Responsible Volunteering

Our commitment to Responsible Volunteering

Responsible Volunteering

Volunteering is an amazing way to gain an insight into the culture of a country. By volunteering with a sustainable and responsible project you will become part of the community you work with. Responsible volunteering allows you to make a valuable contribution to long term solutions for the community served by the project.

Really meaningful and responsible volunteering is much more than simply sending in groups of volunteers to dig a well or paint a classroom. Meaningful volunteering must be part of a bigger plan. A plan that genuinely addresses the needs of the communities we are trying to help. Without proper thought, volunteering can be time wasted. In the worst-case scenarios volunteering can actually do more harm than good. And if your volunteering placement is not part of a long term plan, with sustainable solutions to real problems, then all your hard work may be forgotten as soon as your placement is over.

Which is why finding the right placement is so important. Globalteer has built up relationships with number of carefully selected community, wildlife and conservation projects over the years. Meaning our placements fit all the responsible volunteering criteria that we believe are so important to sustainable development.

When you volunteer with Globalteer, you can be confident that you are making a real and lasting contribution.

Why Volunteering with Globalteer is a Responsible Choice

  • We have built strong relationships with local partners over many years.
  • All our projects have measurable long term goals answering genuine needs.
  • Globalteer volunteers work alongside local staff not instead of them.
  • Globalteer volunteers are never required to undertake duties you don’t have experience to effectively perform.
  • Volunteers with relevant specialist skills are always encouraged to share them with local staff.
  • All volunteers working with children must have background checks and sign up to our Child Protection Policy.
  • All volunteers are given a full in-country induction, descriptions of duties and full travel and country guides prior to departure.
  • Location tours are conducted shortly after arrival in-country.
  • All our projects have full time staff in country to take care of volunteers and ensure your placement is productive and your stay a safe and enjoyable one.

Money matters

  • As a Registered UK Charity and not-for-profit organization, Globalteer is required to ensure that 100% of all monies received are used to promote our charitable objectives. The majority of your donation goes directly to the country that you are travelling to.
  • Your volunteer donations make it possible for projects to employ salaried local staff.
What about the Volunteer?

In return for your commitment and for giving your time to volunteer with our communities, you will encounter a variety of new challenges, sharing new experiences with new people. You may learn new skills that will give you confidence to face challenges in other areas of your life. And at the same time, you will be giving appropriate support and help in areas where it is needed most. Volunteering is a unique quality that is found in only a few individuals.

Responsible volunteering overseas is a way of gaining a new perspective about the world. Connecting with people of other cultures and putting your sense of social responsibility into action. You may not be able to save the world, but you can have a positive effect on a piece of it.

Orphanage volunteering

Volunteering with vulnerable children carries a huge amount of responsibility and any organisation that does not take this seriously should be avoided. One of the areas where vulnerable children are most at risk is orphanage volunteering. We want to make it very clear what our thoughts are on this subject. Read Globalteer's views on orphanage volunteering here.

Donations for Volunteering

Paying a donation to volunteer can seem a strange concept to the uninitiated. Why should someone charge you to work for free? But this is a common misconception about volunteer travel. Arranging Ethical Volunteering placement that works for both volunteer and the host project takes time, and inevitably costs money. The volunteer work is not what you are paying for. Furthermore, a share of your donation goes directly to the project where you will be volunteering. All the projects we work with have been carefully chosen by us to ensure that they share the same responsible and sustainable objectives as Globalteer.

So where does your donation go?

The exact cost of each element of your placement varies from project to project. Your donation covers the cost of your accommodation, pre-departure preparation and in-country orientation, supervision and training. For many of our projects it also covers the cost of food and daily transport to and from your placement location.

It also goes towards the cost of running and managing our operations in the countries where we operate. This enables us to identify worthy and sustainable projects and host organisations, as well as helping us to recruit suitable volunteers.

