Volunteer Opportunities in Paris

For expats, getting involved in the local community can often feel daunting. However, Paris offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities for those looking to make a difference, from food distribution to clothing drives. Whether addressing homelessness in tourist areas or assisting newcomers in the suburbs, volunteers play a role in tackling urban challenges in this global city.

Volunteering provides a unique way to bridge cultural divides, offering expats an authentic connection to Paris beyond the expat bubble. It offers meaningful relationships with locals who share similar values and interests while also creating opportunities for language immersion. Engaging with diverse communities may even introduce you to other languages spoken throughout the city.

Beyond giving back, volunteering helps combat the isolation many newcomers face, making it easier to build a social network in a city where connections take time. Many organizations actively seek volunteers, especially those with language skills and international perspectives. By contributing your time, you not only support essential community efforts but also cultivate a deeper sense of belonging—turning Paris from a temporary stay into a true home.

English Pour Tout le Monde

Founded by two expats in Paris, English Pour Tout le Monde provides English education to adults and children in vulnerable positions. They provide comprehensive group language courses and dynamic conversation workshops through strategic partnerships with organizations dedicated to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Founded on the fundamental belief that quality education should be accessible to everyone regardless of background or circumstance, they strive to empower these newcomer communities through language acquisition, recognizing that communication skills are essential tools for integration, independence and opportunity.

Their inclusive approach focuses on practical, culturally sensitive language instruction tailored to the specific needs of displaced populations. They actively welcome volunteer teachers and conversation facilitators who can contribute their skills to help students build confidence, develop fluency and navigate their new linguistic environments with greater ease.

Serve the City Paris

Serve the City Paris (STC) is the local branch of an international NGO, Serve the City, which focuses on helping asylum seekers, refugees, the homeless and those in vulnerable or precarious positions. It is the largest English-speaking NGO in Paris, hosting expats, students and locals of all ages and backgrounds as volunteers.

With the organization of weekly food distributions, language exchange workshops and the sponsoring of a football team, STC Paris has an impact spanning a multitude of demographics in the city. STC Paris believes in what they call ‘crossing the line,’ which they define as “the connection between the humanitarian needs of the city, and the generosity and talents of people who make volunteering a part of their daily life.”

With over 3,000 volunteers across the city, the organization benefits from the wide range of people involved in their community projects to create exciting events and programs. The Paris branch of STC has been in existence for almost ten years. Starting as a small group of members of the American Church in Paris, STC Paris gained the NGO title under the French government in 2015. “We believe in serving people regardless of their backgrounds, origins, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. It’s a simple action of dignifying the less fortunate and humanising our fellow men, women, and families,” their mission statement reads.

Currently, STC Paris is making new strides in its involvement with local and foreign universities and schools to reinstate the importance of education and raising awareness. STC International stands on the values of: humility, compassion, respect, courage, love and hope. They strive to instill these values into each and every action they organize, creating a community of passionate volunteers. 

Croix Rouge 

The French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française), a key member of the International Red Cross movement, provides essential humanitarian services throughout France. In Paris, it maintains a significant impact with over 3,000 volunteers and 400 employees working across 18 local units and 30 specialized facilities.

The organization offers a diverse range of critical services. Its emergency response teams provide immediate assistance during crises and disasters, while its healthcare initiatives include blood donation campaigns and community health education. Its social support programs address the needs of various vulnerable populations, delivering food and shelter to homeless individuals, providing companionship and medical assistance to elderly residents, offering legal guidance and integration support to migrants, and creating specialized programs for disabled youth.

The French Red Cross funds its operations through a combination of private donations, corporate partnerships and limited government subsidies, enabling it to maintain its independence while serving communities effectively. Currently, the French Red Cross is looking for volunteers across several key programs. Food distribution volunteers help organize and deliver essential supplies to vulnerable populations.

First-aid response team members, after completing mandatory comprehensive training programs (typically 60-80 hours over several months), provide emergency medical support at public events and during disasters. Community collection volunteers coordinate donation drives for food, clothing and funds that sustain the organization's ongoing humanitarian efforts.

Les Amarres

Located on Quai Austerlitz in Paris's 13th arrondissement, Les Amarres stands as a community center and temporary housing solution. The repurposed warehouse space provides stable housing for 300 vulnerable individuals from diverse backgrounds—including single men, women fleeing domestic violence, families with young children and asylum seekers.

Each resident receives personalized support services for specific circumstances and needs, with the goal of transitioning to permanent housing within two years. Beyond its housing mission, Les Amarres functions as a community space that promotes social integration. The facility hosts creator markets where local artisans can showcase and sell handcrafted goods, providing economic opportunities while building community connections.

Their food distribution program partners with local businesses to retrieve surplus food, serving over 500 meals weekly to both residents and neighborhood individuals experiencing food insecurity. The center's wellness programming includes twice-weekly yoga sessions led by volunteer instructors, meditation workshops and health education classes designed to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

Les Amarres has also emerged as an important venue for environmental and climate change discourse, hosting conferences and workshops that bring together residents, community members and environmental experts to discuss sustainable urban living practices.

Volunteer opportunities at Les Amarres are structured to support residents' needs as well as engage the Paris community at large. Their bar, which operates on a solidarity pricing model, relies on volunteers to serve affordable drinks and create a welcoming atmosphere during evening events.

Event assistance volunteers help coordinate and facilitate the diverse programming schedule, from cultural celebrations to educational workshops. For those with media skills, Les Amarres offers opportunities to contribute to their digital presence through photography, videography and content creation, helping to document the center's impact and raise awareness about urban housing challenges.

The organization's innovative approach has been recognized as a model for integrated social support, combining immediate housing needs with community engagement initiatives that build dignity, skills and social connections among vulnerable populations.

The American Library in Paris

The Library relies on a dedicated team of over sixty volunteers, spanning all age groups, to support its community and staff. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the Library’s operating hours, with training provided and schedules varying by department.

Volunteers must generally be Library members, except for those assisting with the Evenings with an Author program or students in Library and Information Science programs. A commitment of at least four months is required.

Opportunities range from assisting with cultural programming in the Evenings with an Author series, where volunteers welcome guests and help with event logistics, to working at the Welcome Desk, where volunteers greet visitors, answer questions and manage collections.

Other roles include Shelving, which involves maintaining book organization, and Children’s and Teens’ Services support, where volunteers help with shelving, event setup and inventory management.

Additional volunteer roles include Collection Support, which focuses on organizing and maintaining materials and is reserved for experienced Library volunteers or Library Science students. Development and Communications volunteers assist with administrative tasks, events and fundraising efforts. Most roles require Library membership, but some, like Evenings with an Author, are open to non-members. 

Volunteering in Paris offers expats a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s diverse communities while simultaneously fostering growth and deeper cultural understanding. Whether you’re assisting in food distributions, providing language support or contributing to specialized services for vulnerable populations, the act of giving your time benefits both your own experience in the city and the lives of others. Paris, with its complex social landscape and diverse neighborhoods, provides a variety of opportunities for meaningful connections and service. Through organizations like English Pour Tout le Monde, Serve the City Paris, Croix Rouge, Les Amarres and The American Library in Paris, volunteers can make a significant impact while immersing themselves in local life. Volunteering not only helps bridge the gap between expats and locals but it also creates a sense of belonging, turning Paris from a temporary destination into a true community.