By Katy Muench

Volunteering abroad is often seen as the preserve of the middle class gap year student, and simply not an option for most people.

As Milly Zupan, 28, from London found when she researched volunteering opportunities, many organisations charge an extortionate amount of money to take part in projects. But if you look around there are volunteering options which are open to everyone, and which won't cost you a fortune.

UNA Exchange

Based in Cardiff UNA Exchange offers people of all ages the opportunity to volunteer worldwide at a reasonable price. UNA Exchange charge volunteers a fee between £100-£300 for a placement of three months, not including travel.

In comparison, a placement of the same length with the popular organisation GAP activity projects would cost £1,300, with bursary schemes available for those who can't afford it.

Sam Powell, international exchange coordinator explains how UNA keep their costs low. "Something that makes UNA different from other volunteering organisations," she says, "is our partnerships with organisations worldwide. This keeps costs to a minimum as we only run a small office in Cardiff."

For those who only have a few weeks to spare, one to three week work camps are a cost effective way to travel abroad and take part in useful projects.

Projects range from working in orphanages to specific tasks such as building a new playground, or clearing forests. Participants usually work for five days a week, six hours a day.

All work is aimed at meeting a need in the community. Accommodation and food are provided at no cost, and often excursions are also subsidised.

Throughout Europe work camps have been popular amongst young people for years, as a way of making new friends, travelling cheaply, and working as a team towards a common goal.

Although the concept of short term volunteering naturally appeals to the young student with few responsibilities and long holidays, there are opportunities out there catering for more diverse needs.

Fred is 70 and has taken part in several work camps through UNA Exchange across Europe since retiring. "I have a great time," he says, "but I take my own tent as I need my own space and sleep!"

The first camp for single parents and their children ran this summer in Italy and was deemed to be a success.

Sam Powell explains that UNA Exchange is hoping to make projects more accessible for people of all social and economic backgrounds. "We also want to increase the number of special projects, such as work camps for families."

Project fees may be waived for potential volunteers from disadvantaged backgrounds, and with the expansion of cheap flights, a placement could cost very little.

Jenny Kinnear, a 23 year-old Edinburgh University student, went to Bosnia on a project for three weeks in August 2004. "I flew with Easy Jet, and didn't need to pay for anything while I was there, so it worked out really cheap," she explains. "It was a much better way of spending my summer break than going on an expensive package holiday."

"We send around 300 volunteers to volunteer in 50 different countries each year, and receive about the same amount of international volunteers in Wales," says Sam Powell.

European Voluntary Service

For those aged from 18 to 30 looking for a long-term volunteering experience in another country, European Voluntary Service (EVS) might be the answer.

This is a programme funded by the European Union allowing young people to work across Europe for up to a year. All expenses are paid, and a monthly allowance is paid towards living costs. Language skills are not necessary for most placements, and language tuition is included.

Types of EVS placements include projects as varied as working for the scouts in Bosnia, to working on a German community radio station.

Andrew Churchard is 24 has recently quit his job after working for Barclays Bank for two years on their graduate scheme. He explains why he left a such a respected career in order to participate in the EVS programme.

"After two years I'd had enough. I didn't want to spend my life working for a bank. I didn't feel any satisfaction at the end of the day apart from knowing I had made more money for the bank. Most people understood my motivations behind leaving and thought I was brave. My Mum was a bit funny about it, but she's all right now!

"Early in 2005 I'll be going to Poland to do EVS for a year. My role will be environmental research, educating children, working on a wildlife magazine, and what I'm most looking forward to: working in a hospital for bats and kestrels! I'm really looking forward to it. In the future I'd like to do a masters in something environmental so this experience can only help me."

Claire Harris, 25 said: "I've been going on work camps since I was 20, and I've got so much out of it. Volunteering overseas isn't just for a certain type of person, it really is for anyone."

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