The partner projects we work with not only need your help as volunteers, but also rely on donations to help them in their constant battle to raise funds to cover running costs and to pay for much needed resources. As such they are not in a financial position to cover the costs of hosting volunteers which can add up quickly. In addition, your donation helps to create and pay for employment of local workers, with local language skills and who can also stay with the project long term.

For further details go to our where your money goes page.

Responsible Volunteer Organisations Q&As

Yes, Globalteer is registered with the United Kingdom’s Charities Commission, which monitors charities, ensuring the public can support them with confidence.
Globalteer is 100% a non-profit charity.
We can ensure that your placement fee goes towards our charitable objectives, running the charity, direct project donations, and supporting you at your project. It never goes into the pockets of shareholders - because unlike other organisations, we don’t have any! You can read a full report on where your money goes here.
Yes. Each year our accounts are examined by an independent accounting firm to ensure that our finances are in order, and this report is published publicly on the Charities Commission Website.
Because we are not aiming to make a profit, we only charge what is absolutely necessary for keeping the lights on at Globalteer, for your placement accommodation and support, and for sending direct donations to our projects and partners. We also never add any hidden fees on top of what you see published on our project pages.
No. Because profit is never our goal, child and animal welfare always come first.
Yes. In fact, Globalteer was a pioneer in enacting a Child Protection Policy for projects in Cambodia. Anyone who works with children at any of our projects must undergo a background check.
No. Animal welfare will always come first, and elephant riding for tourists’ pleasure is detrimental to the elephants’ well-being. The elephant sanctuaries care for their animals in an ethical way, never allowing volunteers to ride or swim with their elephants, and the elephants can live like elephants should.
Animal welfare will always come first. As a guiding principle, if it is detrimental to the animals’ rehabilitation or if it’s dangerous to humans, touching the animals is not allowed. At some of our projects touching of the animals is permissible when it is necessary for the animals’ care or not harmful for them. However, we must always remember that at many of the projects, these animals have been rescued from damaging captive situations or directly from the wild, so avoiding human contact at all costs is key to their rehabilitation.
Yes: • We will treat all volunteers with respect for their charitable intentions and never use them as a means for profit. • We will always place child and animal welfare before volunteer experience. This means we will never support Zoos, Volunteering at orphanages, Elephant trekking, riding, or performing or Volunteering with children without Child Protection Policies in place. As Globalteer is registered in the UK with the Charities Commission, the UK government also hold us to high ethical standards.
The main beneficiaries of our programmes are the local communities and ecosystems in which we work. We choose our projects and partners based on community-driven or environmental need. Our local and international staff also benefit by having steady employment through their work with Globalteer. Shareholders or board members are never benefiting financially from our programmes.
If you volunteer at our community projects Helping Hands in Cambodia or Picaflor House in Peru, you will be working directly with Globalteer projects. We run these projects from top to bottom, so your money goes only to Globalteer supporting these programmes. You receive direct in-country support from friendly Globalteer staff who are present on the ground. If you volunteer at any of our other projects, these are our partners. We have chosen to work specifically with these projects because we believe in their visions, and they have a need for volunteers and Globalteer’s support. Therefore, we have formed a partnership where we help get the word out about their programmes, send them volunteers, and support them financially. So, with these projects, there is one layer (Globalteer) between you and the project. The project staff supports you in-country, and your volunteer placement fees are sent to the project via Globalteer in accordance with our partnership agreements. It is important to note here that some volunteer organisations may have multiple layers between you and the project – you may sign up with them, and they send you to another placement agency within the country, which then sends you to the actual project.
When we talk about promoting sustainable development at our projects, we mean “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” To ensure our projects are sustainable, we make certain that they meet specific criteria: • They employ and train staff from the local community • They meet genuine local needs and actively involve the community • They have established, achievable long-term goals
Yes. You can find our Mission, Vision, Objectives, and Strategies here.
Volunteers support the projects by providing assistance, instruction, man-power, and ideas. Each volunteer has something unique to offer, whether it be their skills and experience, their aptitude for brainstorming solutions, or simply their passion for helping others. Also, importantly, volunteers support the projects financially, because every placement fee includes a direct donation to the project which they attend. This is essential for the projects to keep running and carry out their objectives.
Yes. This is an essential part of any programme being sustainable in the long-term. Both community projects that Globalteer runs in Peru and Cambodia maintain a full staff of local residents. While we do also have international staff at these locations, the importance of the local employees is never diminished. The overarching long-term goal for all of our projects is for them to be self-sustainable one day, without intervention from Globalteer. This would be impossible without having competent, trained employees from the local community.
  • Jessica Robinson Avatar

