As we have already found out, volunteer programs are carried out in various directions. At the same time, the very organization of volunteer programs can be completely different.
Short term volunteer programs
Short-term volunteer programs (workcamps) take place all over the world. Usually they bring together 10-20 people of different ages and from different countries of the world, who come together, forming an “international volunteer camp” to do certain work and joint leisure.
The duration of such programs is usually 2-3 weeks. Volunteers often pay for their own tickets to the program site, and the organizers provide them with accommodation and meals in return for the work done.
Short-term volunteer programs can involve both serious social work and simpler tasks such as organizing sports events or music festivals.
This is a great way to add value, diversify your leisure time and meet new people from all over the world.
Medium and long term volunteer programs
If you want to do volunteer work abroad for a long time, medium-term volunteer programs (MTV, middle-term volunteering) or long-term volunteer programs (LTV, long-term volunteering) * are suitable for you.
MTV programs last from 1 to 6 months, and LTV programs last from 6 to 12 months.
Please note: On the Internet, you may also come across the abbreviation LMTV, which stands for volunteer programs that offer medium and long-term volunteer options.
You must be an adult to participate in medium to long term volunteer programs. In most cases, volunteers pay their own tickets and visa fees, and the organizer of the program will cover the costs of accommodation and meals.
In these programs, volunteers typically work up to 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. They are also provided with travel and home leave.
It is worth noting two features of LMTV volunteer programs:
some programs involve direct payment for the work of volunteers (despite the principle of gratuitousness), in this case we are usually talking about work that requires certain professional knowledge and skills
a number of programs also involve contributions by volunteers
