Mission Trips Abroad
Non Religious Mission Trips
If you’re short on time but keen to volunteer, we have just the thing for you. Many of us dream of making a difference in the world but are simultaneously working on careers or building a family that also require our attention. What if we told you that you can do it all? There’s no need to quit your job or do anything drastic but you can still make a meaningful difference. Identifying the need for projects that are accessible for limited time periods, Volunteer World has identified the need for short-term volunteer projects. Experience all the benefits of volunteering without any of the sacrifices and volunteer for one of the non-religious mission trips on the website.
At Volunteer World, we believe that volunteering should be accessible to everyone. There are countless volunteer organizations out there and they are all in need of enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to lend a hand to their projects. There’s no need to give up everything to be part of something meaningful. Volunteering is now for everyone willing to help out and spare a few days of their time. Continue reading to learn more about non-religious mission trips and how you can help.
🚩 What's the Difference Between Volunteering and Mission Trips?
Volunteering is when someone decides to dedicate time to a project that is focused on improving the circumstances of a community or the environment. Volunteer organizations generally put in a lot of work to train volunteers. This is why some projects require volunteers to stay for at least a few weeks. There’s a shift going on however in the volunteer landscape with projects welcoming volunteers for shorter periods of time. These are also known as non-religious mission trips.
🧐 What is a Mission Trip
Mission trips are short-term volunteers trips that can be done for 1-4 weeks. This gives everyone the opportunity to volunteer and experience the incredible benefits of a volunteer trip. Students, people on a sabbatical or retirees may be able to dedicate themselves to a project for longer periods of time but there’s a large group of the population for who this simply isn’t an option.
👍 Pros and Cons of Mission Trips Abroad
If you’re determined to make a difference during your next holiday, why not integrate a mission trip into your holiday plan? This way, you get the best of both worlds. The freedom to travel while taking the time to do something for the community of your holiday destination. With non-religious mission trips entering the picture, being short on time is no longer an excuse for not volunteering. There are countless projects and programs waiting for your help. Before you plan your first mission trip, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of mission trips.
Pros
- The opportunity to volunteer and contribute for a limited period of time.
- This is a great opportunity to try out different volunteer projects and programs abroad.
- You will learn a lot about the region you volunteer in but also about volunteering. It is a great opportunity for cultural interchange.
- The chance to connect with the local community.
- Participants will see a different side of their travel destination.
- Benefiting from the positive aspects of volunteering without sacrificing career or family.
- You will meet other like-minded individuals.
Cons
- The time spent on the program is limited which may not allow you to connect as profoundly with your volunteer organization.
- It’s always important to do your due diligence with regards to the organization to know where the funds are invested in. It is always advisable to do some research to make sure the local organization is offering a sustainable service to the community.
- When working with children, it can be hard on them when volunteers come and go. Exposing vulnerable children to volunteers for short periods of time can have a negative impact.
💡 Why should I go on an international Mission Trip?
If you’re eager to volunteer but have a family, a job or other responsibilities that you simply can’t leave behind for long, a mission trip is exactly what you’re looking for. You will gain experience in volunteering, contribute to a meaningful cause and learn a great deal about the challenges others are facing on a daily basis.
Will you be making a difference?
It’s fair to say that organizations prefer volunteers to dedicate themselves for longer periods of time. The longer you stay, the more tasks and responsibilities you will have. This doesn’t mean that a shorter stay is meaningless. The most important thing that will happen during a mission trip program is the cultural interchange and social contact between the volunteer and the locals. Gaining awareness about your volunteer destination will undoubtedly change the way you view the world afterward. Small changes do go a long way.
Is volunteering in developing countries condescending?
There are claims that if you volunteer overseas that you’re portraying a message that these communities are unable to solve problems on their own. This mainly refers to programs that aren’t addressing the root problem and are exploiting both the community and the volunteers for personal gains. The goal of a mission trip should always be to empower local communities and give them the support they need to build a better future. Reputable organizations understand the needs of the community and are dedicated to helping the community progress.
