Even though Azerbaijan has come a long way in the past 2 decades, the help provided by volunteers is still needed and very much appreciated. Foreigners who would like to volunteer in this Asian country have several options to choose from.
Some of the most popular volunteer programmes in Azerbaijan revolve around working with children. Caring for children in orphanages, providing vocational training, or volunteering as a teacher are all viable options. Working with the communities to improve the local skill base is another common volunteering programme.
While some volunteering programmes are located in the capital region of Baku or other large cities in the country, the vast majority are situated in smaller towns or villages. Programmes vary in length, from 2 weeks up to 12 months. While for short volunteer programmes there are no language requirements, if you’re planning on a longer stay, you should take the necessary steps to study the local languages, Azerbaijani and Russian.
Housing arrangements may vary from one project to another, but they are typically represented by a shared house, a private room in the house of a local family, or even a small apartment. In most cases, your programme fee will only cover accommodation and meals, and sometimes language classes. Some international volunteering organisations, such as the Peace Corps offer a monthly allowance that covers the most basic expenses. Nonetheless, such volunteering programmes are typically longer in length, up to 2 years.