Program Length:  Varies —  from no minimum to 3 week minimums, and from 1 week maximums to several months

Location: Hosted in various towns across 184 countries around the world

Admissions Req:  You must be 18 years old to register for a profile.  The minimum age for volunteering in most countries is 18. Minors accompanying their parents are also accepted on some family projects.

Highlight:  Experience much more than just a change of scenery when you travel!  Promoted as the “world’s leading community for sustainable travel and cultural exchange”, Workaway is an organization that offers a platform for travellers to connect with hosts to explore a huge range of helping options– often things that you probably never really knew about or realized that people could need help with —  in exchange for free room and board and often other cultural insights. There is the expected help with farming, building, language learning, cooking, grocery shopping, website updating, housekeeping, and animal or elder or  child care… but there can be people looking for help restoring old vehicles or needing help in their vineyard, their sustainable environment or with an old world trades project. Easy to get lost in  and fascinated by browsing the destinations, hosts, and things to do. Well-reviewed as a travel organization generally and extremely user-friendly host and traveller review system for peace of mind. Lots of information on hosts and region, accommodation, work expectations, availability, and ways to connect before signing up! You may never go back to being a tourist again!

Financial: Register for  and create a profile at workaway.info ($42 USD/year).