Frequently Asked Questions

A  United Planet Short-Term Quest is a unique opportunity to live, learn, and volunteer abroad alongside the members of a local community from one week up to three months.

United Planet Quests are designed to be immersive, authentic, comprehensive and provide you everything you’ll need to succeed. The program elements allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. Most importantly, we partner with the community to ensure your experience will be important, relevant and helpful to the community you serve.

In addition to 25-40 hours of volunteer work per week, United Planet volunteers completely immerse themselves in the local culture of their host community through excursions, cultural activities, language lessons, and accommodations with a host family or local volunteer house.

United Planet volunteers work in three main focus areas:

• Children and Education (possible projects include working in an orphanage, teaching in a local school, working at a women’s shelter, working in a daycare center, etc. See more options)
• Global Health (possible projects include observing procedures at a local health clinic, working at a physical rehabilitation center, working to promote dental hygiene, working with the elderly, etc. See more options)
• Environmental Sustainability (possible projects include conservation work, working with animals/wildlife, working at a construction site, or promoting environmental awareness. See more options)

When you enroll to volunteer abroad with United Planet, you’ll indicate which focus area you’d like to work in. Then, one of our program coordinators will contact you to discuss your specific interests, previous experience, and goals, and then place you at a volunteer project that’s right for you.

Please visit our Short-Term Quests for available countries.

Short-Term Quests are offered year-round. In most countries, Quests start either two or four times a month on specific days of the week.

The age requirement for most Short-Term Quests is 18.  However, we do offer several programs with minimum age requirements of 15 to 17. Volunteers under 15 are eligible to participate in all Short-Term Quests if they are traveling with a parent, guardian, or friend over the age of 21.

United Planet has a language requirement to volunteer in Spanish-speaking countries. The minimum Spanish level varies for each project (basic, intermediate, or advanced) and is listed next to the project descriptions on each country page.

Why the requirement? Many people in our Latin American partner communities are not able to communicate in English. Our priority is to ensure that you have a productive experience abroad and that you, our host communities, and our projects benefit from one another’s time. While initial, minor language barriers are inevitable, major language barriers can result in limitations to the work that you are able to complete.

Level 1: You meet project requirements for Basic Spanish
Level 2-3: You meet project requirements for Intermediate Spanish
Level 4-5: You meet project requirements for Advanced Spanish

All other Short-Term countries do not have any language requirement.

For most Quests, the only requirements are that you are physically fit to travel and have passed a background check if you are over the age of 18.

Certain volunteer projects have preset requirements (i.e. minimum language level, minimum length of stay, background experience in the area, etc.). Any preset requirements are listed next to the project on the country page.

Flexibility, open-mindedness, and a passion for meeting new people are often attributes that make for a successful United Planet volunteer!

Yes! We welcome volunteers of all nationalities.

Cost varies by country and length of your Quest. The comprehensive program fee covers everything you’ll need while abroad: local accommodations, three home-cooked meals a day, complete safety, travel and medical insurance, and an authentic, community-driven volunteer placement. Local excursions, cultural activities, and language classes are also included in your program fee – contact us to find out what options are available in each country.

You can find a complete list of Short-Term Quest fees here.

Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from your host country. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in your destination and will ensure that you arrive safely at your accommodations.

We want you to succeed. That means having in place the support our volunteers need. We don’t just drop you in country and hope for the best. We provide training before you leave … language exposure … 24/7 in-country support … support for your host family … accommodations, meals and airport transportation … activities and excursions. The whole idea is to make the experience successful and productive for you and the host community, and we have found that these things are crucial. Remember that we are a non-profit, mission-driven organization – we wouldn’t spend money on something that wasn’t important.

To learn more about the benefits of paying to volunteer abroad and some tips on selecting the best volunteer abroad organization for you, we have provided this article, “Why Pay To Volunteer Abroad & How To Choose A Volunteer Abroad Organization?”