    Well organised, really helpful and welcoming staff. I had an amazing experience volunteering with Globalteer earlier this... read more

    Jessica Robinson 1/12/2018
    Elise Mousset Avatar

    100% recommend to volunteer with them Globalteer is a great charity that will help you every... read more

    Elise Mousset 10/03/2019
    Casey Scholl Avatar

    Would absolutely do it all over again! Amazing! They matched me with the perfect project and went... read more

    Casey Scholl 1/12/2018
  • Fiona Mehmet Avatar

    It was a huge eye opener and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I volunteered with Globalteer in Cambodia last year and I... read more

    Fiona Mehmet 1/16/2018
    Evie Rollinson Avatar

    I would really recommend them to anyone... Great company who genuinely want to improve the lives of... read more

    Evie Rollinson 12/26/2019
    AJ Rodney Avatar

    The staff really made me feel welcome. I had a great experience with Globalteer in Peru. The... read more

    AJ Rodney 11/05/2017
  • Hannah Verity Stone Avatar

    Everything was well organised from day one and any special requirements were met with ease. Volunteering with Globalteer at Picaflor House was an incredible experience... read more

    Hannah Verity Stone 6/30/2017
    Anna Hilbert Avatar

    Would highly recommend them to anyone considering volunteering abroad. A wonderful organisation that's truly dedicated to helping the communities... read more

    Anna Hilbert 9/30/2019
    burcu eren Avatar

    Wish others would also be as lucky as I am to have such an amazing experience! I can’t stop talking & thinking about this amazing experience... read more

    burcu eren 1/10/2019
  • A.N. Barry Avatar

    I would most definitely recommend Globalteer to anyone who is interested in volunteering. My experience with Globalteer was amazing and I've volunteered with... read more

    A.N. Barry 1/14/2018
    Kayla Lynne Kiteley Avatar

    This trip was very well organized by Globalteer. I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with Globalteer at... read more

    Kayla Lynne Kiteley 1/25/2018
    Colin Elkington Avatar

    The most eye-opening and inspiring experiences I have had. My time spent volunteering in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with Globalteer... read more

    Colin Elkington 1/14/2018
  • Hercules Moriarty Avatar

    The staff working there are dedicated but also good fun. What an amazing experience! We spent a week with this... read more

    Hercules Moriarty 9/22/2018
    Nick James Avatar

    Great organisation making a real difference. Great organisation making a real difference in Peru.

    Nick James 12/20/2017
    Tiarne Biviano Avatar

    It was organised so well and I felt so comfortable throughout the whole process. Late last year I was able to spend a month... read more

    Tiarne Biviano 2/02/2019
  • Robert Bisson Avatar

    Each morning I woke up excited and full of energy to meet the other amazing volunteers and start our work! This experience was one of the most rewarding things I... read more

    Robert Bisson 1/12/2018
    Geraldine Parkin Avatar

    The trip has changed my outlook on life and I believe that this is only the start of my volunteering career! Mid-life crisis? Mid-life adventure? It could have been either.....or even... read more

    Geraldine Parkin 2/06/2018
    PICKLE SMART Avatar

    If you go there, you would definitely love it. I stayed in Picaflor House for like one month and... read more

    PICKLE SMART 8/31/2019
  • Holly Bygrave Avatar

    The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. All the Globalteer staff made me feel really welcome. I spent a couple of weeks volunteering at the Helping... read more

