Volunteer Abroad
Our Volunteer Mission
Make an impact that will last long after you get home
Our first volunteer project in 2010 was orchestrated by students who really wanted to give back to the community. This one idea changed our programs forever and now Volunteer Abroad is offered on every trip. We want to make the world a better place, and so do you. Let’s do it together.
We believe in...
Meet Gabby, our Volunteer Specialist
I work year-round to ensure a lasting and positive impact on local communities. I visit every destination many times throughout the year to build strong partnerships with local NGO's and community leaders. I focus on identifying projects which make a lasting difference in the community while fitting our micro-volunteering model. In this model you will contribute to a larger project while volunteering for a short period of time. It is my goal for all S-Trip! travelers to give back through a Volunteer Abroad project.
3 Types of Volunteer Projects
We ensure all projects are sustainable year round
Eco Conservation
Preserve the environment on land or in the water. You start with an intro to the project and its sustainability impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Education about the community and local animal habitats is an important first step to immersing yourself in the culture. We have 3 different activities depending on your destination. The first group will plant trees to promote vegetation growth in the area. The second group helps to clean the cages of rehabilitating animals that are set to be released back into the wild. The third group helps clean a stretch of beach that will drastically improve marine life in the adjacent area.
Build and Restore
Help build a house, school, or day care centre. You begin with a welcome ceremony from the local project manager to learn about the community history, and the impact your efforts will make for the surrounding area. We then split up into 3 stations. The first station will get the opportunity to build a house or school. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert. There will be a full crew working together to get the job done! The second station will get a cultural education tour that highlights various parts of the community such as the boys and girls club. This is your chance to really connect with the local community, and their culture. The third station will be responsible for cleaning a stretch of beach that will impact wildlife in the area.
Cultural Exchange
A full afternoon of education and fun. Begin with a welcome ceremony from the local school children. They will teach you about their music, dance, and history. You’ll then get the opportunity to tour the school, and learn about their education system. Once you’ve connected with a few students and learned new phrases in Spanish, it’s time to play some sports. Whether it’s a friendly game of soccer, or basketball, this is always a favourite for everyone. After sharing a few laughs, you will help volunteer with either some light restorations like painting and cleaning,planting a garden, or help out on a small renovation project.
Last Year
- 5,300 travelers participated
- 15,000 hours donated by travelers
- 330 S-Trip! Leaders participated
- 1,300 hours donated by Leaders
And Resulted In...
- 2 community centers
- 4 houses built
- 1 computer lab with 12 computers
- 1 cafeteria
- 17 community facilities restored
- 500 trees planted
This Year's Goal...
- 6,000 travelers participating on the Volunteer Experience
- 18,000 hours donated by travelers
- Countless smiling faces
How To Prepare
The Volunteer Abroad essentials
What To Wear
T-shirt, mid thigh length shorts, closed toed shoes, and a hat. Don’t forget to bring a reusable water bottle!
Volunteer Donations
If you have any gently used ‘hand me downs’, these can make for great donations that make a huge difference in the lives of community members.
Wishlist Donations
Spanish children’s books, lined notebooks, pencils, and crayons.
Community Leaders
Testimonials from community leaders
Maria Mota
School Principal and Community Leader, Veron, Dominican Republic
There was only one school here, and now that we have a second school more children can go to school. The education this brings will allow our community to grow stronger every day.
Juanita Ortiz
International Relations Director, Province of Matanzas Government, Cuba
Preserving our culture and learning about others’ is very important to Cuba. S-Trip! provides a unique opportunity for Cuban students to learn about Canadian culture. What our students and the Canadian students learn during their visit is something we will remember for many years to come.
Nancy Gamez
Project Coordinator, Monkey Park Foundation, Liberia, Costa Rica
Volunteers are critical to keep our animal rehabilitation program running. The work S-Trip! does helps us provide for dozens of animals ensuring a safe recovery and release back into their habitat.
Adriana Santos
Program Administrator Cancun Pro Kids, Cancun, Mexico
The eco-garden S-Trip! volunteers constructed has been a wonderful addition to our shelter, directly contributing to our nutrition program. We are excited for them to visit again. The effort, games and laughs shared by our children and the Canadian groups is beautiful.
Rocìo Rodriguez
Program Coordinator, Casa Hogar Maximo Cornejo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The work that S-Trip! volunteers do allows our Leaders to focus on improving the facilities and programs provided for the 55+ children that live at this home. With their support we have restored our kitchen, living room and library!
Sandra Tineo
School Director and Community Leader, Aguas Negras, Domincan Republic
S-Trip! has given so much to our community! It is so much more than a house to the families. It provides a safe place where they can live, learn, and grow.