It takes a large network of people and organizations to provide a quality program experience and unique access to diverse and trusted global projects.  Since 2001, United Planet has developed an extensive global network of diverse host organizations as well as a global team of country coordinators.  United Planet also has program and administrative staff that helps support the program to ensure a positive experiences for volunteers and a meaningful experience for host organizations. The program fees helps cover all these program development and support costs which go on behind the scenes to make the experience a positive one for all.  The program also includes pre-program training for volunteers and host organizations, ongoing check-ins and support, as well as monitoring and evaluation.  A portion of your fee also goes to support in-country partners, host organization, and projects directly.  United Planet is a nonprofit and we make sure that program fees are as affordable as possible, while ensuring that there are enough resources to maintain a quality program.  We also offer scholarships for Virtual Quests to help defray costs as possible. We look forward to inviting you into the United Planet community!

Enrolling in your Quest is easy! Complete our online enrollment form and submit a deposit, which reserves your spot in the country of your choice. Once we’ve received your enrollment form and deposit, one of our Program Coordinators will contact you about planning the details of your Quest.

We ask that volunteers enroll at least 60 days prior to their anticipated departure date. This gives us enough time to schedule volunteer placements, coordinate in-country activities, and provide sufficient pre-departure training.

Please note that you must enroll 90 days in advance for Sea Turtle Quests in Costa Rica.

Due to our status as a non-profit, all deposits and payments made to United Planet are considered donations and are therefore non-refundable, no matter whether you participate in your Quest or not.

If you have already enrolled in a Quest and need to cancel your trip for any reason, we will hold your deposit, payment, and any donations made on your behalf for one year from your indicated travel start date. You can re-enroll for another Quest at any time during this period and your previous partial or full payment will be put in full toward your new Quest. After one year, your deposit and any other payments or donations made by you or on your behalf will be considered donations to United Planet.

Please visit the Information for Parents page with specific information and FAQ for parents.

A United Planet Quest is not your typical volunteer abroad experience. Quests allow volunteers to completely immerse in a new culture, form genuine and lasting relationships with their host community and project, and experience what life is really like in their host country. Many United Planet volunteers describe their experience as well-rounded and eye-opening, but also feel that they have the room to make their experience their own. Volunteers participate in guided excursions, take language classes, and participate in other cultural activities like cooking or dance classes, but have ample free time to explore their surroundings, meet local people, and really get to know their host families.

Additionally, United Planet takes extensive measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of all of our programs. All volunteer projects, host families, and areas where we send volunteers have been vetted for safety, all of our volunteers are registered with the Department of State’s STEP program, all volunteers receive emergency travel and medical insurance, all program coordinators (both Boston and in-country) have been trained in safety and risk management, and we continuously monitor the countries to which we send volunteers for unsafe conditions.

Finally, United Planet Quests are truly tailored to you, the volunteer. We are able (and happy!) to make accommodations for people based on their personal interests and needs.

A  United Planet Long-Term Quest is a unique opportunity to live, learn, and volunteer abroad alongside the members of a local community for either 6 months or a full year. United Planet is the U.S. and Canadian member of the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) Federation, an international non-profit with 60 years of experience in the field. In conjunction with ICYE, we match our Long-Term volunteers to local projects in over 30 countries based on their interests and experience and the actual needs within the community.

In addition to 35-40 hours of volunteer work per week, United Planet volunteers completely immerse themselves in the local culture of their host community. By the end of a Long-Term Quest, United Planet volunteers are no longer visitors in their host communities – they have a new home away from home.

ICYE stands for the International Cultural Youth Exchange. ICYE is an international non-profit youth exchange organization promoting intercultural learning and international voluntary service. It was founded after World War II as part of an international reconciliation program between the United States and Germany. United Planet represents the U.S. and Canada as an associate member of the ICYE Federation. Today, there are over 30 country members (called National Committees) of ICYE who work in partnership to exchange volunteers internationally for 6 month and 1 year placements.

Opportunities for volunteer work as a Long-Term volunteer are many and varied. Long-Term volunteers promote education in schools and children’s homes, support healthcare initiatives at hospitals and clinics, work with disabled youth and adults, care for the elderly, work on ecological farms and conservation land, organize community-building events, and much more.

