i-to-i
A relatively long-established "voluntourism" company, i-to-i humbly began in a Leeds bedsit 12 years ago. Founder Deirdre Bounds first set it up as a TEFL certification organisation. Since then it has gone on to run volunteering projects in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Australia, and has its own registered charity foundation to help fund the projects. It's often aimed at gap-year holidaymakers and breaks last anywhere from one to 24 weeks. www.i-to-i.com
VolunteerSouthAmerica.net
This is a non-commercial directory of free volunteer programs in South America. Its creator, Steve McElhinney, says there has been a huge growth in grassroots programs setting up their own websites, meaning you can contact programs directly. "This means you can now volunteer for free, which is attractive to the many independent travellers who spend weeks and months touring South America and want a 'real' volunteer work experience." volunteersouthamerica.net. Other recommended independent sites are truetravellers.org, go-mad.org and independentvolunteer.org.
Responsible Travel
This Brighton-based online eco-travel agent markets more than 270 tour operators. Volunteer holidays currently offered range from a five-week dam-building project in Kenya to a 15-day horseriding journey in Rajasthanm, riding alongside and helping a medical relief team. responsibletravel.com
Hands up Holidays
A relative newcomer to the market, Hands Up Holidays offers trips lasting up to 21 days. A third of the time is spent participating in relief efforts and the rest is spent sightseeing around the country. Locally based tour guides take visitors on such expeditions as snorkelling in Fiji or viewing gorillas in Uganda. handsupholidays.com
Saga Holidays
Having already set up the Saga Charitable Trust, which supports community projects in the developing world, this over-50s tour operator is now moving into voluntourism. So far, it's setting up education projects in South Africa, with holidays lasting four to eight weeks. One of its stated intentions is to ensure a good match between volunteer and project. saga.co.uk/travel
