Volunteer Abroad in Africa

When you decide to volunteer abroad in Africa you have a wide variety of locations to choose from.

In South Africa there is Johannesburg and Cape Town. On the west coast of Africa are the beaches and palm trees of Ghana. In east Africa lies Kenya, renowned for safaris and anthropology sites. Other localities include Namibia, Angola, Cameroon, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, and the beautiful Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of eastern Africa. You can make a meaningful contribution in any of these exotic locations.

You will work side-by-side with local people, which helps everyone share an increased understanding of cultures. Your travel and work provides you with the chance to explore a part of Africa while also lending a helping hand to others.

Some examples of opportunities to volunteer abroad in Africa include the following:

* Teach English to school children
* Volunteer at an English language newspaper
* Work with animals at a game reserve
* Teach basic computer skills
* Help with tree planting and environmental conservation work
* Work on marine conservation and protection of habitats
* Coach kids in sports such as soccer
* Assist with marine life conservation, protecting dolphins and turtles
* Help build homes, (similar to what Habitat for Humanity does)

Some questions to ask yourself are...

How much time do you have available to volunteer?
What kind of work do you want to do?
What kind of work would you prefer to avoid?
What locations are you most interested in?
What skills and talents can you bring to the group?
Do you know any other languages?

What type of person enjoys being a volunteer? Some of the helpful personality traits include enthusiasm, a sense of adventure, respect for other peoples and cultures, the desire to do good and make a difference in the world, patience with new and different experiences, interest in learning new things, and a good sense of humor. All of these will come in handy to the person who wants to volunteer abroad in Africa or any other country.

Return to volunteer abroad free home page.