Questions about Volunteering in Poland

I am very interested in finding a volunteer opportunity in Poland, specifically in Warsaw. I live in New York, and have found lots of random sites online, but nothing set in stone it seems to me.

Does anyone have any reccomendations about volunteering in Poland, or teaching English? Habitat for Humanity? Anything involving helpful volunteer work?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

how cool, I hope you are able to find some help on this topic.

Try this website, if you haven't already, [vfp.org] Volunteers for Peace.

Using search you can identify what is available in Poland.

Good luck! :)

Thank you girls!
The Volunteers for Peace site had no opps. or projects in Poland at all! Unbelievable, they should. :(
I'll keep looking, and if ya see anything else please let me know :)
thank you again:)

great topic! i have just started to look into volunteering in Poland too. i have come across volunteers for peace as well as Global Volunteers, both seemed like good companies. Volunteers for peace didn't list any projects currently available in Poland but Global Volunteers seemed to have a few opportunities. volunteerabroad.com is a good reference i believe.

if you speak Polish you could probably get with some local volunteer organizations. i haven't looked into that yet but I am going to since I can speak the language and I have family over there that i can stay with.

good luck!

If you want to volunteer, my recommendation is not to go through any established companies (which may make financial demands upon you to volunteer, a very lucrative industry I believe!) - but rather to come to Poland and seek something out in the field in which you wish to volunteer in. Looking at the 'Volunteers for Peace' site - they demand $300US just to register for some volunteer work - I can assure you that this money is much better spent elsewhere.

Certainly, someone wishing to volunteer in schools assisting with English would be very much in demand - you really don't need someone to organise it for you. How long are you looking at volunteering for?

hej girls,

I am looking for a 2 week-1 month situation. The reason making that limited stay is somply money. So Delphia you may be right about the organized companies. I saw the same thing 3000USD to do work! Just to register, and another fee for holding the deposit! Ridiculous! You are right, the money spent in a better situation might be better. Zosia- I looked at Global Volunteers they seemed to have something in Warsaw every month, but the rate to register and stay with them for 2 weeks was 2600USD. :/

I speak a limited Polish- but am learning more day by day with a class. I wonder if that would be enough to volunteer to teach English? To those with a limited background? I also do speak fluent Russian, but I dont think that will help me much. :/

When you say I dont need someone to organize it for me, do you know of any local places in Warsaw that do that sort of stuff I could contact? I found something called the warsaw Insider online that has several listings of activities, contacted them but no response thus far.

You are both right though, with the exception of Global- i think the registration money would be better spent elsewhere, I just wish that I could find local places so I can book a flight, and accommodation and just go for a month or so!

Please, please let me know if either of you hear anything about local volunteer groups welcoming english speakers, let me know asap! Thanks again :)

If it's any volunteering you're looking for, try contacting zoological gardens - they often take volunteers.

Or the cemeteries, they can always use leaf rakers

That's absolutely ridiculous, and I strongly, strongly suggest that you shouldn't pay such money. 2600USD is about 7500PLN - and for that kind of money, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to come here for longer (you'll have 90 days visa free). The flights to Europe can be had for as little as 500USD return at the moment, especially from New York (I've seen 300USD!). That would leave you with around 6000PLN, which is more than enough to live here for 6-8 weeks comfortably, including living as a tourist.


It should be more than enough - in fact, I'd be willing to bet that you wouldn't need any Polish whatsoever.


What I'd suggest is just coming over and looking once you're on the ground. There's enough good people around that can help when you're actually in Warsaw - and even turning up on the doorstep and asking if you can volunteer should get you positive results. There's plenty of 'angielski dla dzieci' schools about - and I'm positive that 99% of them would love to have a native person helping them out for a few weeks.

Unfortunately, Polish people are notorious for not replying to e-mails. I think it's exceptionally rude of them, but it's the way it is. Face to face often yields much better results :)

Especially in Warsaw, you should have no problem at all :)

delphiandomine-
You are AMAZING. Thank you soooo much for all of this information. such good Ideas, I think i am going to do exactly this, and just do it!! Now, onto researching plan ticket prices right now. Very excited, your help has been incredible. i am extremely excited now!!

-Ania

I am also interested in any opportunities for volunteering in Poznan. I had thought of the cemeteries, since I walk through one. I didn't know if people are allowed to clean very neglected graves.