Available volunteer work varies from country to country. Click here to explore projects in your country of choice. When you enroll as a Long-Term volunteer, you’ll indicate what type of volunteer work you’re interested in. Then, one of our program coordinators will contact you to discuss your specific interests, previous experience, and goals, and place you at a volunteer project that’s right for you.

United Planet places Long-Term volunteers in over 30 countries around the world.

Long-Term Quests begin twice a year, in January and August. Specific start dates for each country may vary. Please visit our Long-Term Volunteer Abroad page to find your country for more information about program dates and deadlines.

Volunteers must be 18 years old by the time they depart in order to participate in a Long-Term Quest. Most Long-Term volunteers are between the ages of 18 – 30, but exceptions can often be made for candidates over 30.

Because United Planet is the U.S. and Canadian partner within the ICYE Federation, we can only send U.S. and Canadian citizens and residents on our Long-Term Quests.

If you are from a different country, please visit  the ICYE website to see if your country has an ICYE partner.

Because United Planet is the U.S. and Canadian partner of ICYE, we can only send citizens and residents of the United States and Canada on Long-Term Quests.

However, if your country has an ICYE partner, then you may be able to travel through them. You can find out if your country has an ICYE partner by visiting the ICYE website.

Cost varies by country and length of your Quest. The comprehensive program fee covers everything you’ll need before you leave and while abroad: a pre-departure training weekend in New Hampshire, in-country orientation and end-of-year camp, local accommodations in-country, meals, complete safety, travel and medical insurance, a monthly stipend for incidental expenses, and an authentic, community-driven volunteer placement.

You can find a complete list of Long-Term Quest fees here.

Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from your host country. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in your destination and will ensure that you arrive safely at your accommodations.

We want you to succeed. That means having in place the support our volunteers need. We don’t just drop you in country and hope for the best. We provide training before you leave … language exposure … 24/7 in-country support … support for your host family … accommodations, meals and airport transportation … activities and excursions. The whole idea is to make the experience successful and productive for you and the host community, and we have found that these things are crucial. Remember that we are a non-profit, mission-driven organization – we wouldn’t spend money on something that wasn’t important.

Complete our online enrollment form and submit a deposit, which reserves your spot with ICYE. On the form, you’ll indicate your top 3 country choices and the type of volunteer work that you’re interested in. Once we’ve received your enrollment form and deposit, one of our Program Coordinators will arrange a phone interview with you to get to know you better and help us place you at the volunteer project that’s right for you.

We ask that volunteers enroll at least 3 months prior to their anticipated departure date. This gives us enough time to schedule volunteer placements and provide sufficient pre-departure training.

Click here for a complete list of enrollment deadlines for Long-Term Quests.

Due to our status as a non-profit, all deposits and payments made to United Planet are considered donations and are therefore non-refundable, no matter whether you participate in your Quest or not.

If you have already enrolled in a Quest and need to cancel your trip for any reason, we will hold your deposit, payment, and any donations made on your behalf for one year from your indicated travel start date. You can re-enroll for another Quest at any time during this period and your previous partial or full payment will be put in full toward your new Quest. After one year, your deposit and any other payments or donations made by you or on your behalf will be considered donations to United Planet.

Please visit the Information for Parents page with specific information and FAQ for parents.

A United Planet Quest is not your typical volunteer abroad experience. Quests allow volunteers to completely immerse in a new culture, form genuine and lasting relationships with their host community and project, and experience what life is really like in their host country.

Additionally, United Planet takes extensive measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of all of our programs. All volunteer projects, host families, and areas where we send volunteers have been vetted for safety, all of our volunteers are registered with the Department of State’s STEP program, all volunteers receive emergency travel and medical insurance, all program coordinators (both Boston and in-country) have been trained in safety and risk management, and we continuously monitor the countries to which we send volunteers for unsafe conditions.

Finally, United Planet Quests are truly tailored to you, the volunteer. We are able (and happy!) to make accommodations for people based on their personal interests and needs.