Student Voices—Discovering the Impact of Volunteering Abroad

One of the highlights of studying abroad is the cultural immersion: picking up the dialect, enjoying authentic dishes, and living like a local—or even with them in a homestay.

But it doesn’t have to stop there, another way to dive deeper into your host city is by volunteering abroad. Through our community-based learning programs, you get firsthand experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise. From sustainability projects in Barcelona to working with a local organization in Cape Town, there’s plenty of options to find the right one for you.

Don’t just take our word for it, though—we connected with IES Abroad Amsterdam alum Ava Singh to learn how volunteering abroad can transform your experience. Read on to hear about Ava's experience directly from the source. 

My name is Ava Singh, and I am currently a senior at Bates College majoring in Sociology and Political Science with a concentration in Philosophical, Literary, and Legal Studies. I studied abroad in Amsterdam through the Social Sciences and Humanities program and quickly learned that volunteering abroad was more accessible than I expected. 

On campus at my home university, I serve as the co-president of the Bates Democrats and as a member of the Student Conduct Board. I also work as a lifeguard and recently joined the Women’s Club Soccer team. I’m a Community Outreach Fellow through the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, coordinating volunteers for IFKA Community Services, a nonprofit that supports immigrants. 

With a passion for law, social justice, and immigrant rights, I wanted my time abroad to be more than surface level. When I first arrived in Amsterdam, I knew I wanted to volunteer, but I wasn’t sure where to start, and I also wanted to give myself time to adjust to the new environment. 

As I settled in, one early morning during my routine walk along the Amstel River, I found myself watching a team of rowers glide past in perfect rhythm. Their steady movement made me reflect on how much I wanted something that felt grounding and familiar. That feeling stayed with me, and later that day I revisited a list of volunteer opportunities that Flor Macias Delgado, the Access, Belonging & Community Specialist from IES Abroad Amsterdam, had shared via email earlier in the semester. 

Ir. Lely Lyceum caught my attention right away because it involved spending time in a Dutch high school and getting to know students, which seemed like a genuine way to learn about the people who actually live in Amsterdam. After reading more about the program, where I would mentor high school students and support them as they worked on introductory entrepreneurial projects, I reached out to Amy Abdou, a teacher with IES Abroad Amsterdam who also serves as a volunteer coordinator for this program, and I began soon after. 

Each week, I spent about two hours with the students, brainstorming ideas and talking through how they could bring their projects to life in their school or neighborhoods. My favorite part was watching them come out of their shells and getting to know them beyond the activities we were working on. One afternoon, a student asked me, “is the fast food in America really like what we see in the movies?” and a few minutes later they were laughing at how fascinated I was by Febo, the fast food wall, where workers refill snacks from behind. These conversations helped us build real friendships and showed me a side of the city I never would have experienced on my own. Learning about what it was like to grow up there made me feel even more connected to Amsterdam and deepened my appreciation for the little time I had left. 

Working with students from so many different backgrounds also shaped the way I navigated the rest of my semester. Every student had a different learning style and comfort level with English, so I had to adjust my approach constantly. That willingness to try, even when something felt unfamiliar, reminded me that with time, things start to feel easier. 

"If you are thinking about volunteering while studying abroad, I would strongly recommend it. A few hours a week can make your experience feel more meaningful, and for me, became part of my routine that helped Amsterdam feel familiar. Looking back, my role at Ir. Lely Lyceum became one of the most impactful parts of my semester."

I went for an hour-long walk every morning to take in my surroundings and start the day on a calmer note. I also biked everywhere and completely fell in love with the biking culture in Amsterdam (even though I did have a couple of close calls). These small habits made the rest of my week feel more manageable, and I think it's important to acknowledge that I made some really great American and Dutch friends along the way. 

If you are thinking about volunteering while studying abroad, I would strongly recommend it. A few hours a week can make your experience feel more meaningful, and for me, became part of my routine that helped Amsterdam feel familiar. Looking back, my role at Ir. Lely Lyceum became one of the most impactful parts of my semester. Spending time with the students showed me how much I enjoy learning about different cultures and connecting with people whose narratives differ from my own. 

As the daughter of immigrants, cross-cultural engagement has always mattered to me, and being abroad only reinforced how important it is in my life. It strengthened my interest in continuing work that supports immigrant communities and made me even more excited about pursuing the legal field after graduation. The friendships and moments I had through volunteering are some of the things that I am most grateful for from my time in Amsterdam.