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Bikinis, beach, barbeque, yeah we know, it’s summertime. And, while these months mark the traditional and most beloved non-school days full of fun and sun, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to stop learning…Especially when that education involves exotic travel, exciting cultures and a summer that will change your life forever.

If you’re looking to expand your horizons in a big way, sign up for an international work abroad program. If this truly sounds like a foreign concept (no pun intended), it isn’t! For those interested in traveling abroad, you should check out United Planet, a humanitarian and educational non-profit organization that boasts volunteers and members in over 150 countries. They offer “Short Term Quests” with volunteer abroad programs lasting from 1-12 weeks. With a minimum volunteer age of 16, the Quests are offered year round and fees include air transportation, food, housing, training, and supervision. Locations include Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, and Costa Rica to name a very few. You can also choose to volunteer in healthcare, construction, environmental, teaching and more.

Another international volunteer abroad organization is i-to-i Volunteer Travel. They’ve been doing their thing since 1994 and have placed volunteers in over 20 countries. They also do short term programs, offering placement of 1-24 weeks in underprivileged communities with programs featuring conservation work, teaching, wildlife, education, building, sports coaching, and more. If you have a love of wildlife, they offer a 2 or 4-week program for dolphin conservation in Mozambique. If you fancy yourself as a builder, sign up for their 1 to 12 week programs for building homes in Honduras, Costa Rica or Kenya. They also offer paid teaching abroad opportunities where one can earn money teaching English in these populations.

Make this a summer to remember and volunteer abroad. It’s an education that will last a lifetime!