South Pacific Volunteer Opportunities: Fiji & Samoa

Volunteer in the South Pacific and take part in volunteer work that’s designed to address the needs of local communities.

Our South Pacific volunteer opportunities include:

Generating important research for scientists and diving with sharks on our Shark Conservation Project.
Supporting early childhood development by volunteering with children in the South Pacific.

And other exciting South Pacific volunteer projects.

We’ll take care of all the details, so you’ll enjoy a hassle-free experience. We also have full-time local staff at a physical office in Fiji, who offer 24/7 support. This means that you can focus on what is really important: becoming part of our ongoing efforts to help people in the South Pacific.

Why volunteer in the South Pacific?

Life on a Pacific Island is idyllic. The soft sandy beaches and clear blue water are straight out of a vacation brochure, but have to be experienced first-hand to really be appreciated. This is one region of the world where you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable trip.

Choosing to volunteer in Fiji isn’t all about relaxing on the beach, though. Rural communities face challenges with staffing daycare centers, properly protecting sharks, and spreading awareness of good nutrition. Our South Pacific projects are a chance for you to offer extra support and make a real difference for local people.

You’ll do this by becoming fully immersed in the local culture. This gives you a deeper insight into the challenges that people living in the South Pacific face and how you can make a positive change.

How to become a volunteer in the South Pacific

A volunteer in the South Pacific works with children and plays a game at a care center.

So how can you go about becoming a Pacific Island volunteer? The process is simple! Just follow these steps:

Think about the Pacific Island volunteer work you’re interested in, whether that’s helping children, protecting sharks, or doing community work in a small village.
Reach out to our Project Experts, who can provide more information and help you make the right choice for your interests and goals.
Decide how much time you have to travel to the South Pacific, how flexible your dates are, and if you’d rather travel alone or as part of a group. This will determine what kind of trip is right for you, whether that's an independent Flexi Trip, Team Trip, or a High School Special for students aged 15-18.
Once you know what type of work you’d like to be doing and the length you wish to travel for, there’s nothing left to do but fill in the application form and book your place!

How old do I have to be to volunteer in the South Pacific?

Pacific Island volunteer work with us is open to people aged 16 and over. If our projects in Fiji have requirements, we’ll state them clearly on the project information page. If you have questions about requirements, do get in touch for more information.

We also offer South Pacific volunteer opportunities for high school students aged 15-18. Our High School Specials give extra support to young travelers, so they can have the best experience possible in the South Pacific.

If you’re an older volunteer, then you’ll be glad to hear there’s no upper age limit to take part in our overseas projects. We believe you’re never too old to help Pacific Island communities. Your extra levels of skills and experience are hugely welcome!

Is volunteering in the South Pacific ethical?

A volunteer in the Pacific collects scientific data during a dive for shark research.

We hold our volunteers to the highest ethical standard, meaning that you can volunteer abroad, confident that you are making a genuine positive change in the South Pacific. As champions of responsible volunteer travel, we follow an eight point checklist for all projects, including volunteer trips to the South Pacific Islands.

Our Fiji projects involve working with children and wildlife. These adhere to a strict code of conduct, to ensure the welfare of all involved.

Do we offer short term volunteer opportunities in the South Pacific?

Looking for short term South Pacific volunteer opportunities? While we encourage you to maximize your impact by increasing the length of project, you do have the option to go for a minimum of a week. This gives you the flexibility to pick the option that best fits your circumstances and ambitions.

If you’re wondering what kind of impact you can really make in a week, read our blog that explains how we approach short-term volunteering.

Can I volunteer in the South Pacific for free?

People often ask us if they can volunteer in the South Pacific for free. As we’re an organization that doesn’t depend on external or government funding, free volunteering isn’t something we offer. We rely on the fees that participants pay, and this guarantees that we can:

Ensure the highest levels of safety, along with 24/7 staff support.
Provide a hassle-free experience by dealing with all the logistics from the moment you apply.
Commit to long term, sustainable development, regardless of whether we have volunteers present year-round.

The cost of volunteer work in the South Pacific depends on where you go, what you do, and how long you volunteer for. But it’s probably not as much as you think. Especially when you consider that our program fees include:

Three meals a day
Accommodation
A full project
Transportation to and from your placement every day

Plus, the longer you stay, the lower the cost per week!

You can also take advantage of our flexible payment plans. We understand that paying in one go isn’t always possible, so we just ask for an initial deposit and then you can pay as much or as little as you like in a series of small installments. We’re completely flexible, but the fee does need to be paid in full before you leave for your program. We also offer advice and support for fundraising, so you can raise the funds you need.

Is it safe to volunteer in the South Pacific?

We understand that safety is important when you volunteer overseas, especially if you’re traveling for the first time. When you volunteer with us, you can rest assured that the country you’re placed in is politically stable and safe to visit. In addition, our trained local staff keep a close eye on changing situations.

As always when traveling, volunteers in Fiji should stay alert. Our staff will be on hand to offer tips and advice on keeping yourself and your belongings safe. They’re contactable 24/7.

Find out more about safety and backup.