    Holly Bygrave 7/26/2018
    Jess Robinson Avatar

    If you’re considering getting involved, just do it! I guarantee you won’t regret it. I had an AMAZING experience volunteering on two different projects... read more

    Jess Robinson 1/12/2018
    Katharine Hughes Avatar

    I think it speaks volumes for the quality and impact of the experience, that I returned for a second trip! I first volunteered at Picaflor House Children's Community Project in... read more

    Katharine Hughes 2/28/2018
  • ragnhild helgesen Avatar

    Plenty of people you can ask for guidance. Great place to do your internship. Good atmosphere in the... read more

    ragnhild helgesen 11/29/2019
    Nathan Crook Avatar

    Globalteer employ members of staff who themselves have a passion for travelling. Having chosen to spend three-weeks volunteering on a Cambodia Community... read more

    Nathan Crook 1/25/2018
    Hope Wilson Avatar

    I met a fab group of people and they made the trip even better! I had the best time volunteering, especially with a background... read more

    Hope Wilson 1/16/2018
  • Anna Von Foerster Avatar

    The Globalteer staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and made me feel right at home. One of the best experiences I've ever had! The Globalteer... read more

    Anna Von Foerster 6/30/2017
    Mark Catling Avatar

    Could not fault the hard work these people put in to support people less fortunate than myself. Great experience in Peru, couldn't fault the hard work these... read more

    Mark Catling 6/30/2017
    Peter DiFrancesca Avatar

    Globalteer were there every step of the way to help facilitate everything. Such a rewarding experience. Candice and Globalteer were there every... read more

    Peter DiFrancesca 7/10/2017
  • Crystal Avatar

    Accommodation was perfectly chosen and I made friends for life during my month working there. Learnt so much in an authentic and safe environment. Accomdation... read more

    Crystal 2/13/2018
    Crystal Moniz Avatar

    Accommodation was perfectly chosen and I made friends for life during my month working there. Perfect mix of authenticity and safety. Stayed with the best... read more

    Crystal Moniz 2/13/2018
    Eva Deix Avatar

    I felt very much taken care of and I met amazing people who worked on other Globalteer projects. Coming from a country with very few organisations that offer... read more

    Eva Deix 1/14/2018
  • Katrina Baxter Avatar

    Anyone wanting to volunteer I would 100 percent recommend Globalteer!!!! I had the pleasure of volunteering with Globalteer at Picaflor... read more

    Katrina Baxter 7/04/2017
    Lauren Franklin Avatar

    I had an amazing time and look forward to volunteering with Globalteer again in the future! I volunteered with the Peru Community Project out of Cuzco... read more

    Lauren Franklin 6/30/2017
    Jeff Bartlett Avatar

    They are great in every way. I have worked with them twice and I am counting down the days until I return next. Working with Globalteer and Picaflor house is amazing. They're great... read more

    Jeff Bartlett 6/30/2017
  • Sally Bateman Avatar

    All the Globalteer staff I have worked with have become friends and I value their support and encouragement. I have volunteered with the Globalteer Cambodia Community Project in... read more

    Sally Bateman 1/17/2018
    Ann Quinlivan Avatar

    It was a life-changing experience for me, one that I will never forget. I absolutely loved my time volunteering in Cambodia with Globalteer!... read more

    Ann Quinlivan 5/31/2018
    Colin Elkington Avatar

    All the staff and volunteers I worked with were very friendly and supportive. My time spent volunteering in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with Globalteer... read more

    Colin Elkington 1/13/2018
  • Eli Joshua Echt-Wilson Avatar

    Great program, great volunteer opportunities, would recommend to anyone. I volunteered for a month with Globalteer in Peru and... read more

    Eli Joshua Echt-Wilson 3/15/2019
    Diego Alonso Avatar

    Had a great time and was happy to support such a worthwhile project. Having done lots of research on volunteer projects, I decided... read more

    Diego Alonso 11/13/2017
    Justine Auton Avatar

    The benefits of doing this work through Globalteer were many. I worked on the clean water project in Siem Reap... read more

    Justine Auton 1/14/2018