Raleigh International

Volunteering with Raleigh ICS

Raleigh International is a youth and sustainable development charity. Since 1984, it has helped over 36,000 young volunteers from around the world contribute to sustainable development projects, fight global poverty and conserve the environment.

Raleigh is one of six organisations sending International Citizen Service (ICS) volunteers.

Raleigh enables communities and young volunteers to learn from each other, tackle global issues and exchange cultures. Young volunteers also develop key life skills such as team-working, leadership, adaptability, communication and problem-solving.

Where we work

If you volunteer for ICS with Raleigh you could work in:

  • India

  • Nicaragua

  • Tanzania (from June 2013)

You will only work with projects that have specifically requested the help of ICS to meet local needs, so you know your contribution will make a real difference.

What you'll do

As a Raleigh ICS volunteer, you'll be living and working in a rural community on a project designed to bring about lasting change. You’ll be helping to tackle issues around education, health, livelihoods, strengthening civil society and the environment.

  • Raleigh ICS volunteers will contribute to projects in southern India, where there is a huge gap between urbanised wealth and rural poverty. You might help rural communities improve community health by, for example, supporting the building of sanitation units for families who currently have no access to sanitation. Volunteers will also run peer education campaigns on general hygiene, hand washing and the importance of sanitation.

  • Many communities in Nicaragua have few basic amenities such as clean water and safe sanitation. As an ICS volunteer with Raleigh you might, for example, assess community water management needs, build gravity feed water systems and teach local people about maintaining and repairing them.

  • Young people in remote rural areas of Tanzania face many challenges such as high unemployment and HIV and AIDS. Raleigh works with local organisations which help local young people design solutions to the challenges they face. Raleigh ICS volunteers will be able to volunteer in Tanzania from June 2013.

How it works

Raleigh ICS volunteers go overseas for 10 weeks on placements departing in February, July and September of each year.

With the support of two team leaders and a local community organisation, you’ll help local people transform their communities by taking part in activities that can make the most of the skills that 18-25 year olds have to offer.

You’ll be working in a team of around 12 young people with a mix of UK and in country volunteers. You might split into smaller groups for some activities. But you’ll always regroup at the end of each day to review the day’s activities, discuss international development issues and plan future work.

Find out more about how ICS works or apply now.