Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back spend your time when traveling the world. Whether you can only get away for a week or two, or want to include a volunteer stop within a wider trip, there are so many reasons to consider Laos as your destination.
Laos is a beautifully country of tropical flatlands, rainforest, undeveloped cities, ancient temples, and some of the friendliest people on earth. Located in South East Asia in-between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, traditional agricultural practices give way to historic colonial towns and cities.
Volunteer Programs in Laos
Some of the most popular volunteer programs – and most affordable – can be found in Laos.
Wildlife Conservation
You could join elephant conservation projects that provides travellers with a special chance to work with animals. Spending some time helping to learn more about elephants and helping towards conservation efforts is really magical. At some sanctuaries you can live and work in a peaceful home created for neglected and abused elephants helping to feed and care for them and even bathing them. That’s right – an elephant bath. This could get very, very wet.
Community Development
Helping people or teaching English is a popular volunteer opportunity globally, and in Laos it’s no different. Volunteers have the opportunity to help local people combat the everyday struggles of unemployment, poverty and addiction. Some projects aim to provide skills training, education and support to enable villages to thrive without sacrificing their cultural identity. Volunteers can help childcare centers, local schools, hospitals and colleges. Participants aren’t in a remote village the whole time, this project allows volunteers to help in places like Luang Prabang.
Locations of Projects
Most projects in Laos are located in or close to Luang Prabang, the very heart of once colonial French Indochina. Traditional lifestyles of the rural communities continue much as they have for centuries. Easily accessible with direct flights daily, Luang Prabang and the surrounding natural beauty create the perfect living-classroom for foreign volunteers seeking to enhance their core curriculum through creativity, action and service.