Sending my teenager overseas to volunteer

[StephanieHowarth]

Hi Ladies

I have a 17 year old (matureish) teenage boy who I would like to send over to France or Germany to volunteer - it doesnt really matter what he does (beach cleaning, forestry, restoration projects...). I just want him to do something other than play on his tablet this summer and improve his language skills a bit.

I dont want to use a an overly commercial company but just find a safe and sustainable project for him to get involved in - preferably one organised by a not for profit.

Any ideas of how to find a good volunteering opportunity and what I should be checking before signing him up?

thanks

I've only ever used them in the UK, but the national trust do working holidays, and I'm fairly certain they have some abroad. The majority language would possibly be English tho...

Workaway but you may need to be over 18
Diverbo but that’s Spain.
Angloville but again I think yo need to be 18. I will have a think

Concordia takes under 18's. My son did it in France when he was 16.

Does he want to do this? You say you want to send him - but does he actually want to? A project that needs volunteers will certainly not want a grumpy teen who isn't interested in being there. Why abroad? There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in the UK that he could be involved with. OK he won't get the 'language skills' you want but which is actually more important to him. The experience and volunteering or the language? Has he done the National Citizens Service? If not I would start there.

I was going to say exactly what bookmum did - being volunteered is a very different thing from volunteered, and managing a reluctant volunteer could be a nightmare.
What does he enjoy doing?

Sorry volunteerING. Autocorrect being under clever

Sign him up for www.workaway.info - masses of opportunities. I've hosted 17 and 18 year old girls in the past and would consider a mature boy with life skills such as basic building, painting, animal care, etc.

Good point about not wanting to give anyone my grumpy teenager for a few weeks! We have talked about it though and there is a certain amount of excitement about going away. He did NCS last summer and loved it (always good news)

I'll try out Workaway and Concordia and see what they offer.

Thanks all

Another one Italy
www.speakinitaly.com/anglos/teens

Wwoof may also have something but again I suspect over 18

My son who did Concordia at 16 is now doing Workaway as an adult. I'd have been wary of him doing it pre-18 because the hosts aren't vetted, they simply advertise themselves on the site . Concordia is probably safer in that respect.

I can also recommend Concordia. Their website is www.concordiavolunteers.org.uk My friends son went to Germany on a volunteer project for 2 weeks last summer, he was a changed boy and not grumpy :).I hear NCS is a really good programme for 16-17 to. I think the website is www.ncsyes.co.uk

stephanie any update on how your son got on last summer?