7 of the Most Meaningful Family Volunteer Vacations

Two of the most powerful events to bind families even closer than ever: international travel and contributing towards the greater good. Can we see a show of hands for those who wants the best of both worlds?! International volunteer programs are making it safer and easier than ever to venture abroad in packs, with an emphasis on kid-friendly, family-focused experiences that will turn family volunteer trips into a vacation norm.

Family volunteer vacations are equal parts enriching and challenging—which tends to be the complete formula for life-changing!

With the rising popularity of these types of holidays, sharing the heart-warming satisfaction of giving back to a community in need and the mind-opening experience of exploring an entirely new culture with your loved ones is as easy as choosing the right program!

Whatever you think will generate the most meaning among your crew—be it working with survivors of human trafficking, spending time cleaning a white-sand beach and learning about conservation habits, or working in a local animal conservancy—the choice is out there, and it’s yours.

Don’t worry; no one’s suggesting that your family volunteer abroad experience turn into all work and no play. Your destination can range from jungle, to village, to eco-friendly surf resort, with plenty of opportunity to not only immerse in the local customs, but enjoy outside excursions that will add some adventure or relaxation to all the hard work your family is completing. 

Here’s a preview of some top-notch, crew-bonding volunteer vacations for families, according to our community of meaningful travelers and past volunteers:

The most meaningful family volunteer trips this year

1. Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary in Zimbabwe with Kaya Responsible Travel

• Where? Zimbabwe
• How long? Two weeks
• Why? Bringing children into the mix of international travel can be chaotic and stressful, but with Kaya Responsible Travel’s family program in Zimbabwe, it doesn’t have to be (nor will it!). Family volunteer vacations with animals have a way of engaging the kids and calming the parents, and the impact that can be made as a family united together is tremendous.
• Through this project, families will have a chance to work together to complete routine tasks such as animal feeding, as well as caring for injured animals and educating local school groups in wildlife conservation tactics. The unique opportunity to engage with monkeys, leopards, and lions is sure to delight all members of the family, and having a hand in protecting indigenous African wildlife is something that is bound to keep your crew tight forever. 
• Read Kaya Responsible Travel reviews

2. Volunteer in Indonesia with IVHQ

• Where? Simeulue Island, Indonesia  
• How long? One-, two-, or four-week programs available year-round
• Why? Bestowing the value of the environment and its conservation upon the newer generations can never happen early enough. What better way to educate children in eco-friendly attitudes and social enterprise than to immerse them in volunteer projects abroad, exposing them to the splendor of ecosystems, environments, and animals they would not otherwise be acquainted with?
• IVHQ offers one of the best family volunteer vacations with animals. Projects include turtle conservation, local bird surveying, forest foraging, and beach clean-ups. Families will be housed on an eco-friendly surf resort, amidst friendly locals and white sand beaches, with opportunities for further family bonding through surfing lessons, yoga sessions, and various island tours. 
• Read IVHQ reviews

3. Contribute to Health and Education in Nepal with United Planet

• Where? Nepal
• How long? Two to four weeks, year-round
• Why? Amongst the most impoverished countries in the world, Nepal has some deep rivets in need of attention, making it a firm foundation for family volunteer opportunities abroad. Families eager to get to the heart of humanity can collaborate and contribute in roles such as caregiving at local orphanages, working with survivors of human trafficking, and assisting in global health settings.
• Indeed, the popularity of this shimmering, Mount Everest basin as a tourist destination is sure to keep your family enchanted. Combined with meaningful work alongside the gracious Nepalese, embarking on this family volunteer abroad journey is certain to entwine your crew in the lighted and lasting spirit of Namaste. 
• Read United Planet reviews

