When people think of volunteering, the image that usually comes to mind is humanitarian work in the developing world. A huge proportion of the volunteer placements arranged by sending agencies involve community development projects and humanitarian relief, providing hands-on help to impoverished and disadvantaged communities around the world. The work can be hard, and the conditions are often testing, but most volunteers gain a huge sense of personal satisfaction from knowing that they helped to improve the lives of people in difficult situations.

Volunteer placements are generally arranged through sending agencies, though some of the larger NGOs run their own humanitarian and development programmes. Each agency has a different area of expertise - some place unskilled volunteers on projects all over the world, while others focus on providing skilled workers for a particular country. The Contacts section has extensive listings of sending agencies and NGOs that accept volunteers for humanitarian and development work. What you do as a volunteer depends on the skills you can bring to the project. Projects where you build a school or dig a well are usually open to anyone, while healthcare projects generally require specialist medical skills. New or inexperienced volunteers are probably best off going through an established sending agency or year-out organisation.

Although the immediate goal of most projects is to alleviate suffering, the long-term aim of humanitarian work is sustainable development. The prevailing wisdom is that people will gain more in the long term if they are trained to help themselves, rather than becoming dependent on handouts and short-term relief packages. Many volunteer projects provide training for local farmers, businesspeople and teachers and educate communities about health and human rights. Volunteers can often find placements as English teachers (with or without TEFL experience) or provide education on public health and AIDS/HIV.

Business management is another important area of humanitarian work. Training small businesses and helping NGOs obtain funding is just as important as education, and finance experts are needed around the world to help establish micro-finance programmes which lend small sums of money to farms and businesses and invest the profits in helping other people.

Doctors and nurses are in huge demand for hospitals and clinics in the developing world and international relief organisations also have openings for engineers, drivers and logisticians (people who can arrange the delivery of people and materials around the world) - see Executive Volunteering for more information.

Although the rewards can be huge, both for the volunteer and the host community, it is important to be realistic about what volunteering is going to be like. You may have to endure basic living conditions, extremes of heat and cold, and tropical illnesses. The food can be bland and monotonous and you may find yourself working in a remote location, far from the nearest shop or telephone. The work can also be emotionally and physically challenging and you will have to rely on local people and the other members of your team for company and support. We recommend talking to former participants to make sure you fully understand what you are getting into.

VSO (Volunteer Service Overseas)

(VSO) is the largest independent volunteer organisation in the world and it offers a staggering range of possibilities for volunteering overseas. VSO focuses on placing professionals with transferable skills on projects throughout the developing world, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. This could be anything from working as a doctor on a humanitarian relief programme to providing business advice to a government department.

VSO volunteers come from a broad range of professional backgrounds, from doctors to accountants. Most volunteers are motivated by a desire to make a difference in a needy part of the world, but you must be committed and highly self-motivated as the standard volunteer placement is two years. The age range for volunteers is 20 to 75 and you must have relevant professional skills and several years workplace experience. Anyone from the European Economic Area can apply but you must be willing to work in challenging and unfamiliar environments. Mentoring is an important part of VSO's work and much of the work involves training local people in the skills they need to become self-sufficient.

VSO assignments can start at any time, but applying to VSO can take four to 12 months, and you will have to attend an assessment day and a series of briefing and training sessions before you start your mission. VSO meets almost all your costs, including flights, a contribution towards day to day expenses, a living allowance, pension contributions and a grant of approximately £1900 to help you re-establish yourself when you get home.

VSO is easily one of the most career-oriented volunteering options, and a two year stint with VSO will look at least as good as two years of full-time work when you put together your CV at the end of the project. Many people jump the fence and go on to full time work in the development/relief sector after completing a project with VSO.

The Peace Corps