Gap Year & Voluntary Work in Russia

Adventure Alternative
Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, the highest peak in Europe, is the challenge awaiting those that take on the eight day expedition lead every year by Adventure Alternative. AA also offers skiing in the same region and treks to Kamchatka and around Lake Baikal.
www.adventurealternative.com

American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation
A five week study programme in St Petersburg for American high school students of good academic standing, aged 16 and older. The programme also includes two days in London.
www.academicyear.org

Amerispan
Language courses in Moscow and St Petersburg. Amerispan also offers internship placements in the same locations.
www.amerispan.com

Caledonia Languages Abroad
Russian language courses in Moscow and St Petersburg..
www.caledonialanguages.co.uk

Camp Counselors USA
Work in a Russian children's summer camp. As a counsellor, you are a teacher, a leader and a friend to a group of children between the ages of seven and 17. You are responsible for the safety and well being of your campers and for giving them the time of their lives.  You spend most of the day outdoors and perform a wide variety of duties. A placement fee is expected but counsellors are paid pocket money.
www.ccusa.com

CDS International
The Alfa Fellowship Programme is a high level professional development exchange programme placing qualified young professionals in work assignments at leading organizations in Russia in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, and public policy. The programme accepts ten American citizens and five British citizens per year.
www.cdsintl.org

Cross Cultural Solutions UK
CCS volunteers to Russia are placed in Yaroslavl and work with children of all ages, people with disabilities, women with mental illness, and retired adults in community led organisations that provide social services and education. Volunteers work on recreational activities, including creative arts and crafts projects and indoor games. Volunteers can aslo teach English at a vocational school.
www.crossculturalsolutions.org

Cultural Embrace
Cultural Embrace's internship programme consists of a combination of Russian courses and an internship with a company located in St. Petersburg. Applicants should have good elementary Russian language skills before starting the internship.
www.culturalembrace.com

Ecologia Youth Trust
A Scottish charity, EYT organises adult citizen diplomacy tours, youth exchanges and students’ ecology education field work in Russia. For volunteers, the main contribution will be to teach English to the children of the Kitezh Children’s Community. Kitezh is a non government, non profit partnership of foster families who offer homes and education for orphaned Russian children in a rural area 300km south of Moscow in Kaluga region.
www.ecologia.org.uk

Ecovolunteer
If you don't mind having small brown bears close to your nipples as part of your duties then this may be the project for you. Every year Russian scientists rescue orphan bear cubs from hunters with the aim of raising them and returning them safely back into the wild. Along with feeding, other duties include participation in the daily radio tracking of the released one year old bear cubs, to follow their every day movements. This work requires long and strenuous walking, and it requires brave and strong people with primary knowledge of map orientation and surviving in the wild. Another project in the same biological station involves the study the distribution and ecology of wolves in the wild. Most of your time is spent in the forest and using mainly traditional fieldwork methods.
www.ecovolunteer.org

EF
English language teaching in Russia.
www.englishfirst.com

English Language Teaching Assistant Program
ELTAP offers individuals, who are fluent in spoken English and willing to help people in another country learn English, the opportunity to volunteer as an English language teaching assistant in Russia.
www.eltap.org

Eurolingua
Language courses and homestays in Russia.
www.eurolingua.com

Involvement Volunteers
An Australian organisation that places volunteers around the world including to Russia. Non Australians welcome to apply.
www.volunteering.org.au

Language Link Russia
Have a programme that combines Russian language study with paid part time work in an international language centre. Participants pay a programme fee in advance for accommodation, Russian tuition and administrational expenses, but they receive wages for teaching their native language. No qualifications or experience needed. Voluntary work in Siberia and paid teaching jobs are also available.
www.jobs.languagelink.ru

Languages Courses Abroad
Russian language courses in Moscow and St Petersburg including an academic course.
www.languagesabroad.co.uk

Operation Mobilisation
A Christian organisation, Operation Mobilisation works in more than 100 countries, motivating and equipping people to share God’s love with people all over the world.
www.uk.om.org

RussianAdventures
An Adventure Alternative website that focuses on Russian treks and tours.
www.russianadventures.ru

SV Agency
Travel agency run by six young Russians. They can arrange teaching experience in a school in Izhevsk, summer camp placements, homestays and work experience.
www.sv-agency.udm.ru

Time for God
TFG has over 40 years experience of providing volunteer work opportunities to people of all ages. Working with local partner organisations they send volunteers to Italy.
www.timeforgod.com

UNA Exchange
UNA Exchange promotes and supports international understanding, cultural exchange and community development whilst at the same time enabling volunteers’ personal growth and development.
www.unaexchange.org

Volunteer Action for Peace
A UK based charity organisation which works towards creating and preserving international peace, justice and human solidarity for people and their communities. Typically the work will involve either social work with the elderly, disabled or teenagers or renovation work.
www.vap.org.uk

Volunteers for Peace
An American international volunteer organisation that sometimes has placements to Russia.
www.vfp.org

Youth for Understanding
YFU is a non profit NGO that offers young people around the world the chance to spend the summer or school year living in Moscow.
www.yfu.org

>>Full List of Gap Years by Country
>>Live, Work & Travel in Russia