Putting Program Fees Into Perspective

NEW ARTICLE! Why Pay To Volunteer Abroad & How To Choose A Volunteer Abroad Organization?

When people think about volunteering abroad, the thought of paying for the experience often seems counter-intuitive. If you’re giving your time and effort to serve in a community, you shouldn’t have to pay as well – especially if you’re going for a significant length, like a year. However, it’s important to consider what’s included in that price – and stack that against the alternative costs you’d be incurring if you did something else instead.

Here’s how the numbers actually match up:

Surprised? Volunteering abroad with United Planet can be a pretty sweet deal, especially when measured against a year of supporting yourself in a city or a year of college tuition.

Say you’re a recent college graduate, looking to gain some experience but maybe not settle down immediately. You might be debating between options like finding a job or applying for a fellowship. But there’s a third option you should contemplate as well – volunteering abroad. United Planet’s Long-Term Quests are a shorter commitment than comparable programs like the Peace Corps, and cheaper than the average cost of living in most major cities in the U.S. In fact, it’s a savings of 50% in contrast to living in Boston.

If you’re a high school student considering a gap year before starting college, the amount you’ll save is even larger. For private, nonprofit four-year universities in Massachusetts, the average cost (including tuition and fees) is $36,724. That is pretty expensive, especially if you don’t feel sure about what you’re interested in studying. In comparison, a year-long adventure abroad will allow you to discover not only a new country and culture, but also more about yourself than you could learn in a classroom – and with a savings of 66%.

With United Planet, you’re paying for a comprehensive, multifaceted experience. We provide training before you leave, 24/7 in-country support, language exposure, and activities and excursions. All of that is in addition to lodging, food, transportation, and insurance, which you would likely be paying for anyway if you stayed in the U.S. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind that by volunteering with United Planet specifically, your project will be safe, sustainable, and productive for the host community.

Call us at (617) 267-7763 and schedule a time to chat with Clemence, our Long-Term Program Coordinator, about our various options offered in over 30 countries. It could save you more than 50% of what you’d otherwise be spending.