Large Family & Friends Volunteer Abroad Groups
Volunteering abroad as a large group of family or with friends is an incredible way to bond with your loved ones, make a positive impact, and create lasting memories together. This page is for groups of 8 or more, if your group has less than 8 members, please see our Family Volunteer Vacations page.
International Volunteer HQ provides safe, affordable, and inclusive programs, specially designed for families and friend groups. Everything is organized and included for your group, including your accommodation, airport pickup, meals, and more, for as little as US$275 (approximately CA$415) for one week – making volunteering with IVHQ a very affordable way to explore the world and give back. We have private room accommodation options available and children aged 15 and under get 50% off their Registration Fee!*
Whether you’re interested in conservation, teaching, or volunteering with animals, volunteering abroad with friends or family gives you quality time together while instilling the values of service.
Why volunteer abroad as a family or friends group with IVHQ?
From the moment you make an inquiry with IVHQ, our dedicated Group Support team will work with you to help your planning, including:
- Understanding your budget constraints
- Finding a destination and placement best suited to your group’s preferences, skills, and objectives
- Arranging any custom accommodation requirements
- Developing weekly schedules (volunteering or interning, accommodation, meals, trips, etc.)
- Organizing local transportation
- Booking tours
What do friends and family volunteer groups say about their experience with IVHQ?
”IVHQ offered the opportunity to live with a host family and experience the culture from the inside. Sharing the volunteer experience brings us all closer as a family. I think the girls’ eyes were opened to how different, yet similar our lives are on all parts of the globe and that we all have similar basic needs. We now have a different frame of reference when we look at the life we have at home.” Molly Dalton volunteered with her daughters in Kenya and Peru
“I just returned from another IVHQ trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe with my mom. For anyone thinking about doing this program, I highly recommend it, no matter what age you are. Each Wednesday, we volunteered at the local school. Being 16, I was younger than some of the kids attending the school, so it was easy for me to connect with them. The students at the school always had a smile on their faces. Their smiles were infectious and the joy that they have is contagious.“ Darby Martinez volunteered with her Mom in Morocco and Victoria Falls
“My daughter and I had the great pleasure of volunteering with the most wonderful people with special needs in Costa Rica! I helped establish a Rehab exercise program for several residents, and my daughter organized activities such as dancing, jewellery making, arts and crafts, and yoga! We forged such strong connections that we didn’t want it to end. We also explored beautiful sites, zip-lined, and hiked a volcano. The local team was so wonderful with such kind and caring staff - we would definitely do this again!” Mom and daughter, Tracee and Lauren Tsai, volunteered in Costa Rica
“My daughter and I volunteered on a childcare project in Costa Rica. Take the plunge. My daughter and I had an amazing experience. We grew as individuals and learned so much from the cultural immersion. It will stay with us for the rest of our lives. 5 stars to IVHQ and the Local Team in Costa Rica.” Neha Chugh volunteered with her daughter in Costa Rica
Volunteering FAQs for family and friends groups
Depending on the makeup of your family or friends group, we recommend that families volunteering with children under the age of 15 look at our programs which offer homestay accommodation. This provides families with greater privacy and the opportunity to be accommodated together in private rooms. Living in a homestay is a unique experience, as your family can enjoy living alongside a local family, while learning about their culture, cuisine and traditions.
If you are looking for more privacy and comfort, there are opportunities for your family or friends group to upgrade to one or more private rooms in more than half of our destinations.
IVHQ offers wrap-around support and has robust health and safety systems in place to ensure that volunteering abroad with children is risk-free and safe. We follow best practice and industry-leading procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification. These include:
- All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training
- All local teams are trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ’s Risk Management Policy
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team
We’re always happy to speak with you to ensure that all of your questions are answered and that you feel comfortable with your family volunteer trip plans.
Our Animal Care, Community Development and Childcare volunteer projects are generally the most suitable for younger volunteers, as these allow children to get involved and interact with animals, other children, or members of the local community.
During your volunteer program, children and teenagers under the age of 16 will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. The minimum age across all IVHQ projects is three years old. Some projects will require children traveling with families to be older.
If you have children aged 16 and above, it’s possible for them to take part in their own volunteer project in certain destinations that are suitable for teens. We are able to help match individual family members with the most suitable projects.
