Do you know any peace corps like volunteer programs?

Question

I'm in serious need of a catylist in my life- I think i want to spend some time voulenteering overseas. I'm not sure if i want to go for the two years the peace corps requires, though. (maybe more of 6-10 months). Anyone know of any of have any suggestions on how to look? Thanks! (I'm 21, and i had three years of college before i had to drop out)

Answer 1

Check out Americorps website-they are the new conservation corps in the US. My son is going in for a year in their NCCC program. They cloth, feed and house you. Give you a minimal salary and then give you a 4,700. grant to any accredited college at the end of that year. You work on 4-5 "spikes"/jobs and work with Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, National Parks and Disaster Relief. You are certified in many areas and get to travel-but you work out of a campus in Sacramento, Denver or Maryland. Excellent program and it helpds our country right here. You can also live at home and do projects thru them.
Another place to look is World Visions-you do have to pay for your flight out and back but are housed while you work on projects in many countries for 6-8 weeks or sometimes up to a year. They have a website too. You help teach English in South Africa, work with the endangered species, teach in South America etc.
My son will grow inside and out with this and gain life experience he never would-good luck to you too-go check them out!

Answer 2

Excellent ! I do suggest however that you joint he Domestic Peace Corps. With all the cuts in Federal assistance to the poor, elderly and disabled in the US, and the poverty level growing by leaps and bounds as a result, I hope you will consider it. Charity begins at home, you know. I am sure you will get more out of this than you can possibly imagine. Best of luck, and thank God for people like you.

Answer 3

Organizations that don't charge fees for volunteering, such as VSO Canada, UN Volunteers and the PeaceCorps are looking for people who can work (read, write and speak) in a language other than English, who have skills and experience that can lead to local people generating income, better feeding their families, improving children's health, etc., or that can lead to the transformation of key institutions, such as government, universities/schools or NGOs. They are looking for people who can commit to a two-year assignment, who have experience working with under-served communities, or who have a lot of experience in very diverse or religiously-conservative communities. The average age of volunteers in these organizations is over 30 (for UNVs, it's 38) and most not only have degrees, they also have grad degrees.

The goal is to give local people jobs and to keep money local, not to give Westerners a feel-good experience-- hence why short-term placement agencies charge volunteers, or require these volunteers to pay their own way (flights, in-country transportation, health insurance, accommodation, food, security, translators, training, staff to supervise and support them in their service, liaisons with the police and local officials, etc.).

Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations, and how you can gain that experience locally. It also lists the various organizations that don't charge for volunteer placement (but require a great deal of experience -- the average age of a UN Volunteer is 38).
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

If you are looking for a catylist in your life, start volunteering locally.