If you’re looking to get outside of your comfort zone, whilst gaining relevant skills in your chosen area of expertise, then volunteering abroad could be the perfect fit for you. The barrier for most individuals is the costs that are associated with traveling abroad. Luckily International Volunteer HQ brings you 4 volunteer abroad scholarships that will assist you in visiting your dream destination while making a valuable contribution to the local community!
IVHQ is a pioneer of affordable and sustainable volunteer travel. Operating in 35 destinations across Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, Europe, and the Pacific, IVHQ enables you to make meaningful contributions to community projects in the areas of education, construction and renovation, childcare, conservation, wildlife and animal care, community development, and social enterprise. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported more than 60,000 volunteers who spend over 4 million hours supporting community projects abroad. Now IVHQ is giving you that opportunity to a part of that proud alumni.
There is a range of scholarships available from IVHQ, including the Teach and Volunteer Abroad Scholarship, focused on those in the education industry looking to expose themselves to different teaching environments. The Medical Volunteer Abroad Scholarship offers an opportunity for those studying at the pre-med level and above to apply practical skills in a foreign country. If you’re an avid blogger with a passion for meaningful travel, the Travel Blogger Scholarship provides an opportunity like no other. For passionate volunteers, the Volunteer of the Year Scholarship allows anyone around the globe involved in volunteer work to be rewarded with a volunteer abroad trip of their choosing.
Teach and Volunteer Abroad Scholarship
IVHQ offers Teaching volunteering projects in over 35 destinations. IVHQ’s Teaching volunteer abroad projects enable international volunteers to work alongside local teachers with the objective of promoting greater literacy, supporting opportunities for higher education, building vocational skills and enhancing career prospects among students.
First-time teachers and experienced educators can volunteer to teach abroad with IVHQ. As a volunteer teacher abroad, you may have the opportunity to teach independently, provide support to local teachers, or team up with other international volunteers to take lessons in a range of classroom settings, including schools, tutoring programs, community centers, special needs facilities, and childcare centers.
“I’m excited to be working on a project like this, the local people supporting the program are so lovely and welcoming. People attend because they want to, and there is a family atmosphere that makes it so special.” – Hannah Pitts (2015 Teach and Volunteer Abroad Scholarship Winner)
The IVHQ Teach and Volunteer Abroad Scholarship includes a sponsored IVHQ volunteer program plus our internationally-recognized 100-hour online TEFL course for the recipient to take before departing for the program. The 2016 scholarship also included a $1500 travel voucher from STA Travel, as well as a comprehensive volunteer travel insurance package from World Nomads.
Medical Volunteer Abroad Scholarship
IVHQ offers affordable Medical and Healthcare volunteer projects in 18 different destinations, allowing you to work in a range of healthcare settings. These projects provide international volunteers with the opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals at the frontline of promoting better health and well-being outcomes within communities abroad.
IVHQ has over 9 years of experience in organizing medical electives abroad for medical students and nursing students, as well as medical mission trips for qualified healthcare practitioners. If you’re an aspiring medical professional, we also offer medical volunteer opportunities abroad for pre-med, pre-health and pre-nursing students.
The IVHQ Medical Volunteer Abroad Scholarship includes a sponsored IVHQ volunteer program. The 2017 scholarship also includes a $1500 travel voucher from STA Travel, as well as a comprehensive volunteer travel insurance package from World Nomads.
“My placement was incredible, being able to work at the medical project was a blessing, I learned so much. I got to talk with the patients, then I did triage, gave vaccinations, heal some wounds, suture, worked at the pharmacy where I learned about basic pharmacology and obviously got to know incredible doctors and nurses.” – Camilla HERRERA (IVHQ Medical Volunteer in Guatemala)
IVHQ also offers a range of scholarships that aren’t industry-specific and celebrate the work done by people such as yourself, whether it’s in your own community, or abroad on IVHQ programs. These scholarships are open to the wider volunteering community.
Travel Blogger Scholarship
Whether you’re a first-time traveler or an expert IVHQer, this scholarship is open to anyone with a passion for blogging and meaningful travel. IVHQ wants to hear about your impactful experiences—the stories, connections and empowering personal journeys that come through travel and volunteering.
The Travel Blogger Scholarship gives individuals a chance to win a US$1500 flight voucher from StudentUniverse to travel abroad and volunteer on the IVHQ program of their choice for 2 weeks. While you’re abroad, you’ll be blogging about your volunteer experience, sharing tips and insights that will serve as a valuable resource for future volunteer travelers. You’ll also be equipped with and an Advanced Travel Writing Certification from MatadorU Travel Media School before you depart!
Travel Blogger Scholarship recipient Carmen shares, “Cast away from the familiar shores. Explore your interests. Do something that scares you a little. Do something that scares you a lot. Do something that will change you. You will thank yourself for it.”
Volunteer of the Year Scholarship
The IVHQ Volunteer of the Year Scholarship celebrates the inspiring efforts of volunteers who make important contributions to support the social and environmental development of communities around the world. It doesn’t matter whether you have volunteered locally or internationally, IVHQ wants to celebrate those who have demonstrated exemplary commitments to supporting community projects on any continent.
“The most rewarding part about volunteering is being able to see how much I can change someone’s life for the better. The feeling of knowing that I made someone’s day just by teaching them something new or making them laugh for a moment is extremely amazing. The students, family, and friends that I’ve made during my volunteering abroad have also been a very rewarding experience. ” – Nolan Moore (2015 Volunteer of the Year)
The IVHQ Volunteer of the Year will be awarded the opportunity to experience and contribute to an IVHQ program of their choice for 2 weeks with the cost of return airfares to the program destination (up to the value of US$1000) covered, thanks to the support of STA Travel. The award will also include a travel insurance package from World Nomads and the recipient’s registration fee and program fee covered by IVHQ.
Volunteering abroad is a unique experience that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in. IVHQ wants to make this a reality and encourage anyone to apply for the scholarship they feel most relevant to them.
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
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6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT CITIZENS |
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6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT SALLIE MAE |
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4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT CREDIBLE |
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6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT LENDKEY |
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6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT ASCENT |
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6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT ISL |
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5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT EARNEST |
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4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT ELFI |
