Have you always wanted to volunteer abroad? Are you committed to intercultural understanding and forging friendships with people of different backgrounds? United Planet is an international nonprofit dedicated to forming a community beyond borders by sending volunteers abroad all over the world. Read on to learn some fast facts about volunteering with United Planet – it could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
We send volunteers abroad to over 35 countries worldwide
When you choose to volunteer abroad with United Planet, you are joining a community of international volunteers who have provided over 800,000 hours of service and cultural exchange with communities in over 35 countries. Where would you like to go? Explore our destinations here.
You can volunteer for one week – or one year!
We know you’ve got a lot on your plate. That’s why United Planet volunteers can choose the length of time they want to volunteer abroad and when they want to depart. We offer 1 -12 week short-term programs, and 6 or 12-month long-term programs. Our projects are perfect for school breaks, summer vacations, or gap-years. If you’ve got the time, we’ll find a program to fit it.
We accept volunteers from all over the world and of all ages
Though we’re located in the United States, we accept citizens from any country for all our short-term volunteer programs. And we encourage volunteers of all ages to enroll – teens, students, working professionals, retirees – you can even volunteer abroad with your entire family!
We support our international volunteers every step of the way
Our coordinators provide personalized attention for each and every one of our volunteers to find a program that is the best fit for them. Once you’ve selected your Volunteer Abroad Quest, we provide comprehensive pre-departure training via an online portal and a one-hour pre-departure webinar to make sure all your questions are answered before your trip. Once in-country, our volunteers are supported by United Planet’s In-Country Coordinator, who conducts an orientation upon each volunteer’s arrival, checks in regularly with all volunteers in the field, and serves as the 24/7 emergency contact. Meet our Boston and international teams here!
We are the U.S. and Canadian member of the ICYE (International Cultural Youth Exchange) Federation
ICYE is an international non-profit youth exchange organization promoting intercultural learning and international volunteer service. Today there are over 30 country members (called National Committees) of the ICYE Federation who work in partnership to exchange volunteers internationally for 6 months and 1 year placements. United Planet is the official US and Canada representative for ICYE, and all of our long-term Quests are organized in partnership with them. Find out more how you could volunteer abroad for 6 months or 1 year here.
We are founded on the principle of Relational Diplomacy
United Planet founder and Executive Director David Santulli has spent much of his life traveling the world, living and working in various communities, and developing his theory of Relational Diplomacy. Relational Diplomacy is an approach to sustainable peace-building which recognizes that individual interpersonal relationships are the most essential and basic element—the building blocks for peace.
Relational diplomacy informs everything United Planet does. Our Volunteer Quests integrate volunteers in the communities where they work and our Global Conversations Webinars, Ambassador Clubs, and Cultural Awareness Projects bring people together to learn about each other’s cultures. At our core, United Planet provides opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to form relationships that are the building block of a more united world.
Read the Executive Summary of David’s book on relational diplomacy in Cyprus here. Also, check out the Relational Diplomacy Institute, our sister organization, that promotes and researches the best practices in relational diplomacy.
We are committed to the safety of both our volunteers and host communities
United Planet takes great care to ensure the health and safety of our international volunteers. Our In-Country Coordinators have undergone extensive training in health, safety, and risk-management procedures and in vetting host projects and host families. We also provide volunteers with emergency medical insurance and continuously monitor world news and events for safety risks.
We are also committed to protecting the communities and host projects we partner with. We require background checks for all volunteers before they travel abroad. Click here for more information about volunteer safety.
CNN chose United Planet as one of ten organizations to change the world in its
”Be the Change” initiative
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, there was a breakdown in our cross-cultural trust. In the month of September 2001, United Planet launched the Cultural Awareness Project and brought Arab and Muslim Americans into classrooms to talk about their cultures and backgrounds. Students and teachers developed new perspectives, not based on what they heard through the media or fearful neighbors, but based on their dialogues and conversations with real people with different backgrounds. CNN picked up on the innovative nature of this program and followed our volunteer presenters into schools. You can still watch the CNN report here.
We are a non-profit organization
United Planet is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and the Boston and in-country staff are driven by our mission to foster cross-cultural understanding. Some volunteers question, rightfully so, where their program fee is going. All revenue from the organization is put towards enhancing the volunteer experience and supporting host communities. Ensuring safe and sustainable programs for volunteers and the communities they serve requires expenses beyond accommodation, food, and activities. For more detailed information, please see an outline of United Planet program expenses here.
YOU are qualified to help United Planet spread our mission of cross-cultural understanding!
Students, families, professionals and older adults have enjoyed and benefited from participating in a United Planet Quest. Many of our Quests require no previous language or volunteer experience, and are fantastic ways to learn about the world, different cultures, and of course, yourself.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