Although the time of your mission trip may be short, that doesn’t mean your efforts are not of help. You will carry this awareness with you and undoubtedly share it with others after your experiences. All mission trips will have an impact. Whether it is a unique connection you have with one of the locals or a lesson you were able to bring across to children during an English class.
Volunteer trips are an excellent opportunity to find out whether volunteering for longer periods is suitable for you. We’re confident that it will open a whole new world for you.
✈️ What can I do on a Mission Trip?
The point of a mission trip abroad is to gain volunteer experience during a short-term period and contribute to one of the projects. There are so many possibilities available that it will come down to where you want to go and what skills you have to offer. Here are some of the possibilities:
- Teaching children or young adults
- Work at an animal conservation center or sanctuary
- Cultural immersion programs
- Community support
- Youth development
- Environmental conservation
There are countless options. It’s a matter of preference and skills that will determine where you will do your non-religious mission trip.
🤔 How to choose the right Mission Trip?
The most important aspect of choosing a great international mission trip program is that you do enough research on the different volunteer organizations and try to answer the following questions:
- What does the organization stand for?
- What is their objective and how are they trying to achieve it?
- How are the funds they receive spent?
- How do you think you will contribute?
- What will be the effect of your volunteer work?
- What are the best mission trip organizations?
Take into account the possible negative effects. Read up on the organization, read reviews and ask previous volunteers about their past experience with the organization. There are some great agencies and non-profit organizations that are doing very responsible work.
Be careful when you choose to volunteer with children. Do your due diligence prior to signing up. There are organizations however that are doing more harm than good. It’s important to take into account that we have attempted to screen these organizations but you make the final call. Choose wisely and you will be in for an incredible experience while supporting a meaningful cause.
🌍 What Are the Best Places for Mission Trips Abroad?
Embark on a volunteer trip and the world is just a click away. Volunteer organizations are aware of the limited time most people have on their hands and are welcoming short-term volunteers. Take this opportunity to explore the world and give back to less fortunate communities. Whether you’re adventurous and want to feel the rawness of Africa or prefer the laidback lifestyle of Asia, there’s something out there for everyone. Volunteers who are afraid of a culture shock can also apply for opportunities closer to home. Unlimited volunteer opportunities are awaiting your support. Start small, start with a short volunteer trip and see what it brings.
🎁 5 Benefits of joining a Mission Trip
It’s hard to name drawbacks when talking about volunteering abroad. It’s almost always associated with feelings of positivity. Both travel and volunteering allow people to get out of their usual environment and open up to new experiences. Join one of the mission trips and you will help the communities of your travel destination. Let’s take a deeper look at some benefits non-religious mission trips may have in store for you:
Valuable Learning Opportunities
Choosing to volunteer will open up a new world. You will learn about the country and culture and interact with the local community. This will enable a deeper understanding of the people and their situation. Learn new skills during the volunteer program and witness the opportunities that will unfold because of it.Meet new people
During a volunteer trip, you will meet other volunteers and travelers who share your taste in activities and interests. You’ll be connecting with like-minded fellow volunteers and locals. This is a wonderful opportunity to build meaningful relationships and allow cultural interchange.New Experiences
This is a brilliant way to expand your perspective on life. Issues that seemed huge problems before, may seem trivial after your volunteer experience. Even if it was for a shorter time span. New life experiences make you stronger and will empower you for the future. A mission trip may inspire you to do more volunteer work in the future.Health Improvements
Traveling and volunteering are two ingredients that practically guarantee happiness. Research has proven that traveling is beneficial as it puts people in a completely different environment which forces different parts of the brain to be used. On top of that, supporting a project or program will give you a sense a purpose which is a major happiness influencer. Happy people tend to be healthy people. Do an international mission trip and notice the effects it has on you!Travel
This is your chance to explore and discover some of the most interesting places the world has to offer. You’ll be doing this while contributing to a meaningful cause. What are you waiting for? Get out your luggage and start packing for your adventure abroad!
🧳 How Can I join a Mission Trip?
You’re ready to do a mission trip but you’re not quite sure where to start? First of all, have a look at the different programs across the globe, and pick a few that have caught your attention.
