They are even starting to take their students along.

'In the process of helping others, the students learn way beyond what they would have in a classroom,' said St Andrew's Junior College teacher Louis Ho, 30.

The physical education teacher has been going for such overseas expeditions at least once a year, for almost a decade.

Projects taken on by such groups include teaching needy children or training teachers in poor communities, or contributing school materials.

Volunteers also set up basic information technology infrastructure or donate computers to villages.

Other popular projects involve health care, conserving the environment, and providing the poor with skills so they can get jobs.

According to the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Youth Expedition Project (YEP), which subsidise half of the costs for such teams, the projects have gained popularity in recent years.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.