Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Volunteering with refugees

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Hi my name is Emily,

I am a 20 year old Australian Health Science/International Development Student, and have become heavily involved in volunteering locally with refugees and asylum seekers both in and out of detention centres.

I would love to volunteer at any refugee camps around the world, or with NGOs that provide support to refugees in these areas.
If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be absolutely amazing.
I will have about 3 months off from December in which I would love to head abroad and volunteer.

Doesn't Australia have detention centres in Nauru and PNG? You might be able to become involved with those ... ???

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The haven't re-opened them yet. When they operated before, the were very wary of visitors, and would not encourage volunteers.
There would be much more chance of working with refugees that have been resettled.
I would advise contacting one of the refugee support groups in Australia.

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Yeah they are in the process of opening them up again, in the past no one could really even access Nauru.
I already am working with refugees that have been resettled, and also visit those still living in detention in my area.
I was mainly just looking for names of NGO's that work in conjunction with refugee camps, perhaps in Thailand for Burmese refugees, or in Africa, the Middle East or even Sri Lanka.

I do realise that I would need a skill to offer, as just arriving at a refugee camp might not be entirely helpful to anyone.
I am currently completing a TEFL course, and will be finishing a course on disaster relief and aid work, and I have knowledge in health and human development through my university course.

Thanks for your help so far!

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You may get more help on the African branch. Not really any refugees in the Pacific.

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