Volunteer Abroad & Internships in Europe, Asia, Africa & South America with Abroad Escape.

‘The best experience of my life.’ — Michael, Belgium

Volunteer in Valencia or Lisbon — just 2 hours from London, no visa required, new groups starting every Monday. Programs run from 2 to 8 weeks and are fully supported: accommodation, meals, airport pickup and a local coordinator who meets you on arrival day. Want to go further? We place volunteers and interns in 21 countries worldwide.

Volunteer Programs with Abroad Escape.

Volunteer abroad in over 20 countries and 100 affordable programs. Working with children, teaching English, construction projects, animal conservation, international internships, cultural immersions, and much more! With us you can create your own unique schedule that matches your preferences and goals.

Want to start close to home? Our programs in Valencia, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal are ideal for a first volunteer experience — short flight, no visa, fully structured. For those who want to travel further, we offer programs across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Volunteer Programs Backed by 20 Years of Verified Impact

Abroad Escape has placed volunteers abroad since 2006 — first as GapXperience, then as Beyond Volunteer, now as Abroad Escape. Throughout every name change, one partnership has remained constant: our 20-year relationship with The Green Lion, one of the world’s most established responsible travel operators, active in 45 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe since 1998.

Unlike agencies that simply list programs, The Green Lion manages every project on the ground with permanent local teams. That means when you book through Abroad Escape, your placement is backed by infrastructure, safeguarding policies, and community relationships that have been built over decades — not assembled for the brochure.

You Know Exactly What You’re Getting.

Abroad Escape places volunteers exclusively through The Green Lion. The Green Lion does not sell directly to the public. We are their European placement partner, and we have been for 20 years.

That means when you book with us, you are not booking a listing or a brochure. You are booking into infrastructure that has been built, tested and refined over 27 years — with real coordinators, real safeguarding policies, and a published annual impact report that shows exactly what volunteers achieved.

No surprises. No middlemen you don’t know about. Just a clear path to one of the world’s most trusted volunteer operators.

Learn more about our partnership with The Green Lion.

Looking for a specific Green Lion program?

What Is Included in the Program Fee?

Abroad Escape is not a charity and receives no subsidies. The program fee covers the full logistics of your stay: shared accommodation for the duration of your program, two to three meals per day, airport pickup on arrival day, daily transport to your project, a named local coordinator and 24/7 emergency support. The majority of program costs go directly to the local project and local staff on the ground. Flights, travel insurance and visas are not included and must be arranged independently — we provide a full overview once your placement is confirmed. There are no hidden costs.

Who Are the Programs For?

Abroad Escape programs are suitable for students, gap year travellers, medical students and adults who want to spend a meaningful period abroad. No specific background is required for teaching, construction and community projects. For medical and nursing programs, proof of relevant study or qualification is required. For all projects involving children or vulnerable adults, a background check is mandatory before placement is confirmed.

Safety and Parents

Most Abroad Escape participants travel alone and arrive as part of an international group. Every destination has a named local coordinator who is present on arrival, leads the orientation and remains the primary point of contact throughout the program. Accommodation is shared with other international volunteers. 24/7 emergency support is available at all times. Parents are welcome to contact us via WhatsApp or email with questions about a specific destination or program — we answer all questions personally.

More about Abroad Escape.

How Does It Work?

Step 1 — Apply: Tell us your preferred destination, project type and departure date via our application form. We discuss your profile, motivation and any questions you have.

Step 2 — Personal proposal within 24 hours: You receive an overview of available placements that match your preferences and background, including a full price breakdown.

Step 3 — Preparation: After confirmation you receive your volunteer handbook, visa information, packing list and full arrival instructions. Your local coordinator is reachable before departure for any questions.

Step 4 — Arrival: Your coordinator meets you at the airport. Sunday is for settling in. Monday starts with your orientation session, after which you begin your project directly.

Start your application — receive your proposal within 24 hours

Real Outcomes. Verified by Our Partner on the Ground.

Every year, The Green Lion publishes a full impact report documenting what volunteers actually achieved across their programs together with partners such as us. Here is what participants in Abroad Escape and Green Lion programs contributed to in 2025.

• 50,036 mangrove seedlings planted, restoring over 32,000 square metres of critical coastline in the Philippines
• 3,483 sea turtles released into the wild across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica
• 4,815 turtle eggs protected across conservation sites in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica
• 48,400 people facing homelessness received meals through the Seoul Soup Kitchen program
• 1,786 children from low-income and multicultural families in South Korea supported through professional English education
• 1,533 patients directly supported through the Ho Chi Minh City Medical Placement program
• 850+ early childhood students reached through kindergarten programs across 18 schools in Thailand
• 1,500+ students supported through English teaching programs across 12 schools in Thailand
• 300 children supported across kindergarten centers in Malawi
• 1,221 mangrove trees planted and 842 kg of beach waste removed in Thailand
• 10 major construction and renovation projects completed in Sri Lanka, improving preschools, classrooms and community centers
• 210 kg of trash removed from villages and beaches in Bali, with 80 permanent waste bins installed

Source: The Green Lion 2025 Impact Report. The Green Lion is Abroad Escape’s in-country program partner, operating since 1998.

Learn more about our partnership with The Green Lion →

Last updated: April 2026