International Volunteering: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

FAQs about our volunteer programs

 

  • What is Cooperating Volunteers?

Cooperating Volunteers is a company that arranges volunteer and cultural exchange opportunities. We operate in over 30 countries, offering volunteers a variety of programs to choose from. These programs encompass areas such as childcare, education, sports, construction, and nature reserve care and maintenance.

  • Why do I need to pay to be a volunteer?

Cooperating Volunteers is composed of a team of professionals with extensive experience in coordinating and managing volunteer programs. We take pride in our round-the-clock assistance to projects, local teams, and volunteers, available every day of the year.

Volunteers are not only covering the cost of the team coordinating and managing their experience but also their day-to-day expenses in the destination. This encompasses airport pick-up, the local team, including a security team, local coordinators, cooks, accommodation, daily meals, orientation day, city tour, and additional services.

The volunteer selects a destination, applies for placement in the volunteer program, and subsequently receives an email confirming their placement in the program. In this email, we provide an explanation of how each fee (registration fee and program fee) is allocated. Please note that this allocation may vary depending on the destination and the number of weeks chosen.

  • What are the prerequisites for participating in a volunteer program?

In general, anyone can participate as long as they are of legal age. Volunteers aged 17 are accepted in certain destinations with the signed authorization of their parents or legal guardian and must have no criminal record.

Regarding the medical, clinical care, and animal (veterinary) volunteer programs, volunteers may be required to fulfill additional requirements based on the specific tasks and responsibilities of each project.

  • Where can I find detailed information about the available volunteer programs?

All the information is available on our website.
If you have any further questions after reviewing the website, please feel free to send us an email at: hello@volunteerabroadcooperating.com or give our team a call at +34 910 05 25 46. We’ll be delighted to answer all of your questions.

  • Where can I apply for placement in a volunteer program?

You can fill out the online application. During the online application process, we will ask for basic information in order to know the profile of each of the volunteers, and to provide information about the destination/volunteer program that is being applied for. Once you have completed this form, our booking team will contact you to send you complete information about the destination that you have applied for. You will receive a PLACE CONFIRMATION EMAIL. It is important that you read this email and learn about the destination, accommodation, project and costs, amongst other things.

If you wish to participate in a volunteer program, you will need to pay the Application Fee of 210 euros. Alternatively, you can choose to pay this fee at a later date, as your place will be reserved on the program for 7 days without payment. However, please be aware that if you are scheduled to arrive at the destination within the next 20 days, we recommend making this payment promptly. Once the payment is made, your place in the program is confirmed.

  • How can I pay the application/program fee?

Upon receiving the CONFIRMATION EMAIL, take a look at the section entitled ‘How do I reserve my place?’ Here, you will find a link where you can make the payment via PayPal, bank transfer or with a credit/debit card.

  • What happens once I’ve paid the application fee of 210 euros?

Once we’ve received the payment confirming your place on the program, your coordinator will get in touch with you straight away. They will send you a WELCOME EMAIL, marking the beginning of the whole process of managing your experience.

You will also receive an email entitled ACCESS TO THE VOLUNTEER PANEL containing your username and password, which you can use to access all the information exchanged with your coordinator. In this panel, you can also make any remaining payments (such as the program fee), upload your flight details so that we can arrange airport pick-up and access the ‘RECOMMENDATIONS’ section that will give you tips for packing your suitcase.

  • Do I need to get any vaccines before participating in a volunteer program?

The answer to this question will depend on the destination that you have selected for your respective volunteer program. In general, for almost all of the destinations, there are only RECOMMENDED vaccines such as Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid fever, MMR and tetanus, amongst others. But don’t worry! While this may seem like an endless list, you’ve probably already had many of these because they are also recommended in your country of origin.

However, in destinations such as Uganda and Ghana, volunteers must receive OBLIGATORY VACCINES such as the yellow fever vaccine in order to enter the country. For this, please head to your local international vaccine centre and ask for an appointment. It’s really easy!

  • Do I need a visa?

The answer to this question will depend on the destination that you have selected for your respective volunteer program. Your coordinator will tell you which type of visa (tourist or volunteer, depending on the destination) is required for your experience. The volunteer is entirely responsible for this process.

However, our team will be on hand to help you and tell you how to start the process, helping you to obtain your visa.

  • In some destinations, why is it necessary to obtain a tourist visa if I plan to participate in a volunteer program?

In those countries in which they need to manage the visa on a general level, a tourist visa will be issued.

Remember that Cooperating Volunteers offers volunteering and cultural exchange experiences. You’ll undergo a genuine cultural immersion, discovering the destination in a different way. You’ll do so by working on projects, learning about the local culture and sharing experiences with our local team, etc.

  • Which countries do our volunteers come from?

Our volunteers come from all over the world. To date, we’ve had volunteers from the USA, Australia, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Malta, Croatia, Austria, Ireland, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Greece and Puerto Rico. And we’re eager to meet people from many more countries in the near future!

  • Is there a minimum or maximum age for working as a volunteer?

We don’t apply an age limit. In fact, we’ve had volunteers as old as 60 in some of our volunteer programs. Any person over the age of 18 can work as a volunteer. Applicants aged 15, 16 and 17 can also be volunteers upon the presentation of written authorisation from their parents or legal guardian. Applicants under the age of 18 can only work in a selection of the destinations. For more information about this, please contact us and we’ll let you know which destinations you’ll be able to work in.

  • Is it possible to choose various volunteer programs?

Yes, it’s possible! Depending on the destination you choose, it may be possible to work on multiple volunteer programs. Generally, if you wish to combine projects, you’ll need to do so on a week-by-week basis. Please indicate your intention to do this in your application or by sending us an email.

  • Can I obtain financial help to sponsor my trip?

We have partnerships with various fundraising organisations that could be used to raise funds for your trip:

• http://www.volunteerforever.com/

• http://www.gofundme.com/

  • What will my working hours be?

The exact hours will depend on the project. In general, you will be expected to work 4-6 hours a day from Monday to Friday.

  • What will my working hours be?

The exact hours will depend on the project. In general, you will be expected to work 4-6 hours a day from Monday to Friday.

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.