Once you’ve done that, let’s take a look at the first 3 steps which will send you on your way to do the best mission trips abroad:
- Check whether there’s a match between you and the projects by looking at their requirements.
- Take a look at the location of the project and decide whether it would be excited to go to.
- Get in touch with the organization and see whether your expectations and schedules match up.
Once this is sorted. Let’s take a look at the practical steps:
Insurance (Health & travel)
We recommend getting both health and travel insurance. In fact, this is even a requirement for all volunteer programs abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.
Visa, Passport, and Documentation
Once you know your destination, take the following 3 steps before setting off on your life-changing adventure!
- Look into the visa requirements for the country you will volunteer in
- Make sure you have a valid passport considering the requirement of the host country
- Make sure you prepare the correct documents to fulfill the visa application
That’s it! You’re ready for your mission trip abroad! Get ready for a life-changing experience that may be short but will have an incredible impact. The world is waiting for you. Check out the different best international mission trips on our comparison platform!
Activities
Animal
Hotspots
Sea Turtle Conservation
Americas
Wildlife Conservation
Bird Conservation
Waste Reduction
Central America
Africa
Costa Rica
Monkey Conservation
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Animal Shelter
Bali
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Language Course
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PADI Divemaster
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Ghana
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Spain
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Ecuador
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Gibbon
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Brazil
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Hanoi
Volunteer and Travel
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Elephant Research
Archaeology Internship
Youth Teaching
Delhi
Thessaloniki
Phnom Penh
Jackal Conservation
Lemur
San Jose
Great White Shark
Mongoose
Mongoose Conservation
Crete
Mako Shark
Nutrition and Food
NGO Support
Tenerife
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Port Elizabeth
Human Rights
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Kenya
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Common Dolphin
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Basketball
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Borneo
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African Penguin
Portugal
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Antigua
Chios
British Columbia
Malaga
Manuel Antonio
Blacktip Reef Shark
Shark Tagging
Eastern Europe
Sting Ray
Thresher Shark
Giant Otter
Orphanage
Indigenous cultures
Panama
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Southern Right Whale
Sugar Glider Conservation
Caribbean
Dar es Salaam
Hungary
Business Development
Accra
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Kumasi
Chiang Mai
Badger Conservation
Chile
Insect Conservation
Butterfly Conservation
Nairobi
Eastern Asia
Barcelona
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Kilimanjaro
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Turkey
Nosy Be
Duiker
Colombia
Salsa Lessons
Iquitos
Morocco
Chania
Gili Islands
NGO Management
Husky
Athens
Mexico
Ecological Building
Dominican Republic
Nyala
Elusive Pangolin
Malaysia
Waterbuck
Blesbok
Photography Internship
Quito
Spur-thighed Tortoise
Binturong
Lisbon
Italy
Bat Conservation
Lombok
Music
Ho Chi Minh
Tasmanian Devil Conservation
Coffee
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Sperm Whale
Machu Picchu
Energy and Water
Laos
Philippines
Marketing and IT
Himalaya
Ubud
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Siem Reap
Oaxaca
Orca
Culture and Arts
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Split
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Aardvark
Tubulidentata Conservation
United States Of America
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Lanzarote
Koh Samui
Mongolia
Special Needs
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Jaipur
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United Kingdom
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Bolivia
Plettenberg Bay
Mombasa
Koh Tao
Zambia
Maldives
Palawan
Puerto Escondido
Leopard Shark
Romania
Egypt
Working with Seniors
Elderly Care
Serengeti
Senegal
Phuket
Argentina
Victoria Falls
Cougar Conservation
Rome
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Refugees
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Porto
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Nicaragua
Buenos Aires
Netball
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Arequipa
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Jordan
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Trujillo
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Valencia
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Grenada
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Günthers Dik-Dik
Guyana
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China
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Reykjavik
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Deer Conservation
Reindeer
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Bali Starling
Amur Tiger
Side-striped Jackal
Pelagic Shark
Golden Jackal
East African Hippo
French Polynesia
Polynesia