Programs & Organisations
Speech-language pathologists have such big hearts. If you’re trying to figure out a way to combine travel and work, then this coukd be your starting off platform. Below, you will find an ever-evolving list of different organisations and programs that might help you to volunteer and work overseas for a short period.
If you know of an organisation that is not currently listed, please comment on this post, and I will happily add to the list. The Facebook group called SLPs Going Abroad might be another online platform to search for and ask fellow SLPs about volunteer opportunities.
PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH
- Therapy Abroad is a group travel program that is mainly geared towards students. Many of their programs go for two weeks.
- Smiles for Speech send SLP teams to help train, collaborate with and support children living in disadvantaged communities. They also distribute therapy materials.
- Yellow House is a community-based organisation in Western Kenya. Yellow House aims to promote the speech therapy profession in East Africa as well as support local communities through education and clinical services. Their website has a volunteer form to complete if you are interested in offering your services.
- Operation Smile is an organisation who enlist volunteers to go on medical missions around the world repairing cleft palates and cleft lips.
- The Trinh Foundation is a voluntary non-profit organisation with long-term objectives of promoting Speech Therapy in Vietnam. They aim to provide clinical skills, curriculum development, and financial support to develop the postgraduate Diploma course into a fulltime undergraduate Degree course in Ho Chi Minh City. Look on their website for opportunities.
- Volunteer BaseCamp list placements that are in need of speech pathology volunteers. The majority of their placements appear to be suited to SLPs who have completed their studies.
- Projects Abroad have made it easier to find out if there are any SLP ventures for you. Their site states that you can ‘intern’ there, or go as a qualified SLP. This program is self-funded by the volunteers, so save your money.
- The Centre for the Rehabilitation for the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh has many skilled allied health professionals volunteer at their centres. They categorise volunteers as short-term or long-term. The site has a lot of information on accommodation, visas, etc. and a list of guidelines.
READ MORE:
I wrote a really peronal blog post called the (hard) truths of volunteering as an SLP that you might like to read if you are considering a role overseas. My situation may not apply to you.
*** I have not personally taken a part of any of these programs. The program that took me from Australia to Samoa on a one year assignment was called the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program.
12 Comments
Thank you for this list, I will definitely keep this in mind for future reference. Therapy Abroad stands out for me since there are not many opportunities out there for undergraduate students interested in speech therapy. I’m already excited to start volunteering, I love the idea of combining speech pathology and travelling. Keep up the great posts!
I also studied a year abroad and while living in the UK went to a new country every month, so have a think about and best luck!
You are an angel for posting all these things. I just entered my first year of my masters program in the US and I have yet to find a good resource for working abroad or volunteering abroad. I have sorta just made mine up as I go. I have been on four different volunteer trips just from finding random things or building my own. Thank you so much!
Isn’t random the best?! And four travels already, totally envious right now 🙂 I’d love to hear bits of wisdom or any other places that can be added to the list. Happy travels
Hi Avery,
It sounds like you’ve done some exciting things so far! I’m an SLP from Australia, and I was wondering if you knew of many volunteer opportunities currently available in the states (short term preferred)? It’s very tricky to find anything SLP specific, so I’m almost leaning towards doing something else (lie helping at a summer camp or something like that). Any ideas you could send my way would be amazing!!
Please add Operation Smile to your list. They need SLP volunteers for their work with children with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Just added! Thank you for telling me. It’s given me a chance to review these programs 🙂
hello,i am fresher graduate SLP and looking for a job .I am asking if there are any job opportunities as slp in East Africa ( Uganda,Kenya ,Tanzania )
Hi there,
Did you try posting in that Facebook group? I only list what other people share 🙂 I hope there is something out there for you.
I just wanted to say I really appreciate this blog post. I just applied to every single one of these. You can also add that EBS Healthcare has an immersion program as well. If you are an EBS employee you can apply to one of the trips. I did a 3-week trip with them to Costa Rica last year with 2 wonderful mentors, Fatima and Jose. I cannot even begin to explain how life changing it was. It was a rigorous interview and application process, but it needs to be in order to select appropriate candidates. Anyway, thanks again! I would love to know if you have found any other opportunities to add to this list??
Thanks for this information! I had some friends who did this too and it sounded amazing 🙂
I’m married with 2 teenagers! I wish I knew about these opportunities before I settled down. I look forward to trying one of these when my kids have moved out!!!