Can I volunteer at an orphanage? The literal answer to this question is yes! Google will show you loads of orphanages all over the world in desperate need for more hands and big hearts to take care of the little hands and vulnerable hearts residing there.

A more frank, I’m-going-to-be-honest-cuz-we’re-friends, answer is sometimes. With the right circumstances, intentions, timing, agenda, commitment etc. volunteer work in orphanages can be incredibly rewarding for both the volunteer and the host organization. Other times, well, it might not be. =/ 

Ready to reach out? More hands are better than no hands when you volunteer at an orphanage.

So before we send you off on probably one of the best experiences you will ever have as an orphanage volunteer abroad, we need to get real. Yes. Very real. My name is Niki Kraska, and I have volunteered a children’s home in India for the last several years. Here’s my best advice on things to think about—think really, really hard about—before you sign up to be an orphanage volunteer abroad like me.

A sincere word of caution before volunteering overseas in orphanages

Because of the nature of volunteer work in orphanages, the biggest REAL caution we must address is ethics. Orphans, runaways, and destitute children are exploited all too often. The exploitation can range from sex-abuse/trafficking behind closed doors to “white savior Barbie” coming to take selfies for a week or month and leaving without a trace. Which means you need to interrogate at two different levels of ethics here – your own personal ethics and the ethics of the orphanage/organization. 

Questions of Personal Ethics

What is it that draws you to volunteer at an orphanage? What do you hope to accomplish while you’re there? What skills or resources are you able to utilize to help? Does this specific orphanage need and want those skills or resources? Will your work or contribution be sustainable? I’m sorry to say, but spending hours playing with kids for a short period of time, although fun for all involved, is not going to change their lives. Spending hours working with the same kids for 6 months to a year (forming relationships and positive role modeling), that has potential. 

You want to be a trustworthy person, and show your passion for the people you’ll be helping.

Questions of Organizational Ethics

What are the orphanage’s founding principles and mission? What is their intake and exit policy for the children? Where do they get their funding and donations? Who are the staff and board of directors? How do they ensure the health and safety of the children? What happens to the children once they leave the orphanage? What you really want to find out is how transparent and trustworthy the organization is and that there are checks and balances. It should be obvious that the money is going where it is supposed to go (you can always ask for receipts if you donate for specific purchases), the website and social media accounts should be consistent, and, in best cases, there should already be former volunteers that can vouch for them. 

A Final Word Of Caution Regards Scams

Always make sure the organization is reputable before making any payments or bookings. Fake programs and false advertising exits. You have every right to ask for a cost-breakdown of program fees and even a financial report of the orphanage. I have unfortunately encountered orphanages where I’ve questioned their financial integrity, especially in terms of the % that directly impacts the children, and others that have purposefully kept the facilities grim in hopes more will want to donate. Make sure your impact is actually going to make the impact you expect it to! Talk to someone in-person, by face-time, or at least by phone to ensure its as legit as it sounds. 

So, when SHOULD you seek volunteer work in orphanages?

SHOULD you volunteer at an orphanage is a much better question than CAN I volunteer at an orphanage. Remember those questions about personal ethics? If you feel you had some good responses, then read on to see if you fit the bill for orphanages that need volunteers. 

The biggest resource you can give to an orphanage is a long-term commitment, and I ain’t talking about a few months. If you’re serious about becoming an orphanage volunteer abroad, then be serious about your commitment, too. One year is a great place start, or repeated 3-6 month trips at a set interval. The key is consistency. Remember that you will be working with human beings, and that comes along with all things human beings come along with: joy, sadness, anger, trust, tears, painful pasts, hopeful futures, confusing presents. The reality of most orphanages and children’s homes is that the kids are used to seeing people come and go. From family, to peers, to staff, to volunteers. 

Long term relationships are the most important to make—and have the largest impact!

The home you built during hurricane restoration or the awareness campaign you created for women’s health can carry on just fine with new volunteers when you leave after two weeks. The relationship you build with a child can’t be carried on by another so easily—which is why volunteering at overseas orphanages must be taken seriously. The role you’ve taken on in the shelter among the other staff takes time to develop. I could go ON AND ON about this, but I hope you get the picture. When you volunteer at an orphanage (unless you stick solely to admin), you’re stepping into their home—not just their school, not just their playground—their home. (If nothing else after this article, please remember that!)

