Is it safe to send my child volunteering abroad?

The projects take place in generally calm areas, with local partners and known routines. Safety comes from project selection, preparation, rules, accommodation, transport and support contacts on site. We plan the trip carefully before your child leaves.

Can they go if it’s their first trip outside Europe?

Yes, if the project suits their level of independence. Many young people join us for their first major trip abroad. Choosing the destination, length, dates and type of trip carefully helps them arrive prepared and enjoy the experience.

How does it work for under-18s?

Under-18s need a suitable type of trip, the required permissions and direct involvement from their family. Every age has different needs, so we assess suitability together before departure, case by case.

Will we receive updates during the trip?

It’s helpful to agree on a realistic schedule beforehand. If the participant is an adult, communication with the family must respect their autonomy. If needed or agreed, the team can help with communication.

What if they want to come home once they’re there?

First, we try to understand what’s happening, whether it’s tiredness, culture shock, homesickness or a specific problem. The local coordinator and HeyLocals team help manage the situation calmly. If coming home is the right choice, we help organise it as smoothly as possible.

How independent do they need to be?

They don’t need years of travel experience. They should be willing to follow rules, listen to the local team and ask for help when something feels wrong. They also need to understand that routines and comforts may differ from home.

Guide for parents

A parent’s guide to volunteering abroad

If your child wants to volunteer abroad, here’s what to know about safety, local support, accommodation, documents and rules, plus the questions to ask before choosing a project.

The most important thing

A well-planned trip starts with a project you understand, people to turn to and rules everyone understands.

HeyLocals helps travellers choose a suitable project, get ready before leaving and know who to contact when they arrive, so families and young people know what to expect.

The essentials before they go

As a parent, you can feel proud and nervous at the same time. Both are completely understandable.

A first trip abroad deserves careful planning, and you can work through the unknowns together. You can’t prevent every unexpected moment, so ask the question that matters: has this trip been planned responsibly?

Vetted projectsYour child joins established local activities and supports work already underway in the community.

People to turn to locallyYour child has local coordinators and clear contacts who know the project and can help.

Support before and during the tripWe help with choosing a project, getting ready, documents and practical questions, and handle small unexpected issues calmly.

Our commitment to parents

You deserve clear answers that help you feel informed. We’ll explain the practical steps behind each trip: what we check, what we ask of travellers and how we respond when something doesn’t go to plan.

How we think about safety

Safety means a series of practical choices, made before departure and followed every day throughout the trip.

We choose suitable areas, work with local partners and explain rules and routines. Travellers arrive knowing their transport and accommodation arrangements, with clear contacts to call for support.

01Destination and project

We don’t work in war zones, active emergencies or humanitarian crises.

02Local partners

Each project has local staff, established routines and people who know the area and its community.

03Accommodation and rules

We explain accommodation, getting around, schedules, documents and behaviour before departure and again on arrival.

04Support

Your child knows who to contact: the local coordinator, HeyLocals team and other useful support contacts.

Where our trips take place

We don’t offer trips in war zones, active emergencies or humanitarian crises. We work in generally calm, populated areas also visited by students, volunteers and travellers. Unexpected things can still happen, but the setting is known, assessed and monitored.

Young volunteers during an outdoor activity with children — Before departure, the project must have clear activities, roles and support contacts.

Young volunteers during an educational workshop with students — Getting ready also means knowing who you’ll travel with, who can help and what daily life will look like.

What we do before departure

Knowing what to expect before the trip can help you feel more at ease.

The more you understand before leaving, the fewer unknowns there are. Preparation includes orientation, practical information, realistic expectations and clear contacts to turn to when help is needed.

1 Choosing a project

We help find a suitable destination and activity based on age, independence, experience and travel dates.

2 Practical information

Accommodation, meals, transfers, routine, free days, house rules and contacts are made clear before departure.

3 Documents and insurance

We explain what to check for passports, visas, insurance and entry requirements. Health decisions must always be confirmed with a doctor.

