How our
prices work

At Projects Abroad, we connect passionate people like you with communities in need around the world. We believe the best and easiest way for you to do this is through an independent provider like us.

While ‘do it yourself’ volunteering might appear cheaper, it often lacks the structure and support needed to create lasting change. Not to mention, the expertise, relationships, and approach to safety that guarantees you a good time.

So, why us? Some competitors will lure you in with a lower headline price. But scratch the surface, and at the point of purchase, you could be made to pay a 5% transaction fee, or you may need to pay for meals and transport. Your deposit or registration fee could be non-refundable too, or subject to an admin fee. It soon adds up.

With Projects Abroad, your total cost is clear from the start. Here’s how it works:

How much does it cost?

All our projects require an initial deposit of deposit_amount to secure your place. This comes off the total price. The remaining balance is due three months before you start. Until this time, you can pay however you like with no fees or interest—monthly or weekly instalments, for example.

Beyond your deposit, every project is priced differently. Each project has the price listed on its individual product page.

Every trip has a minimum duration, and most can be extended in week-long instalments. If you do a two-week project, and want to do two more weeks (four-weeks total), the price does not double. This means it’s always worth considering staying for longer if you have the time. Check the “extra week price” for details.

We also have a flexible payment plan designed to put you in total control of how and when you pay.

find out about flexible payments

Our flexible refund policy

Sometimes life gets in the way, and we fully understand that. Our risk-free refund policy means you can make unlimited changes to your booking completely free of charge. Dates, duration, project, destination? Doesn’t matter, we’ll handle it.

If the worst happens and you need to cancel your project, don’t worry. We’ll give you extended credit to use on another project within 24 months!

Why should I pay?

We believe that our volunteer and intern trips abroad are the safest and most reliable on the market. With us, you get 24-hour in-country support, access to our pre-departure team to help put any nerves to rest, and a full induction from our staff.

That’s nowhere near an exhaustive list, though—your project fee includes a lot. We take care of everything so all you need to focus on is enjoying your experience.

What’s included in the price?

Every project is different, so check individually for further details.

This is what we include as standard:

Accommodation

Food (three meals a day)

Airport pick-up and drop-off

Full induction and orientation by an experienced staff member on arrival

Transport to and from your work placement

In-country support and 24-hour back-up from our team of full-time local staff

Emergency assistance from our international emergency response team

Project equipment and materials, including access to our resource database for teaching programmes

Training and workshops from our experienced local staff

Regular social events and community activities with other volunteers and interns on programmes with set itineraries

Access to our local office with an internet connection

Certification of project completion

Access to our alumni services and discounts

Visa support and advice

Fundraising support, including your own personalised fundraising website

Pre-departure preparation by your own specialist Destination Expert

Personalised MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation, and destination

A free cultural awareness course

Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable

Not included in the cost:

Flights
Visa costs (where applicable)
Insurance

Can I extend my project?

Yes. You can extend your stay at any time before you travel or during your project, with the cost of any extra weeks shown on the booking form.

Can I fundraise for my trip?

Yes. You can access tools to help on your dedicated MyProjectsAbroad page. We’ve also written a detailed fundraising guide to help you get started, giving you some ideas and considerations when building funds.

Do you offer discounts?

If you’re looking to take part in more than one project, visit more than one destination, or travel with a group or family, it’s always worth giving us a call. We’ll help you build an itinerary and we can normally offer you a discount too.

In addition to this, we offer specific discounts if you’re part of our Alumni Network or volunteering abroad with your family.

Alumni discounts:

When you finish volunteering or interning with us, you get Alumni vouchers that can be put towards your next trip with us.

You can choose to use both vouchers yourself, give both away, or split them with someone else. Either way, we’d love to see you again.

Read more about the benefits of being part of our Alumni Network.

Combination discounts:

If you are looking to do multiple projects as part of a single trip, you will be entitled to a discount.

These discounts work differently depending on if the projects you want to do are located in the same country or somewhere else.

Please see our Combination Trips page for more detail on how these discounts work.

Family discounts:

If you’re travelling with children between the ages of 4 and 14, they’ll travel at the hugely reduced “extra week” price from the start.

See our Family Volunteering Abroad page for more information.

Where does my money go?

Your project fees not only fund your incredible journey but also empower communities long after you’ve returned home.

Here’s how your money makes a difference:

Project Costs (33%):

Direct Project Expenses: Funding for materials, supplies, and local initiatives.
Volunteer Living Expenses: Covering your accommodation, meals, and local transportation.

Organisational Costs (13%):

Staff Salaries: Supporting our dedicated team of local and international staff.
Operational Expenses: Maintaining offices, infrastructure, and administrative functions.

Government Taxes (4%):

Compliance: Adhering to local regulations and contributing to the communities we serve.

Indirect Costs (24%):

Local Support: Funding our on-the-ground staff who provide guidance and support.
Infrastructure: Maintaining necessary facilities and equipment.