BootsnAll Travel Community

I am looking to do some volunteer work in Asia starting in mid june. I love the site http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net/ for south america experiences, is there anything similar for asia? Most programs I have found are very expensive (like i-to-i.com). I am looking for a lower cost, reputable organization. Also I am not so interested in teaching English and am more interested in environmental conservation, sustainable development, etc. Or does anyone have any experiences they would like to share?

You'll find a few links on the post of mine here that may interest you.

Sara,
Thanks for your comments about the site.

Try the following:

http://www.childrenwalkingtall.com/Volunteering.htm
http://www.volunteeringinindia.org/
http://www.kidsworldwide.org/home.htm

Thanks to justmakebelieve on another forum.

Steve

Sometimes you don't really need an organization to set you up. Realize it distracts from their primary mission to look after you - find you housing and feed you. Even though you MAY provide some support. But you are often quite helpless and maybe even a bit useless without local language skills.

After the tsunami in SE Asia - many of us who live on Phuket just showed up at the local hospitals. Of course, they were inundated - and had no ability to organize for volunteers. But, we all found our place, even if it was just taking out the garbage and serving water to thirsty people in need (I did both).

Some times the best service can be provided by just showing up and doing what needs to be done. If you are reliable and have some skills - they will most likely assign you to something more useful. In this way - you can volunteer without distracting an agency from its purpose.

I'm an old former Peace Corps volunteer - so am a bit opinionated in this area.

If you volunteer, there is many parts in Asia that could do with help, particularly in Cambodia where there is human trafficking and child sex exploitation.

Try the following:
http://www.sisha.org