Volunteer Guide
Would you like to go abroad, but don't know exactly how to proceed? Our Volunteer Guide gives you orientation and instructions on how to approach your stay abroad. In addition, the guide provides you with relevant information and tips - from the mere idea to the time after your return.
First steps & preparation
1. The idea of ​​going abroad
You're soon done with schoolAre you thinking about how you should organize your semester break or are you planning a break from everyday working life? No matter what stage of life you are in right now, the idea of ​​going abroad for a while and gaining new experiences never leaves you. Then the first step is to think about what you most want to do, where you want to travel and what you hope to achieve from this adventure.
2. Inform
There are many different ways to spend a special time abroad. That's why it makes sense to inform yourself about your options. Do you want to earn some money while you are abroad? Then it's best to look for a job abroad or Work & Travel. Or do you want to join a non-profit in one volunteer project get involved? Then volunteering abroad is right for you! If your goal is to develop your skills for your future career, this is one Internship a good idea.
Research suitable organizations on the Internet, find out more at trade fairs or find inspiration on social media. At our on-line events you will also learn more about volunteer work, internships and sabbaticals abroad. Feel free to browse through our magazine:
>> Volunteer work or internship abroad?
>> Volunteer & Travel
3. Set the frame
Have you decided on a certain type of stay abroad? Very good - now it's time to set out the details:
- Period: When exactly and for how long do you want to go abroad?
- Location: Which country or region are you particularly interested in?
- Volunteer area of ​​activity: In which area would you like to become active?
- Accompaniment: Would you like to start the adventure alone or would you rather traveling with friends?
Think about it, get inspiration from blogs or guides and look for suitable projects that fit your criteria.
Tip: Different projects, locations or even target countries can also be combined at RGV.
>> How to find your volunteer project
4. Beratung
Have you already selected a target country, an area of ​​activity or even a few possible projects, but still need more information or support in making the final decision? Then let us advise you! Together we will find the right project for you and clarify all open questions.
Arrange a consultation appointment
5. Registration
Once you have finally found your dream project and clarified all the details, there is nothing standing in the way of your registration. Simply register online for your project or your desired combination.
6. Additional Services
Depending on the location, you can book additional services for your volunteer work. Take ours for example preparation seminar Participate, improve your language skills or travel with ours Tours mit.
Accommodation in shared bedrooms is always included in our projects. Depending on the location, you will live in a volunteer house, with a host family, in a camp or other types of accommodation. If you would like more privacy during your stay, you can also book a single room (at an additional cost).
7. Confirmation
After your registration you will receive an e-mail from us with the booking confirmation as well as information on how to proceed, the required documents, a travel ABC, etc. As soon as the team at the location confirms your participation, your stay is fixed! Anticipation and a slight tingling are pre-programmed here.
8. Program Fees
First, however, you have to take care of the program fees. After placement you will receive a confirmation with an invoice. Then a deposit of 20% must be paid. The remaining payment will then be made four weeks before the start of the trip. Here you can also find out what yours is for Volunteer participation costs should be used.
9. Travel preparation
Before your trip starts, there are a few things to do. After all, you definitely want to start your adventure well prepared. Here are the most important points for travel preparation:
- Entry requirements → apply for a visa if necessary
- Passport → Check or apply for validity
- Health precautions → vaccinations, first-aid kit, …
- Insurance
- compile documents
You can find detailed information here Tips for your travel preparation.
10. Flight booking
With all the to-dos, you shouldn’t forget to book your flights in good time. Maybe a ticket with an open return flight is a suitable option for you? You will receive a non-binding offer from our partner that takes into account reduced rates for volunteers, students and young people.
Request a ticket without obligation
11. Further preparation
If you have everything important together, you can now fully prepare for your stay abroad. Find out about life in your destination country, read Testimonials, exchange ideas with returnees if necessary, make contacts with other volunteers and arouse wanderlust with impressions of the destination. Please visit our social media channels:
>> Instagram
>> Facebook
>> TikTok
>> YouTube
Finally, all you have to do is pack your things. In addition to the most important documents, travel essentials and medicines, there may still be room for a few gifts. You are also welcome to use ours Packing List to check off so you don't forget anything.
Abroad
12. Let's go!
Well prepared, you can now start your great adventure! Say goodbye to your loved ones and look forward to the great time ahead!
13. Airport pickup
Arrived at the destination, our local team takes care of your well-being. At most of our locations, you will be picked up by a team member upon arrival. Wear your RGV t-shirt so you can be easily recognized by our team! Together we go to your accommodation or directly to the project.
14. On-Site Orientation
The orientation program takes place on the first few days after your arrival. Here, together with all newcomers, you will receive, among other things, an introduction to local life, how best to get around and safety tips. Depending on the project, the scope of the orientation program can vary. In the project you also always have a contact person who will be at your side if you have any questions or problems.
15. Work in the project
After the orientation you can start with your work in the project. Become part of the team at your assignment site and experience unforgettable moments in your new adopted home! After a few days you will find your new rhythm abroad, get involved in your project and make new contacts.
16. Return journey
After you have collected countless special impressions, made new friends and developed skills, it is time to say goodbye. Take time to say goodbye to the local people, revisit your favorite spot or eat your favorite meal before heading home with a wealth of valuable experiences.
After returning
17. Certificate
Upon your return, you will receive (upon request) an RGV Participation Certificate for your volunteer work or internship. This will certainly be a plus in your applications!
18. Feedback
Write a review of your stay! We are always very excited to get an insight into the volunteer work of our participants. Future volunteers and interested parties will benefit from this, but we can also continuously improve ourselves through the feedback.
