June 2010

Volunteering Abroad:Your options

By Erin Barnhart & Jayne CravensFor Hosteling International – Portland

June 2010

June 2010

Don't Worry!

Everything is shared on the Web; addresses at the end of this presentation.

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An international volunteer is someone who:

is not paid, or at least, not paid a salary (and may, in fact, pay his or her expenses).

agrees not to take on any other paid work during the volunteer stint.

Your own definition may vary…

June 2010

An international volunteer can be: Someone chosen through a competitive selection

process, agrees to a long-term assignment and is officially-affiliated (Peace Corps, UN Volunteers, VSO, etc).

Someone who pays an organization for a short-term experience abroad and is officially-affiliated. OR

Someone who, during his or her travels, engages in transire benefaciendo (and is not officially-affiliated).

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Are international volunteers really needed?

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Paying to Volunteer

Why isn’t this counterintuitive?

Is this ethical?

When is it a good option for the volunteer?

How do you choose a quality program?

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Paying to Volunteer: Options Nonprofit volunteer-sending organizations

Cross-Cultural Solutions, WorldTeach, United Planet, etc.

Government-sponsored service programs Peace Corps, etc.

Faith-based international service Catholic Network of Volunteer Service, American Jewish World Service, etc.

For-profit volunteer-sending organizations Projects Abroad, ProWorld Service Corps, etc.

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Volunteering Expertise Abroad(not paying to volunteer)

Why are these long-term assignments

(six-months to two years)?

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What Long-Term Orgs are looking for:

Be able to WORK in a language in addition to English (French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese...)

Have an expertise that's needed abroad (HIV/AIDs education, forming an agricultural cooperative, teaching people how to

repair bicycles, how to train teachers, wine making, etc.)

Volunteer in project leadership positions in your home city re: HIV/AIDs education, immigrant assistance, prison literacy

program, etc.

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Long-term optionsUS Citizens Only: PeaceCorps, CHF International Winrock International, mostly relating

to agriculture International Executive Service Corps

(IESC), now includes Geekcorps. VSO Canada, for Canadian & USA

citizens

Citizens of any country VSO, based in the United Kingdom United Nations Volunteers

Other country's “Peace Corps” group (for their citizens only):

Australian Volunteers International

NetCorps Cyberjeunes Canada

German Development Service, Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst, or DED

France Benevolat

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

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Independent or “Unaffiliated” Volunteer

Someone traveling independently, with no organizational affiliation Potential Pros: Greater flexibility, more affordable

Potential Cons: Higher risk, more planning required, less safety net

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During & After Service Make real connections with local people (if you get invited to

a wedding, GO)

Please blog about your experience

Share photos online (and tag them appropriately)

Network with others who have volunteered abroad in any capacity

Stay aware of what is happening in countries where you have volunteered

Stay in touch with people in countries where you have volunteered

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More Resources

Idealist (Erin Barnhart)www.idealist.org/ivrc

Reality Check: Volunteering Abroad (Jayne Cravens)

www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html