Adventure with purpose: why you should volunteer with Mission Rabies

Since the beginning, volunteers have been at the heart of our mission. All year round we run vaccination drives in our global project areas and call for volunteers to join us to save lives. Whether veterinary trained or not, volunteers from around the world participate on our campaigns to help vaccinate dogs and protect communities from rabies.

Volunteering is a great way to have a lasting impact. Our work would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers, who give up their time, travel half-way around the world, and use their skills to create a safer future for all.

“Why do I keep coming back? For me, it’s simple: I like adventure, and these campaigns are adventures… with a purpose. Waking up at dawn, loading vaccine coolers, bouncing down dusty roads. Learning “good morning” and “thank you” in Swahili (or Hindi, or Khmer). Hearing cheers when a wary street dog finally gets his jab. Being handed a cup of tea because you vaccinated someone’s animals. Still need convincing? How about…kids constantly waving at you, swapping your day’s best stories with your fellow volunteers at team dinners, making lasting friendships with like-minded people, leaving a community in better shape than when you arrived.” Volunteer Arnold Plotnick, Tanzania 2025

Reason 1: You will be providing life-saving protection to communities

Dogs serve as a reservoir for the disease and are the main source of transmission to humans, accounting for 99% of all human rabies deaths globally. In many areas globally, dogs are not vaccinated because veterinary care is limited and there is a lack of awareness around the disease. By providing accessible veterinary care in the form of canine rabies vaccinations, we can stop the disease in its tracks and protect whole communities.

Every single dog vaccinated helps to protect a community from this devastating disease. Our volunteers provide life-saving protection to both dogs and people in rabies hotspots.

You will also be helping to build a more harmonious co-existence between people and dogs, where people do not need to live in fear of dogs because of rabies.

Reason 2: You can help to end one of the world’s deadliest diseases

Rabies is a cruel and deadly disease – once symptoms show the disease is almost always fatal. The good news... rabies is 100% preventable. By vaccinating dogs, we can stop the disease spreading amongst dogs and to humans - stopping rabies at the source.

By volunteering, you will be directly contributing to eliminating one of the world’s deadliest diseases that has caused suffering for millennia. Whether you are vaccinating a dog, marking their head with animal friendly paint, providing information on prevention to owners, or inputting the data into the WVS App, everyone plays a vital role in ending this disease.

Our campaigns give our volunteers the opportunity to be part of something bigger – making the world a better and safer place to be.

“The project has an undeniable sense of purpose and gives you the opportunity to play an active role using your expertise to address one of the world’s biggest challenges.” Volunteer Cornelie Kennedy, Mumbai 2024

Reason 3: Building connections

Volunteering is a great way to meet likeminded people - fellow volunteers who have also offered their time to support the elimination of rabies. You can build connections and create a sense of community with people who share your passion.

You will form connections within local communities, meeting grateful dog owners and local volunteers, who will share their culture and country with you. During one of our trips, you form friendships and connections with people who you would not have had the chance to meet otherwise.

“The people were the biggest highlight of my trip. Everyone I met was gentle and incredibly grateful to have us there, always repeating “orkun” (Thank you).” Volunteer Brad Coull, Cambodia 2024.

Reason 4: Sharing your skills and expertise

Our vaccination campaigns are a great training opportunity for many local and international veterinary students or professionals. By volunteering you can share your skills and expertise. This will create a lasting impact on veterinary professionals and promote long-lasting improvements in animal welfare, whether this is how to handle a dog for vaccination or how to correctly vaccinate a dog. Even for those who are not veterinary trained or have not had lots of experience with animal handling, you may be surprised what you are able to bring to the table. Whatever your strengths, we want you to be a part of the mission.

Reason 5: Going beyond the usual tourist destinations

Volunteering abroad is an opportunity to see the world from a unique perspective. Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of the city or the quiet and beautiful scenery of the rural areas - you will get to see beyond the usual tourist destinations. Mixing volunteering with travelling means you can have an adventure of a lifetime, while making a difference. This is a great way to soak up new cultures and engage with local communities.

Alongside the crucial work, there is time to explore beautiful beaches, visit national parks, or see diverse wildlife. Whether you fancy visiting beautiful islands in Cambodia or doing a safari in Tanzania, you will get to experience these wonderful countries.

“Frenetic, hot, sticky, scented and intense – it's an amazing way to see a city and definitely a twist from a marbled, air-conditioned, tourist view.” Volunteer Liz Seaman, Mumbai 2024

Reason 6: Developing your skills

Volunteering with us means some long, tiring days in the field with experiences that may challenge you. With this comes an opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone, think on your feet and overcome challenges. From communicating with people who speak a different language, to working in a team with new people, or navigating using new equipment, you will grow your abilities and skills that can be taken with you throughout your life.

Reason 7: Spreading awareness about rabies

With our vaccination teams wearing bright yellow t-shirts we end up drawing a lot of attention. People ask questions and this is a great way to spread awareness about rabies. Handing out our educational leaflets to dog owners and community members spreads the message about the dangers of rabies and the steps to take to stop the spread of this disease.

Not only will you be supporting the vaccination of dogs but also helping with another crucial part of the puzzle in ending rabies – education. If the risks are widely understood, and appropriate dog bite treatment is well known, rabies is 100% preventable.

Reason 8: It’s fun (plus you get to meet lots of dogs)

Despite the long days, our vaccination campaigns are fun – being out in the field with a great team, travelling around areas you have never seen before, seeing the country from a new perspective. The best part about this? You get to meet and vaccinate adorable and sweet dogs every day and leave knowing you have protected them from a cruel and deadly disease. From being handed a basket full of puppies, to making friends with an adorable stray, it is likely that many furry friends will steal your heart during a campaign.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to see first-hand and contribute to the top-notch work Mission Rabies is doing in underserved communities in Uganda. The organisation, team spirit and working alongside local volunteers was nothing short of amazing.” Volunteer Fanny Schappler, Uganda 2022

To hear more from our volunteers about what it’s like to join one of our vaccination campaigns visit our news page.