4 Briefing and contacts

Before leaving and on arrival, we explain behaviour, getting around, useful numbers and how to ask for help. Your child should know what to expect and who to turn to.

Good signs

Your child can explain why they want to go
They accept shared rules without seeing them as a nuisance
They’re willing to prepare for the trip, as well as looking forward to it
They understand that volunteering is not a holiday in disguise

Signs to talk through together

They want to leave only because "everyone is doing it"
They don’t want to read the practical information or rules
They have unrealistic expectations about comfort and freedom
They become irritated as soon as responsibility is mentioned

If something happens, who does what?

It’s a sensible question, and one we welcome.

Illness, lost documents, flight changes or intense homesickness call for a calm response. Clear contacts and a support plan help everyone know what to do next.

01Local support first

The local coordinator is the first contact: they know the accommodation, project, area and daily routine.

02HeyLocals support

Our team stays available from Italy, in Italian, to help organise practical steps and keep communication clear.

03Insurance and documents

Information gathered before departure helps the team contact insurers and medical facilities and access document copies quickly.

04Family informed

When needed or agreed, we keep the family updated with clear information.

An important point

If your child is an adult, we respect their independence and privacy. At the same time, we can agree in advance on ways to update the family, especially for first trips. For minors, parental involvement is a natural part of the process.

Practical advice for parents

You can help your child leave feeling prepared, with practical habits and a clear understanding of the trip.

Ask practical questionsTry asking “who will you call for help?”, “where will you stay?” and “how will you get around?”.

Agree how often to check inExpecting a call every evening can add pressure. Agree on a realistic plan for messages and updates before they leave.

Prepare copiesPassport, insurance, tickets, contacts and addresses should also be accessible offline.

Plan the budget togetherTalk through spending money, withdrawals, emergencies, cards and cash before leaving, so your child arrives prepared.

Allow time to settle inThe first day may feel unfamiliar. Homesickness, tiredness or feeling a little lost don’t mean the trip was a mistake.

Trust, but verifyIndependence works best with clear support. Ask specific questions and expect clear answers.

A well-organised trip gives your child room to be independent, with support to stay safe.

The questions to ask before saying yes

Ask these questions of us or any other organisation. Below, we explain how HeyLocals approaches them, with support contacts, preparation, rules and useful reading to help you make an informed choice.

Questions to ask about a volunteering trip abroad
Question	The answer you should receive	How HeyLocals approaches it
Who supports my child locally?	The local contact’s name and role, their details and how support works.	Before leaving, we explain who the local contacts are and how the project, on-site team and HeyLocals work together to support your child. You can also read more in the emergencies and support section.
Where will they sleep?	Type of accommodation, house rules, essential standards and location.	Accommodation is connected to the project or local network. We explain routines, rules and practical arrangements in advance, so your child knows where they’ll stay, who they’ll live with and what’s expected of them.
What will they do during the project?	Activities, hours, the limits of their role and which local staff will be present.	The volunteer role is defined before departure: supporting the project through activities suited to their age and the setting, without replacing local staff. To understand our method, read how we choose projects.
What happens if they get sick?	The steps to follow, medical facilities, insurance and people to contact.	Before departure we collect useful information and remind travellers which documents, insurance and contacts should always be available. If needed, the local contact person and HeyLocals team help with the practical steps.
What rules must they follow?	The code of conduct, schedules, travel rules, guests, substances and behaviour that isn’t allowed.	The rules are explained before departure and repeated on arrival: they protect the traveller, the group and the local community. We work through these practical details before the trip.
Where does the money go?	Fee explained: meals, accommodation, coordination, support and local costs.	We explain what the fee includes and why a responsible volunteering trip involves costs for planning, local services and support. For more detail, read our guide to why volunteering trips cost money.

Let’s talk it through

Questions before they go? We’re here to help.

We can help you understand whether the project is suitable, what to expect and what practical steps are needed before departure, with a simple conversation and no pressure.

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