities less fortunate than others. In essence ‘volunteering’ means a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task without being paid. However, many who have volunteered can say that although volunteering offers no monetary reward, it most definitely offers plenty of richness.

Volunteering allows you to put your skills and time in good use by helping to make a positive impact on a project, be it small or large. From teaching English, to putting together a marketing plan, to working with animals, volunteering comes in different forms but all have the same goal and bring the same feeling of fulfilment and self-purpose. Do good, feel good.

Volunteering allows you to further develop your skills and passion and find something that you are really good at. Unsurprisingly this helps open more doors to full-time paid employment within the sector that you really enjoy working in.

More so volunteering abroad provides you with that extra added experience and challenge as it gives you the opportunity to discover a whole new world while also working and interacting with the locals, immersing yourself in a cultural experience. This in itself is not only character building but also helps you understand and provide aid to a community that was born in a less fortunate situation than you.

Today the possibility to combine travel, adventure and volunteering while also having a positive impact on the world is more possible than ever before. There are a number of not-for-profit organisations that offer ethical volunteering opportunities abroad for free or at minimal cost.

One region of the world where it’s possible to find affordable and ethical volunteering opportunities is Africa.

Few parts of the world capture the imagination of travellers quite so powerfully as Africa. This continent has been blessed with nature and beauty, however poverty is highly spread and help is always needed.

An increasing number of companies have started to advertise voluntary work all over Africa; however the majority of these companies charge alarmingly high prices to participate in voluntary programs. Moreover, most of the money paid to these companies is used to subsidise their plush offices, expensive marketing efforts and to yield high returns. No one benefits from these placements apart from the companies that organise them.

Volunteer 4 Africa however is different, as it is an eco-friendly and non-profit organisation dedicated to helping people source affordable volunteering opportunities. Whether you want to volunteer with animals, are seeking gap year ideas, or are interested in working in a particular African country, Volunteer 4 Africa can help you find a voluntary program to suit your needs without breaking the bank.

Volunteer 4 Africa also publicises the ‘wish list’ of every voluntary program in order to urge volunteers to pack a few extra items in their luggage and give them as donations. In this way, Volunteer 4 Africa is a one-stop shop resource for not only those wishing to dedicate their time to help out on a given project but also to help make philanthropic donations to truly benefit these projects that are in desperate need of help.

Stephen Knight is the webmaster of Volunteer 4 Africa – a site offering affordable volunteer jobs and internships throughout Africa.

Stephen Knight is the webmaster of http://www.volunteer4africa.org/

Author Bio: Stephen Knight is the webmaster of Volunteer 4 Africa – a site offering affordable volunteer jobs and internships throughout Africa.

Category: Travel
Keywords: volunteer, africa, abroad, opportunities, volunteering, jobs, internships, program, free