Doing a volunteer exchange gives you an amazing opportunity to combine budget traveling with getting to know new, international people and meanwhile living like a local. But at the same time, it is not the classic, relaxing vacation: you have to be adaptable, positive, and self-motivated. So here are the pros and cons of travelling this way!
It’s one thing finding your perfect host, contacting them, getting accepted and then being on your way. But it’s another thing entirely once you are actually there with them! It’s time to put your charming coat on, show them why you were worth their time, and let the rest of us know just how amazing it is being a guest and a volunteer.
So you want to volunteer abroad? Good on you! We love that you are looking to give back. But you’ve gone online and you’ve seen some organisations CHARGE ridiculous agency fees for your kindness. How crazy is that? In fact what we are here to do is show you how you can volunteer around the world without paying a cent…
It can be intimidating if you’re new to volunteering abroad (or need to reassure your parents). Here are a few tips for your first Workaway that I’m sure will give you the confidence to go for it and have one of the best adventures of your life.
Choosing your first Workaway is unquestionably exciting, especially when you have 170 countries and 50,000 projects to choose from! So you're feeling inspired to join Workaway and find your home away from home but unsure where's the best place to start? Here are a few top tips to make the most of your experience- by choosing a homestay for your first Workaway. As someone who did exactly that, I’ll explain why choose a homestay for your first Workaway…
Whether you’re a teacher, a builder, footballer, musician, artist, chef or anything in between, your expertise and enthusiasm can become a beacon of hope for communities in over 170 countries around the world thanks to Workaway. With social impact projects you become both a learner and a teacher, which will leave a lasting impact on the lives of others and help contribute to a brighter and more inclusive world.
You all know by now how Workaway works and the benefits of volunteering compared to aimless travel, so we won’t go on about that again, but sometimes it’s just nice to highlight some of the 50,000+ opportunities in over 170 countries we now have online – especially the ones that are really making a difference to our planet and are giving back to the local communities!
The ultimate dream for most travellers: to be able to travel all around the world, one country at a time, without a worry in the world. But how will we be able to afford it?
Looking to see the northern lights in Finland or Machu Picchu in Peru? Deciding on the country we want to go to might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s also very important to keep in mind what you’re looking for long-term! Let us help with the main questions you might have before heading out to your first Workaway experience…
Chester from Singapore started out from going on short hiking trips while working for an ad agency, to creating a life between traveling, writing and hiking full time! We got to hear more about his journey so far around the world, the connections he had made through Workaway, and the new lifestyle he has found for himself.
We want to spread the word further, to show everyone why becoming a volunteer is so rewarding. Here are 10 reasons why volunteering is the BEST FEELING in the world.
If a photo can speak a thousand words, then a video can do more! So give a bit of personality by uploading a personal video to your workaway profile, and show off all your achievements on the site with our new badges too.
Miguel and Mariana had been living together for 6-7 years when they suddenly decided to leave their beloved homeland behind to find a home away from home everywhere they went. Read about the epic story of how they make the transition from quitting their 9-5 jobs lives to become full-time Workawaying nomads!
After 52 years of employment and family life Daniel decided to sell his house, his car and all his possessions and fulfill his dream of travelling the world after retirement. Nowadays his sole possessions are in his backpack, but even after two years on the road Workawaying he has never looked back.
After a two-year Workaway at a Norwegian husky farm, Marije gladly swaps city life with the companionship of 40 huskies and discovers the joys and strength it takes to go ‘back-to-basics’.
Let’s face it- there’s something romantic and almost nostalgic about being poor. Think about all of the crazy adventures that begin by trying to save a little cash. Penny pinching may not sound glamorous, but the memories made while travelling on a shoestring budget will definitely be worth retelling. If you’re not convinced, here are 8 ways travelling on a budget can improve your trip and definitely earn you some backpacker badges of honour.
From circus and theatre, to decorative painting, sculpture, music and dance – check out our hosts which offer creative opportunities across the world and nurture your inner artist!
Workaway is a great place to find and connect to permaculture practitioners. Whether you are a permaculture practitioner seeking more experience or a curious traveller wanting to find out more, there is an incredibly diverse list of hosts waiting for your help.
