A transformative experience
More and more young people dream of having experiences that go beyond traditional tourism. They don’t just want to discover new countries, but also make an impact, learn, immerse themselves in different cultures and become an active part of positive change. Along this path, international volunteering for young people has become one of the most enriching and transformative options.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we have been supporting teenagers and young adults for years on this journey of personal growth and solidarity. We give talks in schools, universities and different educational centres to encourage young people to embark on this purposeful journey, and we offer internship opportunities in different parts of the world to continue their training.
But… why is this experience so special? What does it really bring to those who take the leap?
Why volunteer abroad when you’re young?
Taking part in a volunteer project is not only a way to help, but also a way to discover who you are and what you’re capable of achieving. Some of the benefits we’ve seen in our participants over the past few years at Cooperating Volunteers:
- Personal development
Travelling far from home, living alongside new realities and working as a team helps build maturity, independence and self-confidence.
- Intercultural learning
Volunteering is a real school of life. You learn to respect, listen and understand other cultures from within—not as a tourist, but as part of the community, experiencing things from the inside that you wouldn’t be able to as a typical visitor.
- Improved CV and future opportunities
More and more universities and companies value committed, empathetic individuals with international experience. Volunteering demonstrates initiative, responsibility and adaptability. That’s why we give all these talks in educational centres, promoting this responsible and conscious way of travelling.
- Building lifelong friendships
Many of you return home with a new family: fellow volunteers who become close friends, and members of the local community with whom lifelong bonds are created.
We love seeing you come back year after year.
At what age can you volunteer abroad?
At Cooperating Volunteers, we offer options for different age groups:
- From 14-17 years old: Group programmes or accompanied trips for minors travelling with supervision or school groups from different educational centres.
- From 18 years old: Fully adapted projects for young participants travelling alone, as a couple or with friends.
Each programme is structured according to the participant’s maturity, ensuring safety, constant support and a positive learning environment. And at Cooperating Volunteers, we find the project that best fits your needs and enhance your skills.
Some of the most popular projects among young people:
- Educational volunteering: for people who love working with children, teaching languages, helping in schools alongside local teachers, and who are empathetic, patient and assertive.
- Environmental or wildlife volunteering: an ideal programme for nature and animal lovers who want to protect both. Take part in projects with elephants, turtles, reforestation, coral planting…
- Sports volunteering: a favourite choice for many young people studying physical education (or not) who want to contribute to community well-being. Sports teach us, above all, teamwork.
- Healthcare volunteering: for those currently in education, it’s a way to continue your training in another country while working with a local medical team. A way to grow both professionally and personally.
- Women’s empowerment and community volunteering: directly contributing to the social development of a community from a human and close perspective.
Is previous experience necessary?
Not at all! Most of our younger participants have no previous experience, and that’s not a problem.
What matters is the willingness to learn, a positive and proactive attitude, and respect for the local culture.
We take care of the rest: pre-departure training, support and guidance throughout the experience.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we always travel with you. Either in destination with a fully qualified local team, or with online support from Spain.
An experience that goes beyond volunteering
Because being a volunteer doesn’t mean working all day. There’s also time for responsible cultural tours and activities, learning another language, exploring dreamy landscapes and being part of the community’s daily life—cooking, dancing, singing and creating lifelong memories.
If you’re between 14 and 25 years old and looking for a different kind of experience, this could be the perfect moment to step out of your comfort zone and discover the world from another perspective.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we support you throughout the entire process: from choosing the destination to your arrival on the ground. Your solidarity trip could be the beginning of a new way of seeing the world… and seeing yourself.
