• Do I have the skills to volunteer?
  • If you answer yes to any of the following questions, then yes!
    - Have you received an education in an area of work you wish to pursue overseas?
    - Have you worked in the same industry for at least two years and wish to gain experience in your field abroad?
• Do you have a minimum age?
  • Yes, we only accept applicants aged 21 or over, unless in rare cases. We don't have a maximum age.
• Can I volunteer with a friend or partner?
  • Yes, we work with couples and groups of up to 2 people.
• Do you accept non-UK residents as volunteers?
  • Yes.
• How do I apply?
  • Simply contact us for a chat.

• Where do you send volunteers?
  • We have partnerships with over 100 grassroots development organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• What kind of placements do you offer?
  • We offer numerous types of work, from environmental projects to economic development. Where you go is entirely dependent on the skills you have to share.
• How long do placements last?
  • Generally three months to two years. We are entirely flexible so can work around your needs.
• When do they start?
  • You choose the date you want to leave.
• How long does it take?
  • 3-6 months approx.
• How many placements will I have to choose from?
  • Between three and ten, depending how flexible you are with location and type of work.
• What if I don't like any of the placements you've offered me?
  • We only offer placements that are suitable to your preferences and pre agreed criteria. We will generally not go beyond 10 placement options unless you can clearly demonstrate why each choice has not fulfilled our original agreement. It is extremely rare that volunteers don't easily select a placement choice from our options. But if you really can demonstrate that none of our placements match your criteria, you receive your money back in full.
• Do you set up your own projects?
  • No, we provide a link to already established grassroots organisations that we have partnerships with. We believe this is a far better way to match your skills and ambitions to the needs of a community.
• Will I be met at the airport?
  • Yes, your host organisation will meet you off the plane or nearest transport station.
• What support do you offer overseas?
  • Once you are overseas, we believe it is right to hand over responsibility of your placement to your host organisation. All our partners have been carefully vetted to ensure they are capable of providing you with necessary support and guidance. You will have your own supervisor, and they will also arrange your accommodation for you. We also have our own log in area for volunteers that contains advice and updates at key stages of your placement.
• What if I get sick while abroad?
  • Your host organisation will be able to advise you on local medical facilities. We also strongly recommend you take out adequate travel insurance before you leave, as well as receiving all necessary injections and medication for your trip. You will receive more detailed practical guidance from us in our manuals for volunteers.
• What if there is a political emergency?
  • We only send you to destinations that the foreign office deems as safe. However in the event of unforeseen difficulties, your host organisation and insurance company - with the advice of 2Way Development and the British High Commission or Embassy in your country - can help to evacuate you if necessary.
• How do I get a visa?
  • The process of obtaining a visa for each country we work in is outlined in our manuals that you will receive once you have chosen your host organisation. If you don't want to organise your visa yourself, or if it proves difficult, we recommend a third party that can arrange your visa on your behalf.
• Will I actually be making a difference?
  • At 2Way Development all our placement recommendations are personally tailored to suit your abilities and ambitions, meaning we'll only send you where your skills are genuinely needed.

• How much do you charge?
  • £950 flat rate administration fee - no matter the length of your placement or where you choose to go.
• Where does the money go?
  • All fees go on administration as this is our only source of income . Our partners do not pay to receive volunteers, allowing you access to a variety of otherwise neglected charitable groups. 2Way receives no government funding so we don't eat up precious government aid budgets.
• When do I pay?
  • A 50% installment is required to begin our service. The remainder of the fee is due once you accept your placement.
• Who pays for my accommodation abroad?
  • For most placements, your accommodation is provided free of charge by your host organisation.
• Are flights included in the fee?
  • No.
• Do you receive outside funding?
  • No, the entire cost of running 2Way Development is met by the fee we charge to volunteers, meaning that valuable government aid is freed up to be spent elsewhere.
• Can I fundraise?
  • You will receive a fundraising pack from 2Way Development to assist you in generating your own money to help you cover the costs of your placement.
• Can you give me a rough budget for the total cost of a placement?
  • Yes. Here is a list of approximate costs of a placement: £950 our fee, £500 flights, £100 vaccines, £50 visa, £20/month insurance, £100/month personal effects. 3 months = £2000, 12 months = £3000 approx.

• When were you founded?
  • We started placing volunteers in September 2003.
• How many volunteers do you send abroad each year?
  • 120-150.
• How does 2Way Development differ from other agencies?
  • 2Way Development doesn't run its own programmes - instead, we link up volunteers with the existing development organisation that would make best use of their skills. 2Way receives no government funding, which means the cost of organising the placement is entirely funded by the volunteer - with none of the precious government aid budget being eaten up by your trip. This means we're flexible over location, start date, the length of your trip, and particularly the skills and experience we make use of.
• How do you choose your partners?
  • All our partners have undergone a comprehensive vetting process by 2Way Development. Our staff have a unique knowledge of the sector, and have close links to organisations that would be otherwise inaccessible to potential volunteers. Our strong relationships with partners and returned volunteers means we're the first to hear out about potential new partner organisations.

Search some examples of our partners to give you a taste of the areas we work in.