Volunteering Abroad: Opportunities for High School Students

Date:
Friday, January 10, 2025
Volunteer Abroad 2025

One of the best ways to learn about yourself and the wider world is to go out and see it. Traveling internationally can be a very uplifting and engaging experience for any high school student. But, as we all know, students need to focus on more than just traveling; they must also be thinking about enhancing their college resumes with volunteer experience. Luckily, there are plenty of programs today that give students a chance to do both. 

Volunteering abroad provides students a platform to not only see a new part of the world, but to lend a hand in its future. At NSHSS, we want to encourage students to push themselves by going above and beyond, and to see just how much the world has to offer. That is why we have selected five of the best programs focused primarily on volunteerism abroad. So take a look and see where your next opportunity awaits!

  

1. United Planet 

United Planet is a world-renowned program for high school students who have a passion for learning and a yearning for adventure. The program works hard to create a unique “quest” for each and every student. These quests can range from working with children, the environment, or even the local community in the country you’ll be living. United Planet also offers three different scholarships for high school students to apply for. They are: a full scholarship for any Short-Term Volunteer Abroad and Internship Abroad Quest within 1 to 3 weeks; a $500 scholarship for any Short-Term or Long-Term Volunteer Abroad and Internship Abroad Quest (1 week to 1 year); and a $250 scholarships for any Virtual Volunteer and Internship Quest (1 month - 6 months). 

 

2. GoEco 

GoEco is a compassionate and robust organization committed to bringing students from across the world into a world they’ve never seen. With over 150 different programs to choose from, with specialists in all areas of conservation and environmentalism, you get to explore new ways of living, thinking, and volunteering. Some of their programs include volunteering at a wildlife rescue in Costa Rica, teaching in a Buddhist monastery in Nepal, and working at a medical and nursing program in Sri Lanka. GoEco prides itself on finding affordable programs for students from all walks of life. 

Volunteers planting a tree 

3. Rustic Pathways

Rustic Pathways was founded in 1983 and is built for those who want a rigorous, hands-on experience in the coolest places around the world. The program’s first trip overseas included seven students from Ohio who, along with the two leaders, travelled to Australia and rode heavy-duty Toyota Land Cruisers around the Australian Outback, hunting and preparing their own meat. It was, according to the founders, a “transformational travel” experience. Since that first adventure, the experiences have only grown larger. Today they offer such trips such as traveling to Italy to see the Tuscan trails and Roman wonders, or to Greece to work with Turtle Conservation, or even to Germany and Austria to explore the Alps. Suffice it to say, if you have the heart of a true adventurer, then Rustic Pathways is for you. 

4. Broadreach 

If you are a high school student with a passion for surfing, scuba-diving, swimming, boating, and marine life, then Broadreach is definitely for you. This internationally-renowned program is focused primarily on marine-life conservation, with focuses on veterinary medicine and marine biology education as well. For over 25 years, more than 17,000 students have spent at least one summer in the company of some of the best teachers in the world. The students get to travel the world to places like St. Barths and St. Martins, as well as the Leewards. For twelve days, the students learn about their passion for marine life. It is an exciting adventure that will look incredible on your future college applications. The price point for this trip is a bit higher than some of the others on our list, with programs starting as low as $4,680, and going up to $5,180. If this program is something that you and your family decides is worth investing in, it can be an amazing opportunity. 

Volunteers at the beach

5. The National Geographic Society’s Young Explorer Program

You may have heard of the National Geographic, but you may not have heard of their Young Explorers Program. This amazing program is a leader in student outreach and connection. The program is highly-selective and tough, but for a reason. If you are accepted, you get access to more than you could have possibly imagined. With exciting offers such as a monetary award, networking opportunities, and the chance to truly see the world change right before your eyes. These explorers get to participate in everything from attending UN summit meetings, to taking photos in the Safari, to working with children in Africa. The program is an intense and critical step in the direction of your future. 

 

To Travel or Not To Travel, That is the Question

As mentioned above, these are just a few of the many opportunities available to high school students as young as fourteen or as old eighteen. While these can be incredible chances for you, it is also crucial to think critically, economically, and logistically about what this endeavor might mean for you and your families. As we all know, traveling can be expensive, and traveling abroad can be three to four times more expensive as opposed to working locally in your home town or city. 

Be sure to talk with your parents or guardian when considering your options. You must also think about your life around school, such as commitments to any part-time jobs, after-school activities, and your family life. It takes a lot of time to travel abroad, and you don’t want to leave behind other responsibilities. 

Whether you are looking just to go abroad for a few weeks, or for an entire school year, there is going to be a lot you must decide and act on. Traveling abroad takes planning and communication. At NSHSS, we want to see students succeed in endeavors like this, and as a member, we will do everything we can to make sure you are safe and that you have the resources you need to have the best trip possible. If you are interested in looking further into volunteering abroad, or even studying abroad, check out our other blogs for more information.