Everyone knows the European Solidarity Corps sends volunteers around Europe, but far fewer people know it can fly you to a Caribbean island, the highlands of Guatemala or a youth centre in West Africa, all fully funded. Here are 5 ESC volunteering placements that take you well outside Europe: caring for donkeys at a sanctuary in Aruba, supporting international cooperation projects in Colombia, promoting gender equality in Guatemala, working with children with special needs in Uganda, and empowering street children in Togo. Five countries, three continents, and every one of them funded. The earliest closes on 15 August.
Because these run through the European Solidarity Corps, the core costs are covered: travel, accommodation, food, local transport, insurance, a monthly pocket money allowance and language and online training, with a mentor on site. You need to be a legal resident of an EU, associated or partner country and registered on the ESC portal, and each listing shows exactly who can apply. One thing to keep in mind for these long-haul destinations: the travel grant works to a distance band, so on the furthest flights it may not cover 100 percent of the ticket. Everything else is provided. Deadlines run from 15 August to 1 September 2026.
In This Batch
- 🇨🇴 Colombia — international cooperation projects · 📅 15 Aug
- 🇺🇬 Uganda — inclusive care for children with special needs · 📅 16 Aug
- 🇦🇼 Aruba — donkey sanctuary and nature care · 📅 17 Aug
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala — gender equality and women's empowerment · 📅 21 Aug
- 🇹🇬 Togo — community empowerment and street children · 📅 01 Sep
What's in this batch:
5 ESC Volunteering Placements · 5 Countries Across 3 Continents · All Fully Funded
🌱 ESC Volunteering Opportunities
1. 🇨🇴 ESC Volunteering in Colombia 🌎 Supporting International Cooperation Projects 📊
📅 Deadline: 15 August 2026
As a European Solidarity Corps volunteer you support international cooperation and humanitarian aid projects, helping with budgets, monitoring financial implementation, organising financial documentation like invoices, receipts and contracts, preparing financial reports, supporting audits, and joining field activities to gather information and follow up on how projects are being implemented. It is an excellent chance to gain hands-on experience in project management while contributing to initiatives with a positive social impact, with specific training in areas like feminist leadership, project monitoring and financial justification. Open to applicants from 🇮🇹 🇹🇷 🇵🇹 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 and 26 more. Apply here →
2. 🇺🇬 ESC Volunteering in Uganda ♿ Inclusive Care for Children with Special Needs 💛
📅 Deadline: 16 August 2026
Challenge stigma and support children with special needs at a care centre in Kampala. You help with the daily care of children, support basic life skills and Early Childhood Development lessons, assist with therapies, join community visits to support parents and guardians, and help identify children's talents through games and sport, all promoting the rights of children with disabilities. Open to applicants from 🇮🇹 🇩🇪 🇵🇹 🇹🇷 🇪🇸 and 26 more. Apply here →
3. 🇦🇼 ESC Volunteering in Aruba 🐴 Donkey Sanctuary and Nature Care 🌴
📅 Deadline: 17 August 2026
Care for donkeys on a sunny Caribbean island. At the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba you support daily animal care, keep the reserve clean and maintained, welcome visitors and help with educational activities with schools and local partners, all while protecting the surrounding environment. An unforgettable 8-week experience. Open to residents of Italy. Apply here →
4. 🇬🇹 ESC Volunteering in Guatemala ⚖️ Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment ✊
📅 Deadline: 21 August 2026
Support a local organisation in raising awareness and promoting gender equality in the highlands of Guatemala. Develop training for women in rural communities, conduct community visits with women's groups, run workshops on new masculinities, and organise events for International Women's Day, the Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women and International Men's Day. Collect and systematise success stories of empowered women in a meaningful long-term humanitarian placement. Open to applicants from 31 countries across Europe. Apply here →
5. 🇹🇬 ESC Volunteering in Togo 🌍 Community Empowerment and Support for Street Children in Lomé 🤝
📅 Deadline: 1 September 2026
Working with street children and vulnerable girls, supporting peer educators, running awareness activities on health, hygiene and social justice. Eight weeks immersed in Togolese life: colourful markets, local food, African rhythms and real human impact. Apply here →
The European Solidarity Corps is best known for placements inside Europe, but these five prove how much further it can take you: a donkey sanctuary on a Caribbean island, international cooperation and feminist leadership in Colombia, gender equality work in the Guatemalan highlands, care for children with special needs in Kampala, and support for street children in Togo. All five are fully funded, with the only caveat being the distance band on the longest flights. Colombia closes first on 15 August and Togo runs to 1 September, so if you have ever wanted your volunteering to take you across the world, check the eligible countries and apply before your pick closes.