When we were planning our honeymoon, we thought we can make the best of our round-the-world trip by experiencing the rural lifestyle as a farmer via workaway, as a test to make sure we weren’t just romanticizing the idea of living on a farm (especially because we were both working office jobs in New York City)! We were also hoping that the new skill set we would gain can really carry us through our big retirement plan of living on a ranch or a farm.
There’s no doubt that travelling can be good for the mind, body, and soul. We don’t have to convince you of its many personal benefits, but is it as good for the environment? Not always. The good news is that there are many ways to practice sustainable travel. With intention and a little preparation, following even a few of these steps can go a long way in helping preserve the treasures we seek around the world.
Well, we felt it’s not always the things in life that you do that you sometimes regret, it’s the things that you don’t do. If there’s something that you really want to do, just take a chance! You can always go home if it doesn’t work out. It was a bit scary thinking about it and we talked about travelling for about a year before we realised that the only thing stopping us, was us.
This month, we talk to Samira and Alan with this school project in a Ecuadorian Amazon village. Dedicated to helping protect indigenous culture in the heart of the Amazon, they need volunteers like you and me to help teach English in their remote village. We’re inspired by their project and know you will be too!
Travelling the world with almost no money might sounds like an impossible dream to many, but Workawayer Michael has tackled the challenge with only $15 left to his name, and he’s here to share his inspiring stories with us..
I stand out. Like a sore thumb. Like a neon glow stick against a moonless midnight sky. Will I ever truly belong? Can I ever truly belong? I have been a foreigner many times. Yet, this is the first time being a foreigner has been so obvious to me and everyone else, too. It’s the first time I’ve felt an unshakeable sense of vulnerability and loss of anonymity.
Why do we travel? To meet people, to see amazing sights, to learn new languages, or purely just to get out there to see the world? Whatever the reason we travel, have you noticed how we have become obsessed with counting countries?! Uploading the most Instagrams and trying to conquer every continent? Why do we travel with so much urgency now?
What does it mean to be a global citizen? Originally from the depths of rural Dorset, England, Workawayer Katie is now out in the big world exploring one country at a time.
Before even embarking on the experience, a host needs to be prepared mentally and practically for a visitor – it’s not always easy sharing your space or adapting to someone else’s. Here we’ve got a 10 point step-by-step guide to help you get the most of out of your experience as a host…
Travelling as a couple is wonderful, inspiring and romantic fun but it can also be stressful and overwhelming when you’re on a long term trip with your partner! Why can’t we all learn to be a little selfish and take the chance to spend some time apart?
After flying to Costa Rica and searching for the optimal land to putting this dream into reality, all the answers were found in this little piece of jungle in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. While building the camp, and surfing together every day, we began to feel something special was on its way.
Not young enough for workaway? Never! Read about our “Workawayer of the month”, Sue and Adrian’s adventure, who are in their 50’s and finally fulfilling their dream of travelling and volunteering around the world…
We’ve heard it all before – ‘I quit my job to travel the world’, but what is it really like when you are actually doing it? When you stop earning a guaranteed salary and start travelling without a wage? We decided to ask someone that knows all too well on how to really live off pennies, and the rewards that come with doing Workaway exchange.
What I couldn’t know then was that my first Workaway solo trip would teach me important lessons that I still rely on several years, and many Workaways later. Whether you’re considering your first solo trip with Workaway or your thirtieth, I hope you’ll find them valuable too.
We talk to 19-year-old Jake who has just returned from his first life changing Workaway project in Guatemala. We loved talking to him and admire his courage and motivation! He really proves; ‘No Matter Your Age, Travel Has No Limit’!
Thanks to Workaway this year I was fortunate enough to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine: experiencing life in a far-flung and remote place like Greenland (as well as seeing icebergs and glaciers up close and in person)!
Should I even be taking this chicken bus alone? What if I got robbed? What was I getting myself into? The list of things you should be afraid of goes on…
“I am not ‘travelling’ – I’m just choosing to be alive somewhere else.” September’s workawayer of the month features Trisha, a digital nomad working around the world, one Workaway project at a time!
“I personally don’t want to just see the world, observe it, I want to participate in it.” Jamie, first workawayer of the month, shares his unique way of travelling – by fully immersing in local experiences and making the most out of them!
