International Volunteering and Travel Opportunities for Persons Over 50 Years of age.

Whether you have volunteered internationally in the past or are planning your first volunteer trip, this website provides the basic information you can use to identify and carry-out your quest.

Odessa, Ukraine

About me

In 1991 I joined the Peace Corps. My Peace Corps service in Guatemala in 1991-92 led to work as a United Nations Volunteer in the first elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian War. I have since worked elections in 12 other countries.

A particular highlight of my international work was managing camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 2002 in Herat, Afghanistan. Development work in Kandahar, Afghanistan also stands out. I have traveled to 58 countries in total.

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Featured Programs

Photo of Peace Brigades International worker
Asia

Peace Brigades International

Peace Brigades International works to establish justice and peace in the world through nonviolent action. To do this we send unarmed international peace teams, when ...
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Mercy Ships recipient seeing themselves in the mirror following free surgery
Africa

Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Mercy Ships brings hope ...
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Cosmic Volunteers logo
Africa

Cosmic Volunteers

Cosmic Volunteers is a US-based non-profit organization that offers volunteer programs abroad in China, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nepal, ...
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Engineers Without Borders-USA logo
Africa

Engineers Without Borders – USA

No matter what your field is: engineering, construction, business, fundraising, marketing, healthcare, or anything else, you are welcome at Engineers ...
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Lay Mission-Helpers Association logo
Africa

Lay Mission-Helpers Association

Founded by Msgr. Anthony Brouwers this organization recruits, trains and supports the work of lay missionaries serving around the world ...
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International Senior Lawyers Project logo
Afghanistan

International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP)

The International Senior Lawyers Project recruits highly experienced lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to non-governmental organizations, developing country ...
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Global Vision International logo
Africa

Global Vision International

Global Vision International (GVI) was formed in 1998 to provide support and services to international charities, non-profits and governmental agencies ...
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Biosphere Expeditions volunteer doing radio signal tracking
Africa

Biosphere Expeditions

Biosphere Expeditions is a multi-award-winning not-for-profit participatory conservation organisation offering hands-on wildlife volunteer expeditions as an adventure with a purpose for everyone. Biosphere Expeditions’ ...
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Sign up now to receive advice on volunteering and updates on new opportunities.

We will use the information you provide to email occasional newsletters and updates, in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By signing up, you agree that you have read our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. If at any time you wish to cancel your subscription, simply select the Unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email.

Recent Blog Posts

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October 2024 Newsletter

Volunteering, and humanitarian service that makes a difference, is vitally needed in today’s world of turmoil and strife. A key to filling this need is ...
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June 2024 volunteering update

Hello All: I have been thinking, deeply, about what I should write in this newsletter introduction. On the downside, the current international events: war, famine, ...
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Nepal

Spring 2023 volunteering update

The Director of the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO),  has announced that the Covid 19 Global Health Emergency has ended. The disease hasn’t left us, ...
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Interview with author Susan E. Gibson

The number of Covid infections are in decline world wide.  We are now able to plan international trips and volunteer assignments with reasonable confidence that ...
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Image of a arrow-shaped sign with the word "Retirement" on it nailed to a tree trunk. Background features a beach with tropical palm trees.

Planning Retirement Abroad

Just when we thought we were seeing some light in the Covid 19 crisis along comes Omicron.  As I write, the Omicron threat is fading, ...
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view of an inner rainfores

International Volunteer Sending Organizations Resuming Operations

International volunteer sending organizations are resuming international operations and sending volunteers..  If you are interested in a volunteer assignment abroad, I strongly suggest you first ...
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image depicts a person walking out of a tunnel on to a narrow road, pulling a suitcase

Effects of COVID-19 on Global Volunteering

Times continue to be difficult for international volunteer organizations.  The Covid-19 variants are wreaking havoc in areas  that previously had the outbreak under control.  It ...
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Image shows the hilly, tropical island of Dominica, with ocean in the foreground

Planning for Renewed Global Travel

Many of us are planning global travel later in the year.  For those of you who are considering an international trip, there is a list available ...
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photo of medical staff performing covid tests

March 2021

At the time of this writing, the number of Covid-19 cases world-wide is diminishing.  Parts of the world are beginning to open up to travelers.  ...
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6 ways to volunteer abroad

Fall 2020

Hello All, Travel and international volunteering continue to be deeply affected by the prevalence of the Covid-19 corona virus in the world. I was personally ...
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david jarmul

Not Exactly Retired

Hello All! In this time of the Covid 19 pandemic, when we are personally distancing and limited in our ability to travel, it is a ...
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Colonial architecture in ancient Antigua Guatemala city, Central America, Guatemala

Volunteer Medical Missions to Rural Guatemala

Hello All! Peace Corps Volunteer Todd Peterson, while serving in a remote area of Guatemala, saw that the villagers in the area had a need ...
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Popular Blog Posts

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Interview with author Susan E. Gibson

The number of Covid infections are in decline world wide.  We are now able to plan international trips and volunteer assignments with reasonable confidence that ...
Read More
Volunteering in Bangladesh

Beginning International Volunteering Over 50

When we first start thinking about devoting some of our time to international volunteering we usually don’t have any idea of where to start.  We ...
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Interview with Elizabeth Andrews – Habitat for Humanity Team Leader

  Elizabeth Andrews is an anthropologist by education and profession.  She worked as an anthropologist for many years for the State of Alaska.  In 2002 ...
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A Better Life for Half the Price

To be able to cut one’s living expenses in half seems like the impossible dream. How would you like to go from paying $1300 per ...
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Why Volunteer Internationally? – Points to Consider

In June of 2011, sitting at dinner with friends in an outdoor restaurant on the banks of the Axios/Vardar River in Skopje, Macedonia, I began ...
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Professional Services Volunteering Over 50

There are many opportunities for non-medical and non-teaching professionals to volunteer internationally. This article outlines some of the organizations offering such opportunities.http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/articles/professional-service-volunteers-over50.shtml
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