Our International Volunteer Projects (IVP) are a unique form of volunteering that bring together people from around the world to work on short-term projects with local communities.
Our short-term projects take place in Europe (including in Ireland!) and usually last 2 weeks, the type of work involved varies greatly. Volunteers will get the chance to live and work in a diverse environment with people from different cultures and backgrounds, gaining experience and understanding of the lives of people from other parts of the world.
Please note, we send volunteers on short and long term projects to countries in Europe (including Ireland!). We send volunteers on longer-term projects to countries in the Global South.
A world of adventure awaits! Find out more and search for your volunteer project below!
Important info before starting your search:
When you click on the link below you will leave the VSI website and go to the volunteer project search engine and application pages of our international peace network SCI (VSI is the Irish branch). VSI are unable to send volunteers to all the projects listed. For this reason, please create an account before searching the projects, you will then be able to see only the projects that we can send volunteers to.
To create an account, click on the search engine link below, when the page opens click ‘log in’ at the top right corner and follow the instructions – it’s very quick! Thank you : )
International database of short-term volunteer projects!
The projects listed on the database are managed by SCI branches and partners across Europe, the project titles and descriptions are generally written by non-native English speakers, so please excuse us if some of them are hard-to-understand or use unusual language! The database serves over 130 organisations in more than 90 countries worldwide!
Project fees
VSI is a small charity and we charge a fee on a sliding scale (€55 - €155) to volunteer on our projects, this includes food, accommodation, basic insurance whilst on the project and VSI annual membership. Volunteers pay for their own travel to the country and internal travel to/from the projects and any visa fees.
When you have completed the application form at the link above, you will need to pay the project fee - return to this page and follow the links below.
Short-term projects in Europe:
If you are waged €155
If you are unwaged €105
Click here to pay the project fee
Please note, some of the descriptions mention an additional fee (of €50.00) when applying through non-SCI organisations, VSI is an SCI branch and this additional fee does not apply. Some projects charge an additional fee for all volunteers, this will be clearly stated.
No fundraising is needed to volunteer on our projects.
If you have any questions or would like more info on a project please contact us.
We believe that a greater awareness of global issues and a deeper understanding of people will help to create an international culture that is more peaceful, open-minded, and responsible for its actions. Our network of volunteers helps us to promote our vision by promoting a culture of peace, social justice, and sustainable development worldwide.
The main themes VSI and SCI work with are:
- Anti-Racism and work with Ethnic Minorities
- North - South Solidarity
- Disarmament and Peace
- Work with People with Disabilities
- Community Support
- Ecological, Environmental and Agricultural
- Projects Focussing on Gender
- Social Inclusion
- Arts, Culture and Local History
- Ideology and Spirituality
Experience and qualifications
The most important qualities you need are enthusiasm, flexibility and willingness to experience something completely new. All volunteers must be 18 or over, generally there is no upper age limit, if there is, it will be stated in the project description. You don’t need any skills or qualifications to participate, apart from a small number of projects that require certain skills, e.g. language. This will be stated clearly in the project description. As a volunteer on one of our projects, you will only need to work as much as you are able.
The success of the project depends largely on the willingness of individual volunteers to involve themselves in the group-life by 'mucking in,’ communicating, and making friends with other volunteers and the local community.
Costs: small project fees apply but no fundraising is needed to volunteer on our projects
- Food and accommodation are provided while on the individual projects.
- Volunteers pay for their own travel to the country and internal travel to/from the projects.
- Volunteers are covered under a basic SCI Insurance policy.
- Volunteers cover any visa fees.
- Volunteers pay a project fee to VSI from €55 - €155, which includes membership with VSI for one year. Additional projects within your membership year are only €50.
- Please note that some of our partner organisations, e.g. Iceland and Estonia, charge an extra fee which the volunteers pay on arrival. This will be stated in the project info.
Getting there
Volunteers organise and pay for their own travel arrangements to and from the project. An info sheet is provided in advance of the project which contains travel info to the project.
Food and accommodation
Food and accommodation are provided free of charge during the project. Usually the group will share the tasks of cooking and cleaning on a rota basis, so bring your favourite recipes with you! Living conditions are usually basic and shared e.g. sleeping in dorm-style rooms in a hostel.
Leisure and free time
An important part of every project is how the group organises its social activities. After the day's work there will be plenty of time to socialise, visit local areas, talk, play music, sing, write postcards, swim, learn local phrases... A lot of activities are decided by the group together.
Study element/educational component
There will usually be time set aside to learn more about the issues relevant to the project e.g. on an environmental project there could be a workshop on climate justice. If there is a study/ educational component to the project, volunteers are asked to inform themselves about the issues before going to the project and also to bring any relevant information etc. in order to participate fully in the discussions.
Language
Speaking other languages always helps when travelling but the language used on most projects is English. Certain projects have specific language requirements which are specified in the descriptions.
Being part of an international group
Each project will have a mixture of participants from many countries. Volunteers will find themselves working and living with people who are of different nationalities, ages, attitudes, backgrounds and cultures. Sensitivity to other people in the group is very important. Native English speakers should be careful not to talk too fast so everybody can understand them. Volunteers on the projects should be open to new experiences. Another part of the group experience is a commitment to work out decisions and problems together. On many projects there will be one or two people who act as 'Leaders' or 'Co-ordinators', usually selected and trained by SCI branches or partner organisations.
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