When I think back on it, my first experience volunteering overseas kind of sucked. It's a long story, but the short version is that I showed up in Nepal thinking that I was going to save the world and found out that really I was on an adventure tour posing as a volunteer programme.

Can you volunteer overseas without the support of a volunteer-sending organization? How hard could it be?

Hosting international volunteers requires a considerable amount of time and resources. But does that mean you have to pay to volunteer abroad?

If you think you're just paying for the privilege of working for nothing, think again.

Before you pack your bags, there are a few things I need you to know.

Volunteer-sending organizations share the inner secrets (not really) of their work.

Volunteering abroad can be extremely rewarding—but how can you be sure you're really helping?

Well-founded criticisms tangle with on-the-ground realities. Should volunteers be part of the mix?

If you have a penchant for the past and don’t mind a bit of dirt under your nails, diggers are in demand.

Volunteer health and medical placements abroad can be enormously beneficial, or terribly irresponsible. Here are five ways to avoid common pitfalls.