Second to time-commitment is the skill-set you can bring. Got a degree in child psychology or early education? Grow up babysitting your entire neighborhood? Had a cultural immersion experience in the said country already? These are all great ways your educational background and experiences can benefit orphanages in need of volunteers. Sometimes, an orphanage or children’s home runs a school on site, too, which is a great opportunity for international teaching or TEFL experience. Professional skills are also highly needed to help with fundraising, corporate relationships, and communications (which could also fit in with shorter long-term commitments like 6 months-1 year). 

You can make a short-term commitment work IF you’re meeting a need of the home at the time (i.e. medical care, remodeling, sports camp, special event), and even more so if you can maintain a lasting relationship through donations or outreach. Long-term commitment is still probably more important than the skill you can bring, tbh. If the passion, time commitment, and cultural awareness are there, they will help you figure out how to best help them. 

At the end of the day, work at an orphanage is tough, often round-the-clock, and at times feels underappreciated. It is not necessarily suited for the average volunteer (don’t expect to leave every weekend for a new tourist destination.) And at the same time, overseas orphanage volunteer work can literally be one of the most rewarding experiences you can imagine. If you’re the non-average volunteers we’re talking about, there are orphanages in need of you! 

Orphanages want volunteers who want to make meaningful relationships with kids that need your love the most.

Orphanages that need volunteers 

1. Badulla, Sri Lanka

Searching through GoAbroad’s volunteer opportunities within orphanages, Love Volunteers is an organization that quickly pops up on the list. As one of our top providers, Love Volunteers has a multitude of trustworthy volunteer and internship projects across the Globe. One such project is located in one of the oldest towns in Sri Lanka called Badulla, a hillside town in the south central region. With Sri Lanka’s civil war ending in 2009, the country has been left with many orphaned children needing to be cared for. The orphanage in Badulla is looking for volunteers to help with overall childcare, activities, and one-on-one tutoring and support. 

A key feature about this placement is that they are looking for a set number of volunteers during set time periods of the year. This gives clue that the NGO is organized in how they utilize volunteers: they have a plan, specific positions to fill, and most likely a way to ensure the children are prepared for the volunteers’ visits. (If every April of the year, the kids are in the routine of having foreign volunteers working with them, there is a higher chance of positive engagement and less risk of emotional distress on the children…since they understand the visitors will be coming and leaving at a set time). This feature in itself, along with accommodation with local host families (not within the orphanage), and the need for more adult support makes it a great site to look into for overseas orphanage volunteer work. Start thinking of the skills and talents you will be able to share!

2. Leyte, Philippines

In 2013, one of the strongest tropical cyclones, Typhoon Haiyan, ripped through the Philippines, leaving already impoverished areas with further devastation. Thousands of children in these areas end up under the care of children’s home since their parents are unable to provide for their wellbeing. With so many children, it is difficult to keep an adequate staff-to-child ratio, and this is where volunteers are warmly welcomed to help.

Because of the number of children, much help is needed at children's homes in the Philippines to provide the necessary attention babies and toddlers need to develop physically, socially, and emotionally. Less adult interaction can cause delays in child development. Volunteer for the Visayans' volunteers can fill in to provide the physical and emotional attention needed when the staff are stretched thin. This can be a wonderful placement for psychology, early education, and child development students looking for fieldwork, internships, and a place to both learn and share with others. 

3. Cape Town, South Africa

It is no secret that the staff at orphanages, especially in impoverished areas, are overworked with the ongoing tasks required to take care of dozens of children. This is the case for many orphanages in need of volunteers in South Africa. An impressive feature of working with the orphanages in Cape Town through Volunteering Solutions is that the volunteers are often tasked with finding sustainable solutions to benefit the staff – making the work more efficient even with a low staff-to-child ratio and preventing caretaker burnout. Coming with an international perspective and an “outsider” view is sometimes what is needed to come up with new ideas in problem solving.

