Join a welcoming community of volunteers helping people connect across cultures. From Study Abroad experiences to Explore Scholarships, there are meaningful ways to get involved at every age and stage of life.
Volunteer with EIL/AFS Ireland
Share your experience. Inspire others. Make a difference.
Ways to Volunteer with EIL/AFS Ireland
Find Your Way to Make a Difference
There is no single way to volunteer with EIL.
We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, whether you’re a student, former participant, working or retired.
Together, we’ll explore opportunities that suit your interests, skills and availability.
Support Study Abroad Experiences
Help participants feel welcome and prepared for life-changing intercultural experiences. Depending on programme needs, volunteers can support orientations, cultural activities and events, creating opportunities for students to connect, build confidence, discover new perspectives and learn from one another.
Get Involved with Explore Scholarships
Help make transformative learning opportunities possible through EIL’s Explore Scholarship programme. Volunteers may support scholarship activities, preparation events and intercultural learning, while sharing their experiences and encouraging participants to embrace new opportunities and make the most of their journeys.
Share Your Skills and Build Community
Bring your ideas, experience and enthusiasm to EIL events, workshops and community activities.
Whether supporting intercultural learning, sharing your knowledge or helping people feel included, you’ll connect with others, develop new skills and contribute to a welcoming volunteer community.
How to become an EIL Volunteer
Send us an email
Ready to get involved?
Email [email protected] to express your interest.
Tell us a little about yourself and what inspires you to volunteer. We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences.
Let's Get to Know Each Other
We’ll connect with you to explore your interests, skills and availability. Together, we’ll find opportunities that suit you, from supporting Study Abroad participants to getting involved with our Explore Scholarship programme.
Get Trained and Supported
We’ll help you prepare with relevant training and support, including learning opportunities through our partner AFS. Volunteers aged 18 and over must complete Garda vetting and Tusla Children First training before beginning their role.
Begin Your Volunteer Journey
Start making a difference with EIL! Meet inspiring people, share experiences and help create meaningful intercultural connections. Whether you give a little time or a lot, you’ll be part of a welcoming community creating positive change.
Four Ways to Make a Difference
Volunteer with EIL Ireland and discover how sharing your time, skills and experiences can inspire change — in your community and beyond.
Inspire change
Help create a more inclusive and connected world. Support EIL’s intercultural programmes, celebrate diversity and encourage people of all ages to discover new perspectives, challenge stereotypes and make a positive difference in their communities.
Inspire community
Become part of a welcoming network of EIL volunteers and global changemakers. Share experiences, build lasting friendships and connect with people from different cultures while helping others feel supported, included and inspired.
Inspire yourself
Grow your confidence, develop intercultural skills and discover new strengths. Access valuable training and learning opportunities through EIL and our international partner AFS, while gaining meaningful experiences that enrich your personal and professional life.
Inspire others
Make a lasting difference by supporting EIL’s Study Abroad and Explore Scholarship programmes. Share your knowledge, encourage young people to embrace new opportunities and help inspire the next generation of global citizens and changemakers.
More Than Volunteering. A Community for Life.
Rachel Maher’s EIL journey began with an Explore Award to Thailand in 2014. More than a decade later, she’s still volunteering, inspired by the people, connections and experiences that have shaped her journey.
“The second, and in my opinion single-handedly the biggest benefit and reason I continue to volunteer is community.”
“Along the way I have met people who feel like family; pockets and spaces where I feel seen and loved outside of the normal realm of people I may encounter in my everyday life.”
– Rachel Maher, EIL Volunteer
Ready to Volunteer with EIL?
By volunteering with EIL you can:
You do not need to have volunteered before to get in touch. We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences, and we would love to hear what you could bring to the EIL community.
Email [email protected], tell us a little about yourself and what interests you, and we will help you explore the next steps.
EIL Mission
EIL is a membership based organization and has no shareholders and does not pay dividends. Any profits are ploughed back in to the organization or in to travel awards and scholarships. Anybody who shares the mission and ethos of EIL can become a member of the organization.