For some people the idea of working for free is a strange one, but thousands of people pay to volunteer abroad every year. Prices of volunteer projects vary enormously, so why does it cost to volunteer overseas?

Overseas volunteering is a rapidly growing industry. Every year more and more people choose to volunteer as part of their travels or gap year, and some make the trip half way around the world just to offer their services. Nearly all of these projects charge for people to work for them, with prices ranges from very little to huge amounts, and although on the face of it, paying to volunteer sounds absurd, it can be a wise investment of your time and money.

There are four types of overseas experience. Large companies charge vast amounts for a volunteering experience, with the majority of the funds staying in the country where the company is based. These for-profit organisations offer piece of mind and a secure foundation that can be invaluable when things go wrong, but this comes at a price.

Non-profits charge a small amount to cover costs, and some (such as YouVolunteer) are also registered in a developed country, offering the same security that the for-profits offer. With the non-profits nearly all the money goes to the country where the project is based. Other companies offer free accommodation and basic supervision, but volunteering maybe done at your own risk, unless the organisation has outside funding. If you look hard you can also find projects that pay you to work, which is not strictly volunteering, and these projects will also have skill requirements and long time commitments.

Many projects, whether with a large company or with a non-profit would simply not exist without volunteer payments. Accommodating and caring for volunteers costs money, and without external funding, many overseas placements would not be viable.

Regardless of the reasons behind why volunteering abroad costs money, or how much the placements cost, thousands of people still choose to volunteer. The reason that so many people pay to volunteer is for the experience. Volunteer projects offer true once-in-a-lifetime experiences, that many people would not encounter through work or through volunteering at home or visiting zoos. The opportunities to volunteer with children or wild animals that truly need your help are rare. Volunteering is often the highlight of a trip, and the difference between paying for an experience through volunteering should not be seen as that different to paying for an activity such as skydiving, jungle tours or visiting Machu Pichu.

Volunteering abroad also offers the volunteer the opportunity to really get to know an area. When people travel they can end up just following the tourist routes and moving quickly through an area, never really getting to know how the locals live and the true culture. With many non-profits the price to volunteer, including accommodation and food is often similar to, and usually less than how much it costs to travel through the area in which the project is based. In addition to getting to know an area, overseas volunteer projects allow volunteers to form strong relationships with other travellers, gain advice and ideas for future travel. Volunteer projects are also a good introduction for those who have never travelled before. It gives them the opportunity to get used to a different culture and to learn from more seasoned travellers.

With overseas volunteering, it should not be the fact that you are offering your labour and money to a project that is your persuading factor. When making any decision that involves spending your hard-earned cash the most important factor is what are you going to get out of it, and how much that is worth. If you feel that spending a few weeks working with under-privileged children in the jungle is worth the price it costs to volunteer, then that is why you should pay to volunteer.