Basically, I want to go and do 3-5 weeks of volunteering (either general community development or sports coaching) but have only come across packages by STA Travel, BUNAC etc that cost loads - about £800/$1500 not including flights for 4 weeks. As far as I can tell, for your money you get: support, accomodation, food and transfers from the airport. Which too me sounds like very little. Sure the communities get some of the cash but alot goes to the program organisers. So with this in mind, I'd rather organise something myself but am rather clueless as to how to go about this...does anyone have any ideas or experience with volunteering?

I'm primaiily looking at Africa but am open to Middle/South America or SE Asia too.

i'm interested in this too. it's funny how politicians call for young people to do some kind of great service shit like this...but it fucking costs money to do! what is your volunteer work worth then? i would love to go volunteer for a few weeks in africa, but i can't afford a few grand in transportation and lodging costs. paying to volunteer seems odd.