From working directly with the children or helping with the day-to-day tasks of cooking and cleaning, you’re not only impacting the lives of the children but also of the staff. By lightening the burden of the staff, you enable them to give more time and energy to the children – and more important than volunteer time with children is staff time with children (they are the ones providing long-lasting relationships!).

4. San Ignacio, Belize

Like Love Volunteers, Kaya Responsible Travel offers different (responsible!) volunteering opportunities around the world, hence why I’m including them twice! This opportunity is just too good for me to pass up. Since we went over some of the cautions one must take before volunteering at an orphanage, working on a project to build homes for orphans is a great choice to still have an impact while not violating their personal lives.

Building homes for orphans in Belize is alllll about sustainability and for a very good reason. Young girls are referred to this project from local authorities when they have nowhere else to go. By working on this project, you’re not only helping to build homes, you’re helping to create farms, agriculture, a community, and a healthy, self-sustainable environment for these girls to live. That is a win-win for all involved. 

Get involved with the community and make an impact to kids that are on the streets.

Alternatives to becoming an orphanage volunteer abroad

Not sure you have what it takes to volunteer at an orphanage? THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT!!! Seriously. There are many other ways you can volunteer with children abroad without stepping foot into an orphanage. And if you’re trying to test our the waters of working with kids, are looking for a short term assignment, or have skills better designed for other placements, here are a few suggestions that we think you will enjoy. 

Education

Calling all TEFL graduates – teaching English abroad is a wonderful way to work with kids without getting mixed into the vulnerable environment of orphanages. Students know teachers and support staff are temporary (your 2nd grade teacher is only your 2nd grade teacher), so the emotional attachment is not the same. You can teach a group of kids just one class a day and still make a huge impact in their lives! Health and safety, hygiene, theatre, music, and of course other core subjects like math and science are all available to teach abroad. Of course, better to have some sort of teaching training or experience if your role is going to be an actual teacher, but if you’re coming in as support staff for the teachers/school, less experience required and more for you to learn! 

Street Children

If you’ve traveled to developing countries, you know how many children are out on the streets trying to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, with the hardships of the streets, many of them get involved with gangs or become victims of trafficking. Outreach to street children can be emotionally taxing and challenging, so it isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re ready to over a glimmer of hope to some who have lost all of theirs, volunteering with street children is a way to help. Different types of projects can include coaching sports, teaching the arts, STD and birth control awareness, health and drug education, tutoring, offering food and clothing, and outreach for local shelters. Those looking for a career in social work, health, advocacy, and community development will gain a lot of insight through these types of projects. 

Community Development and Advocacy

You do not have to have direct contact with kids to influence their lives! Community development and advocacy works at the macro level to create change in the lives of children. Working with community centers to develop youth programs, create awareness campaigns, or host parents-night-out are all ways you can impact a local community or larger stakeholders. All children need a voice amongst adults, and through community development and advocacy, you can help their voice be heard!

These are only a few examples of alternatives to volunteering in orphanages. Be sure to check out the various types of Volunteer Opportunities Abroad to find a best fit for you!

There are orphanages that need volunteers, and you MIGHT be one of them

If you know you’re ready to give your time and lots of love, get involved now. Lots of little hearts await you.

Key word = MIGHT. Do yourself and the children a favor and do some serious introspection before committing yourself to volunteering at an orphanage. If even some lights are flashing red or yellow (unsure what skills you can provide, more concerned about site seeing or the photos you will post on insta, zero experience with kids so far)—now is not the time to get involved at an orphanage and risk a personal or interpersonal let down.

But if all lights are green, then go, Go, GO! Orphanages that need volunteers are understaffed and under much pressure to meet the needs of the children while trying to secure funds and resources to maintain their wellbeing. The right person with the right skills to offer and the right ethics in mind can be an immense help to the staff working day in and day out. Do your research thoroughly and make sure the managing staff know your intentions before committing so it can be a mutually beneficial relationship. An NGO will rarely turn you away if you can’t commit long term, for example, but they will be hoping that even a short-term commitment turns into something that can last (fundraising, sponsorship, outreach, future volunteer visits, etc.) And if all works out in the end—you will also be hoping (and probably making sure) it’s a relationship that can last, too.

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