Volunteering in Asia | Projects Abroad NZ

Volunteer in Asia, immerse yourself in the local culture, and focus on long-term, sustainable development in disadvantaged communities. Through our volunteer programmes in Asia, you’ll gain a deeper insight into people’s lives and the challenges they face. You’ll experience fascinating cultures, while creating a positive impact for local communities.

On our volunteer trips to Asia, you can do things like:

Help protect coral reefs and other sea life through a Marine Conservation Project in Thailand
Give kids the best possible start by volunteering with children in Asia, in countries like Cambodia
Have a truly authentic adventure by living among nomads in Mongolia

Or choose from a range of other exciting service trips in Asia. Wherever you end up, our Project Experts will help you find the overseas volunteer programme that best fits your interests and ambitions. By choosing the right project, you’ll discover what you’re capable of!

With our volunteer in Asia programmes, we take care of the details, so you can enjoy a hassle-free experience. Our local staff are available to help you 24/7. This means you can focus all your energy on making a real impact in the community where you’re working.

Why volunteer in Asia?

As the world’s largest continent, Asia’s diversity means you have access to an exciting range of volunteering opportunities. Choose from the mountains of Nepal, the jungles of Thailand, or the plains of Mongolia. You’re bound to find a volunteer adventure that takes you out of your comfort zone, offering a boost to your personal and professional skills.

At the same time, Asian countries face a number of challenges and your help is needed to make a real impact. Whether you’re helping local teachers give kids the best start in life, working for women’s empowerment, or protecting vital marine ecosystems, your volunteer work is valuable.

Asia volunteer trips offer the chance for you to immerse yourself in the local culture. Through this, you’ll gain deeper insights and have a more authentic experience than you might on a typical gap year or holiday. You’ll gain awareness of the problems that exist and become part of the global effort towards finding long-term, sustainable solutions in Asia.

How to become a volunteer in Asia

Want to know more about how to volunteer in Asia? It couldn’t be easier! Just follow these steps to turn your dreams into a reality:

Think about the work you want to do, whether that’s helping children, protecting marine life, or a medical internship. If you have your heart set on a particular country in Asia, then choose your favourite from the projects we offer in that destination.
Reach out to our Project Experts, who can provide more information and help you make the right choice according to your interests and goals.
Decide how much time you have to travel to Asia, how flexible your dates are, and if you’d rather travel alone or as part of a group. This will determine what kind of trip is right for you, whether that's an independent Flexi Trip, Team Trip, or a High School Special for students aged 15-18.
Once you know which Asian country you want to visit, what type of work you’d like to be doing, and the length you wish to travel for, there’s nothing left to do but fill in the application form and book your place!

Do you offer volunteer work in South East Asia?

Yes! We offer volunteer projects across the continent, but many travellers prefer the idea of going to South East Asia. Choose from volunteer opportunities in South East Asia in:

Cambodia
Thailand
Vietnam
Philippines

Wherever else you choose to go as a volunteer in South East Asia, you can work with children, do medical volunteering, build crucial infrastructure, and more!

How old do I have to be to do volunteer work in Asia?

A group of teenagers volunteering in Cambodia tour Phnom Penh with Projects Abroad.

All our volunteer opportunities in Asia are open to people aged 16 and over. To join a project, all you need to do is check you meet the requirements and apply. Most of our overseas volunteer programmes have minimum requirements which are stated clearly on the project page, but feel free to get in touch for more advice and support.

We also offer volunteer projects in Asia for high school students aged 15-18. Our High School Specials are designed to give teenagers the support and care they need as young travellers.

And there’s no upper age limit! We believe you’re never too old to do a service trip to Asia. In fact, your experience and skills are much needed to support development in Asian countries.

Is volunteering in Asia ethical?

Rest assured you’ll have an ethical experience with us in Asia. We hold all our volunteers to a high standard, especially if you’re working with children, animals, or in a medical setting. As champions of responsible volunteer travel, we follow an eight point checklist for all projects, including volunteer trips to Asia. This guarantees an ethical travel experience for all involved.

Learn more about our policies and approach to ethical volunteering.

Do we offer short term volunteer opportunities in Asia?

Short on time? Our volunteer trips to Asia can all be done short-term. You can volunteer in Asia from a minimum of one week, if this fits your schedule better. If you’re concerned about what kind of impact you can really make in a week, read our blog that explains how we approach short-term volunteering.

We should mention that the longer your service trip to Asia lasts, the better the value for money! Staying for longer also allows you to maximise the positive impact you have on local communities. Either way, we believe in flexibility, so you can do what’s right for you.

Can I volunteer in Asia for free?

A group of volunteers in Asia listen to a Projects Staff member explain mangrove reforestation techniques in Thailand.

People often ask us if they can volunteer in Asia for free. This isn’t possible, for three main reasons:

We ensure the highest levels of safety for our volunteers with 24/7 staff support.
To give you the best experience possible, we deal with all the logistics, ensuring a hassle-free volunteer trip.
We’re committed to long term sustainable development.
All of these require funding, and that’s why we charge a fee.

The cost of a volunteer in Asia programme depends on where you go, what you do, and how long you volunteer for. But it’s probably not as much as you think. Especially when you consider that our project fees include:

Three meals a day
Accommodation
Transportation to and from your placement

Plus, the longer you stay, the lower the cost per week. If you’re looking for affordable volunteer work in Asia, our trips to Asia start from $2,370.

You can also take advantage of our flexible payment plans. We understand that paying in one go isn’t always possible, so we just ask for an initial deposit and then you can pay as much or as little as you like in a series of small installments. We’re completely flexible, but the fee does need to be paid in full before you leave for your project.

We also offer advice and support for volunteer fundraising, so you can get the funds you need. Our staff and alumni are experts on raising funds and we’ll ensure that you’re able to secure the required amount. With the money worries out of the way, prepare for the volunteer trip of a lifetime!

Is it safe to volunteer in Asia?

We understand that safety is important when you take a volunteer trip. When you volunteer with us, this is something you can stop worrying about. We’ll place you in Asian countries that are politically stable and safe to visit, and our local staff keep a close eye on changing situations.

As always when travelling abroad, volunteers in Asia should stay alert. Local staff will be on hand to offer tips and advice on keeping yourself and your belongings safe. They’re contactable 24/7.

Find out more about safety and backup.