The Green Lion Volunteer Programs — Book Through Abroad Escape
The Green Lion does not sell volunteer programs directly to the public. To join a Green Lion program, you must book through an approved partner agency. Abroad Escape has been an approved Green Lion placement partner since 2006 — one of the longest-standing partnerships in Europe. Every program listed on this page is a Green Lion-operated program. There is no cheaper direct route. This is it.
Start your application → | About our Green Lion partnership →
What Is The Green Lion?
The Green Lion is an international responsible travel operator founded in 1998, active in 45 countries with permanent local teams managing every project on the ground. Unlike booking platforms that list third-party programs, The Green Lion owns and runs every placement — coordinators, accommodation, project logistics, safeguarding and in-country support are all their own permanent infrastructure.
They operate under formal child protection, animal welfare and zero-tolerance drug policies. They publish an annual impact report with verified outcomes. In 2025: 3,483 sea turtles released, 50,036 mangrove seedlings planted, 1,533 patients supported through medical programs, 48,400 meals served to people facing homelessness in Seoul.
They do not sell to the public. Abroad Escape does.
The Green Lion Programs Available Through Abroad Escape
Programs start from €525, include accommodation, meals, airport transfer and a named local coordinator from arrival day. New intakes start every Monday. You choose your duration — from 1 week to 12 weeks — and you can combine multiple program types week by week in the same destination. No other agency offers this level of scheduling flexibility.
Europe
The Green Lion Programs in Spain — Valencia
Programs: Teaching English · Childcare · Special Needs Children · Medical Internship
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Valencia city centre · Host family accommodation
Ideal for: First-time volunteers · Pre-med students · Gap year travellers · Anyone wanting European volunteering with no visa requirement
Valencia is Abroad Escape's fastest-growing destination. Programs are based in local schools and childcare centres. The medical internship places you in Valencia's public hospital system alongside clinical staff — one of the most in-demand placements we offer for nursing and pre-med students.
The Green Lion Programs in Portugal — Lisbon
Programs: Teaching English · Childcare · Food Rescue & Community Support · Construction & Renovation
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Lisbon · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: First-time volunteers · Anyone wanting European volunteering · Travellers combining volunteer work with city life
Lisbon programs are based in community organisations and schools across the city. The food rescue program works with local redistribution networks. Construction placements focus on renovation of community spaces in underserved neighbourhoods.
Africa
The Green Lion Programs in Kenya — Nakuru
Programs: Teaching Assistant · Childcare Placement · Medical & Healthcare · Environmental Conservation · Construction
Duration: 1–12 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Nakuru, Great Rift Valley · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting meaningful community impact · Healthcare students · Conservation volunteers · Anyone seeking an authentic African experience outside the tourist trail
Nakuru sits in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, 160km northwest of Nairobi. Programs are based in rural schools, child development centres and community health projects. Wildlife and national park access on weekends. Projects can be combined week by week across program types.
The Green Lion Programs in Cape Verde — Tarrafal
Programs: Teaching English · Childcare · Sea Turtle Conservation · Construction & Renovation · Sports Coaching · Food Support
Duration: 1–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Tarrafal, Santiago Island · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting island volunteering · Turtle conservation volunteers · Anyone combining community work with Atlantic island life
Tarrafal is a coastal fishing town on Santiago Island. Cape Verde requires no visa for most European passport holders. The sea turtle conservation program runs year-round. Community programs are based in local schools and neighbourhood centres in and around Tarrafal.
The Green Lion Programs in Tanzania
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Medical · Construction
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Tanzania mainland · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting East African community experience · Healthcare students · Education volunteers
The Green Lion Programs in Zanzibar
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Medical · Construction · Marine Conservation
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Zanzibar Island · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting island East Africa · Marine conservation volunteers · Medical students
The Green Lion Programs in Malawi
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Construction · Environmental Conservation
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Malawi · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting off-the-beaten-track Africa · Community development volunteers
In 2025, Green Lion volunteers in Malawi supported 300 children in early childhood programs, reaching 1,800 community members, and completed major irrigation and school renovation projects.
