How to apply

Our dates are flexible and you can pay for however many months you would like to stay and work on a project. Volunteers are responsible for their own vaccinations, visas, insurance and flight tickets.

All projects are currently over a minimum of 1 month and a maximum time period of 6 months per volunteer, although a volunteer can opt to stay longer depending on their work and if they are able to meet costs of the project for their duration of stay. This depends on their abilities and performance. We sometimes recruit people for longer-term.

Costs vary according to project type. Click here for our current pricing structure. We have provided a breakdown of project costs so you see where your funds go.

We will always keep our volunteer groups small, so we can provide a quality experience for volunteers as well as the communities and wildlife that benefit from the work.

Anyone from any age range above 18 years old can apply to do a Down2Earth project, please understand that some of projects can involve being outdoors and doing field work for long periods of time. Accommodation will be basic, but comfortable and in a warm and friendly atmosphere. You will be gaining valuable work experience and making new friends with other people who want to actively do something worthwhile.

Do discuss with us what kind of experience you would like and what you expect before applying for a project, so that we can try to accommodate your needs and suggest a project that is best suitable for you. Also, have a look at FAQ.

To join a project:

* Come to one of our open evenings, an event or arrange a meeting to meet our staff, ask questions and have an informal chat with us.
* You can write us an email stating which project you would like to join, the dates that you are available and describing your skills and experience.
* You can reserve a space by sending us a completed application form and medical declaration accompanied by the following:

1. a £200 deposit
2. two passport photos
3. a photocopy of your passport

Important! Please make sure that you have read and understood the terms and conditions prior to signing the application form.

Payment methods: a cheque addressed to Down2Earth International, or you can pay your deposit online.

You will hear from us as soon as we receive your application. We look forward to meeting you!

Travel Insurance for your Trip

We believe that safety and enjoyment are equally important when volunteering. It is therefore one of our terms and conditions of booking that you have adequate travel insurance in place before you travel. Due to a change in insurance legislation, we are no longer able to arrange travel insurance on behalf of volunteers. We have teamed up with Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited to offer our volunteers a range of policies to choose from. Click here for details.

Scholarship opportunities

We occasionally offer one scholarship for each project to those who cannot afford to pay to work on our projects but who would benefit from gaining the work experience. What you have to do is email us a personal statement including which project you want to do and when, what your background is and why you think you would benefit from a scholarship. In this statement you should describe how volunteering will help your personal or professional development.

If you have more specialist skills that you feel you can contribute to Down2Earth, please email or call us to discuss whether we can fit you into a project at a concession price.

Please note that scholarships are designed for people who are genuinely not able to raise money for the volunteer fee. If you are a student or young person you may be able to get support from your Student Union or local Youth Group. Down2Earth can also help with suggestions of ways to fundraise.

Scholarship placements do not include travel to the project country (roughly £300-500 return ticket depending on time of year) and insurance (roughly £35 a month).