• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Service-Learning

5 Reasons Why Millennials Should Volunteer Abroad in College

volunteer abroad in college

College is a time when millennials are told that they are supposed to find themselves or a deeper purpose in life. For many young people, it can be a harrowing task to discover the “real world, ” especially when the real world isn’t much more than campus and home. But what if you volunteered abroad while in college to broaden your perspective and prepare yourself for the future?

If you’re a millennial in college and panicking that you’ll be thrown into the real world too abruptly, a short-term volunteer program abroad may be the perfect solution to help you acquire a deeper global understanding. Consider these real-world advantages of volunteering abroad:

1. Productive use of free time

Volunteering abroad is a great way to spend spring break, summer vacation, or J-term instead of sitting on a couch, binge-watching Netflix. You could be having the time of your life and making unforgettable memories rather than ordering pizza for an entire week. Teach English to peers in Monopoli, Italy. Care for mothers and infants on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Or glaze pottery in rural Cuba.

volunteer abroad in college

2. Lifelong friendships

Many lifelong friendships are made in college. Why constrain your relationships with campus? Bring your friends on a volunteer adventure with you, and take advantage of Global Volunteers’ Companion Discount by referring them to your program.

But, even if you travel solo, you won’t leave the program that way. Between bonding with your volunteer teammates and serving the local people, odds are you’ll make lifelong friends on this journey. It’s not uncommon for volunteers to return to the same community every few years because of the relationships formed.

volunteer abroad in college

3. Workplace advantage

It can give you an edge in the workforce. Volunteering is attractive on resumes and can even be the deciding factor between two otherwise identical applicants. Two people with the same work experience, same degree, and same age are likely to have a similar chance of getting hired. But a person with volunteer experience, especially abroad experience, has an advantage. They have a deeper cultural and worldly understanding.

volunteer abroad in college

4. Fulfillment

Serving and exploring a new country is an experience of a lifetime. The people you meet and the lives you touch (and vice versa) will be with you forever. Global Volunteers has engaged over 33, 000 volunteers in the past 32 years, and nearly 40% of team members return on another Global Volunteers program.

volunteer abroad in college

5. The warm and welcoming community

Global Volunteers offers safe and secure lodging and three meals a day. When you’re not volunteering, you have ample free time to participate in local activities and enjoy cultural attractions in the area. While Global Volunteers’ non-profit status prohibits us from planning your free time activities, our local staff can provide general guidance and advice – sharing a list of activities explored and enjoyed by previous volunteers.

volunteer abroad in college
You can learn more from previous student volunteers on Global Volunteers programs worldwide. Start with these selected blog posts, written by volunteers in the field:

  • Journal entry from a Cuba volunteer: “What does a day of service-learning in Cuba look like?” 
  • Reflections from an Ecuador volunteer: “A Life-changing Volunteer Experience” 
  • Reflections from a Tanzania volunteer: “I absolutely fell in love with Tanzania…

Read more here about volunteering abroad in college,  student discounts, how to fundraise your program fee and travel costs. Or, click on the button below to chat with a Volunteer Coordinator.

Chat online about opportunities to volunteer abroad in college

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
October 5, 2016/by Sam Pinakoulaki
Tags: Spring break
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Millennials-volunteer-abroad-in-college-1.jpg 395 1024 Sam Pinakoulaki https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Sam Pinakoulaki2016-10-05 12:19:502021-09-20 22:10:295 Reasons Why Millennials Should Volunteer Abroad in College
You might also like
We Learn about our Work Projects in Anse la Raye, St. Lucia
How to Volunteer Abroad as a Group
High School Volunteer AbroadHigh School Volunteer Abroad – Service Learning Opportunities Year Around
Explore Greece as a familyFamily of Four Serve and Explore Greece!
High School Group Volunteering in Costa Rica
Explore Quito Through These Fabulous Photos: You’ll Fall in Love
Cheap domestic flights in PeruCheap and Awesome Touring Destinations in Peru
Global Volunteers Offers Best Service Programs by Season
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (112)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (52)
  • Montana (50)
  • Nepal (19)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (110)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (2)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (5)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (7)
  • Conversational English (93)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (121)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (146)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (236)
  • Ripple Effect (7)
  • Service-Learning (49)
  • Staff Worldwide (25)
  • Volunteer Voices (683)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
A Look at Higher Education in PeruHigher education in Peruethical volunteer vacationsEthical Volunteer Vacations: Choose Wisely to Ensure You Help, Not Hurt
Scroll to top