Family Voluntering Abroad

We welcome families to volunteer abroad. Our trips provide a unique opportunity to bond, as family members volunteer at worthwhile projects while becoming immersed in the local culture. You will sight-think and not just sight-see!

Age Requirements
The minimum age for a child traveling with a parent or guardian is eight years old (as of the program start date). However for children under 8, we can sometimes make exceptions, particulary if the children have traveled abroad previously. For example we had a mother take her boys age 4 and 6 to Ecuador (to volunteer at an orphanage).

How Much Does It Cost?

• We charge parents a program fee, based on the number of weeks in the program. For a 1 week stay the program fee is $1,100 for the parent.


• We do NOT charge a program fee to children under 13. Instead, parents pay $30 USD per day / per child to cover the childrens' meals and accommodation.


• If families decide to self-arrange their meals and accommodations, we will NOT charge the $30 per day fee for the children.


• Sample fee for a family of 4 on a 1-week trip:

1st Parent: $1,110
2nd Parent: $1,110
1st Child: $210
2nd Child: $210
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TOTAL FEE: $2,620

What's Included in Program Fee?
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What's NOT Included in Program Fee?
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What Programs can you do?
You have two options:

• Volunteer as an individual family in any one of our programs available year-round


• Join a group trip like our Teen Summer Camps.

The individual programs include volunteer work at places like children's homes, schools, sports teams and other organizations in fields like home construction, street children and women's support.

Where can you go?
The most popular destinations for families volunteering abroad are Vietnam, Guatemala, and Ghana (Yes Africa can be very safe -- in fact Ghana is our most popular country overall). Keep in mind that all of our countries are available for your family to travel to and volunteer.

When can you go?

• Individual family programs are available year-round.


• The program dates are up to you.


• You can arrive on any date, day of the week, or time (24 hours).


• The only fixed-date programs are Teen Summer Camps.

Where do we stay?
Our families stay with one of our local host families or at a hotel. You are also welcome to arrange your own accommodations, either at a hotel or, say, with your own extended family who lives in the host country. The lone exception to the above is Vietnam where we do not have host families -- all volunteers stay in hotels, arranged either by Cosmic or your family). In all of the above scenarios, the ultimate style of accommodations (family vs. hotel) is ultimately up to your family. However our previous