Alternative to the Peace Corps?

Question

I've been thinking about joining the Peace Corps after I graduate, but I'm not sure if it's for me. I'm uneasy about the 2 year commitment and I'm not sure I'm willing to love somewhere with no electricity or running water.

Here are my goals: I want to be able to travel while also gaining work experience. I'd love to be able to help people/a community. I don't have to live at a middle-class standard, but one up from the Peace Corps would be ideal.

I don't want to begin a "real" job as soon as I graduate. While I'm not tied down I'd like to live overseas for awhile.

Also, my degree is in Communication Studies with a minor in sociology.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Given your aversion to living a bit "rough", the PeaceCorps and MOST volunteering abroad is not for you. Plus, PeaceCorps and other work helping people in the developing world is most certainly "a real job." They need people who understand the seriousness of the work and are willing to make the commitment -- they don't want people who are just looking around.

If you want a job abroad someday, for a for-profit company or business where you can live comfortably, you will need to be able to work in  another language -- you will need to either minor or major in another language, or, you will need to take several intense immersion courses over the next few years. You also will need experience working in multi-cultural environments, and this is easily done through volunteering.

There is a listing of the more-than-30 member organizations of the International Volunteers Program Association (IVPA) that is a good place to find reputable volunteer-for-a-fee programs -- programs where you don't need to have much experience in order to participate, and the placements are just for a few weeks or months:

http://www.volunteerinternational.org/

These 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.). They don't pay these expenses for you, choosing instead to focus their money on employing and helping local people.

Should you decide that you could live without luxuries for a while, here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations such as the PeaceCorps, 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 and education).

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volu...

Answer 2

You might look into teaching English as a second language overseas.

Answer 3

www.rippleafrica.org

Not sure what the living conditions are but it'srun by a great couple from the U.K.

Answer 4

or perhaps americorps

http://www.americorps.org/