The Green Lion Programs in Madagascar
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Lemur Conservation · Construction
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Madagascar · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Wildlife conservation volunteers · Those seeking unique biodiversity experiences · Education volunteers
Asia
The Green Lion Programs in Bali — Ubud & Nusa Penida
Programs: Teaching English · Kindergarten Support · Construction & Renovation · Sea Turtle Conservation · Culture Week
Duration: 1–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Ubud (community programs) · Nusa Penida (marine conservation) · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: First-time Asia volunteers · Turtle conservation volunteers · Those wanting cultural immersion alongside community work
Bali programs run across two bases. Ubud handles all community and teaching programs. Nusa Penida — 45 minutes offshore — is the marine conservation base, home to The Green Lion's sea turtle program. In 2025, the Nusa Penida program protected nearly 2,000 turtle eggs and released 917 hatchlings into the wild.
The Green Lion Programs in Thailand — Hua Hin
Programs: Teaching English · Kindergarten Support · Sports Coaching · Environmental Conservation · Culture Week
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Hua Hin region · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Teaching volunteers · Those wanting structured Asia volunteering · First-time volunteers · Gap year travellers
Thailand is one of The Green Lion's most established destinations, operational since their founding. In 2025, Green Lion volunteers in Thailand reached over 1,500 students across 12 schools and 850+ children through 18 kindergartens. Environmental programs planted 1,221 mangrove trees and removed 842kg of beach waste.
The Green Lion Programs in Sri Lanka
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Medical · Special Needs · Sea Turtle Conservation · Elephant Welfare · Construction · Women's Empowerment
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Multiple locations · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Volunteers wanting program variety · Turtle conservation · Medical students · Those interested in ethical wildlife programs
Sri Lanka is one of The Green Lion's widest-program destinations. The turtle conservation program is among the most active in the network — in 2025, volunteers collected 3,200 eggs and released 3,185 hatchlings, alongside rehabilitating 21 disabled turtles.
The Green Lion Programs in the Philippines
Programs: Teaching · Childcare · Medical · Construction · Environmental Conservation · Disaster Relief
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Aborlan, Palawan · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Environmental volunteers · Medical students · Construction volunteers · Those wanting meaningful Southeast Asia experience
The Philippines program is home to one of The Green Lion's most significant environmental achievements. In 2025, volunteers planted 50,036 mangrove seedlings, restoring over 32,000 square metres of critical coastline in Aborlan — a direct contribution to coastal resilience for 4,500 local community members.
The Green Lion Programs in Vietnam — Ho Chi Minh City
Programs: Teaching English · Kindergarten & Childcare · Medical Placement · Special Needs Care · Food Support · Hospitality Internship
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Ho Chi Minh City · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Medical students · Teaching volunteers · Those wanting urban Southeast Asia volunteering
The Ho Chi Minh City medical program is one of the most in-demand in the network. In 2025, 321 volunteers contributed to physical therapy, wound care and clinical hygiene programs, directly supporting 1,533 patients.
The Green Lion Programs in South Korea — Seoul
Programs: Teaching English · Childcare · Soup Kitchen · Animal Rescue & Welfare
Duration: 2–8 weeks · Start every Monday
Location: Seoul · Volunteer house accommodation
Ideal for: Those wanting East Asia volunteering · Animal welfare volunteers · Teaching volunteers
Seoul's Soup Kitchen program is one of The Green Lion's highest-impact urban programs — in 2025, 67 volunteers served 48,400 meals to people facing homelessness. The animal rescue program placed 91 volunteers supporting dogs rescued from illegal farms across the city.
Further Asia Destinations
Abroad Escape also offers Green Lion programs in Cambodia, Nepal, Lombok, Fiji, Laos and India. Contact us to discuss availability and scheduling for these destinations.
How to Book a Green Lion Volunteer Program Through Abroad Escape
- Choose your destination and program type from the list above or browse all destinations.
- Submit your application via our application form. No deposit required to apply.
- We confirm your placement — we review your background, availability and preferences and match you to the right program and start date.
- Prepare for departure — you receive your volunteer handbook, visa guidance, pre-departure checklist and direct contact details for your local Green Lion coordinator.
- Arrive and begin — your coordinator meets you at the airport. Sunday is for settling in. Monday morning is your first day.
Programs start every Monday year-round. There are no annual intakes and no waiting lists. You choose your start date, we confirm availability.
Need help deciding? Send us a WhatsApp — message us here — and we'll have an honest conversation about which program fits your goals, timeline and budget. No sales pressure.
Last updated: April 2026. Program availability subject to change. Contact us to confirm current availability for specific destinations.