4. Cacao Farming in Belize with GoEco

• Where? Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize
• How long? Anywhere from one- to 12 week-long programs available year round
• Why? Is your family the type of family who loves planting, harvesting, and seeing their products grow? Are you enticed by the call of the wild and into exploring the jungle? Do you guys like chocolate?! Then check, check, check. With GoEco, you and your loved ones can spend time deep in the Belizean jungle, harvesting cacao alongside Mayan families as well as aiding in the workshop of a local chocolate maker.
• So basically you’ll get to create chocolate start to finish, learn about an entire export industry, and formulate some lifelong memories with your fam. Plus, they want to ensure you get as much vacation as volunteer out of your family trip, so discounts are offered on all of the guided tours and outside adventures! 
• Read GoEco reviews

5. Family Volunteering Abroad in Kenya with Volunteering Solutions

• Where? Nairobi Suburbs, Kenya
• How long? Two-week placements, year-round
• Why? African safaris are already a trending destination, so why not have your cake and eat it too by incorporating one of these journeys into one of your family volunteer vacations? With Volunteering Solutions in Kenya, your loved ones will get to pay that love forward by volunteering at local childcare centers, and tending to those in need of some extra attention and care as a joined family unit. What could be more bond-enriching than widening that circle to include a few more children in need?
• In addition, all members of your family will get to venture outside their collective comfort zone together, by immersing in and learning from the culture of the indigenous Maasai. The Maasai Mara Region, by the way, is where you can check out a lioness and her cubs, for the real African wildlife experience!  
• Read Volunteering Solutions reviews

6. Family Volunteer Vacations Costa Rica with Kaya Responsible Travel

• Where? Atenas, Costa Rica
• How long? Two weeks
• Why? Costa Rica is a spectacular destination for volunteer vacations for families, especially for those traveling with younger children who don’t want to spend quite as long on a plane or feel the full intensity of jetlag. As far as family volunteer vacations Costa Rica programs go, this one is top-notch. In addition to offering a range of projects that families can collectively choose to participate in as a whole unit, this program also has the option for projects that parents and children can do separately, granting a slight feeling of independence for the youngsters of the crew.
• Don’t worry, though—families will have the ability to reconvene at the end of the day for volunteer success story sharing. With choices such as supporting women’s empowerment, assisting mothers and their children in a nutrition-based program, or cleaning up a national park, your family is sure to feel good about their direct impact in this village of just 5,000 people, not to mention get a true feel for Costa Rican community life.  
• Read Kaya Responsible Travel reviews

7. Choose your own adventure with GVI

• Where? Worldwide
• How long? Multiple durations, year-round
• Why? If your family is looking for a specialized itinerary to satiate everyone’s cravings, then look no further than GVI. Enormous proponents of the significant impact that international volunteering can have on that familial bond, their programs allow you to pick your own duration, and their team will work with your crew on the project that will leave your entire family with the greatest sense of accomplishment possible. Cultural immersion is a big aspect of these programs as well, and families are encouraged to stay with host families for a full-on bonding experience.
• Read GVI reviews

[Browse ALL Family Volunteer Trips]

These volunteer vacations for families are a sturdy foundation

Get out there and make memories with family volunteer opportunities abroad!

We’ve got you started, but we know—there is a lot to chat over with your fam-bam. Factors like finances, age range, and available time frame will all play into the logistics of your choice, not to mention all of the decisions based on pure preference!

Is your family animal-crazed or more into childcare? Do you want to take away lifelong skills like farming and sustainability, or is your focus more on the values entwined within a project such as working with survivors of abuse? Does your dream weekend involve relaxing on the beach or paragliding over the jungle? We’re so excited for you to put your minds together and produce the perfect family volunteer trip for you!

Spending time internationally and giving back to local communities is a life-altering experience that has become increasingly popular for a reason. Seriously: Engaging in international exploration, cultural exchange, and community service all in one? It’s a win-win-win. And the chance for your family to indulge in this spectacular practice together is surely going to alter your relationship to the world and to one another for the much, much better.

Compare these programs side-by-side for FREE with MyGoAbroad

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLvAm6momZRjsLC5jpqpraGTobK0e9Woo66mpJqys3nAm6momZRks6K5yKWwZq6focKvwMSeqWaukZiutbXOp6o%3D