19. Reflection
During your time abroad you must have had formative experiences, learned a lot of new things and developed personally. Now it is important to reflect on these experiences and think about how you can use the skills you have acquired for your own future.
To help you, we provide you with the introductory course in personality development, which you can book free of charge for all projects.
20. Keep getting involved
Your commitment does not have to end with your stay abroad. There are many ways to do something good beyond that: for example, support projects in your home town, set up your own project, do educational work in your area or network with other returnees. Your newly acquired skills will definitely help you!
Find out here how you engage as an RGV returnee .
Preparation
How far in advance do I have to register?
Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.
But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.
Can I travel with a friend or in a group?
Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.
We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.
When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!
Which previous knowledge do I need?
For most projects are Soft skills such as reliability, initiative and a sense of responsibility as well as the motivation to support a project are sufficient. Good linguistic proficiency (English or Spanish or French) are a great advantage. For some projects, however, specific knowledge necessary - you can read about this in the respective project description.
What insurance do I need?
In order to be able to take part in one of our projects, you need the following insurance:
- Health Insurance
- Private liability insurance
Make sure that the insurance is valid in your destination country!
When do I have to submit the documents?
Documents are only required after a binding registration. You should send us a letter of motivation and your CV by email immediately after registering. We need all the remaining documents no later than 4 weeks before departure.
Here you have one Overview of all required documents.
How do I change money into local currency?
It is best to take a credit card with you and withdraw money from the machine on site. Here you will find information about a free Visa card.
Will the project be recognized by my university?
As a rule: Yes! It is important that you let us know in advance Requirements of your university/college to a project (e.g. nursing internship). Internship specifications and focal points can be adhered to as long as we are informed about this and can therefore search for the appropriate placement.
Do I need a visa?
Yes, for some countries there will be one Visa needed! For many RGV destination countries, a visa must be applied for in advance. We will give you thorough instructions and obtain the necessary letters of invitation from your destination country.
Will I receive a confirmation of participation?
Yes, after your successful participation in an RGV project you will be issued with a confirmation of participation.
How can I get involved in my project after I return?
There are many ways to get involved as an RGV returnee upon your return. On the one hand, educational work in your area is a good start to make people aware of the project and the need. For example, organize an event at your university or in your community.
You can also send donations in kind and money to your project, which are always gratefully accepted. Find out in our magazine article about other ways you can continue to support your project from home.
>> Ask us an individual question <
We are happy to answer you from Monday to Friday between
10: 00 and 12: 00 clock and 14: 00 and 16: 00 clock
your individual questions. Just give us a call! Plan an individual consultation appointment with us or send us your message.
Costs & Financing
What additional expenses can I expect on site?
We have already covered most of the costs with your participation fees. Nevertheless, you should have additional costs of average 75 to 130 euros per week plan on. The largest additional costs usually arise from your personal expenses and your leisure activities. The amount varies depending on the country and activities.
During the preparation of the trip, costs for the entry visa may arise. Not every visa has a fee associated with it.
What are the participation costs?
The program costs vary depending on the country, project and duration of participation. At the end of each of our project descriptions you will find the program costs and the included services.
What does the organization use my money for?
Meaningful volunteer work abroad is associated with numerous cost factors. What are they and why is that so? => Detailed information can be found in our Article on the subject.
Sign in
How can I sign up?
Did you find your dream project? Perfect! Then you can now register with binding effect. Simply click on the "Register now" button in the respective project description and fill out the form. You can find more detailed information on the registration process in our Volunteer Guide.
How does the flight booking work?
As soon as we have confirmed your registration by email, nothing stands in the way of booking a flight. We have clearly described the best way to book your flight here:
Can I combine projects?
Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.
Combination options at a glance:
- Combine programs in one country
- Combine programs across countries
- Combine a program with a language course
- Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips
There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.
Can I extend on site if I like it?
Yes, this is possible from our side! The following points must be checked:
- Availability on site: The project must not be fully booked at the time.
- Validity of the visa: Your visa may need to be valid long enough.
- Rebooking the return flight: If you have already booked a return flight, you should be able to rebook it.
Health
Which vaccinations are recommended?
The required vaccinations vary greatly from country to country. For example, more vaccinations are required in the tropics than in the extratropical latitudes. In the health care we recommend using several information channels as a matter of principle:
• Consultation with the doctor
• Information from the Foreign Office
You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.
On site
Are there other volunteers on site?
Yes! At our larger locations and in most animal welfare projects, you can be sure that you will meet other volunteers on site. Only in exceptional cases can it happen that there are no other volunteers on site.
Most of our volunteers come from German-speaking countries and other European countries.
=> Feel free to ask us by phone, how your project and your participation period look like.
Are there contact persons on site?
At all of our locations we have contact persons and RGV teams on site who will be happy to be there for you during your stay.
What are the working hours in the project?
Working hours can vary greatly between individual projects. Most of the time, however, you will be working on the project between 5 and 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. In the social field, the weekends are usually free.
Is there internet on site?
Often there is WiFi in our accommodations. If this is not available, the mobile network is usually sufficiently developed to go online. You can get a SIM card cheaply on site. Your team leaders can give you tips on this.
Can I travel on the weekends?
Almost all of our participants are in theirs free time very active and use the weekends or the days off to Journeys!
At most locations there are always several participants on site, so you can go on tour together. Our teams have plenty Tips for you and will be happy to advise you on organizational issues, such as public transport.
Can I travel after my project?
Yes, of course you can continue to explore the country after your assignment. However, you must observe the expiry date of your visa. You can also find them all here travel deals from RGV, which you can optionally book.
