Are there any programs which don't charge a fee to volunteer abroad for a year or less?

Question

I am interested in volunteering in another country after I graduate from college in a couple years. I would love to find a program like the Peace Corps that doesn't charge a fee, and that includes housing, food, etc. However, I am interested in volunteering for a year or less (not 2 years, which is required for the Peace Corps). Are there any good programs out there like this?

Answer 1

LAGOS

Answer 2

Unfortunately, for anything less than a year you *generally* have to pay for yourself. The reason is that these organizations just don't have the money to pay for your accommodation, flights, stipend, etc, which is what your fee goes to pay.

If you were Canadian, I could help you - there are a number of organizations (through the Cdn gov't) that will pay for you to work overseas. But if you're referring to the Peace Corps then I assume you're American, and therefor don't qualify for the Canadian programs.

I would recommend looking into Global Volunteer Network. It's an organization based out of NZ but anyone who speaks English can apply. I've done a LOT of research on working overseas and these guys are by far the cheapest program I've found. It's still a reputable organization and seem quite good. There are many programs you can choose from, and the costs can be as cheap as $1,000 for 3 months - which covers transportation (in the country, not flights), accommodation, meals, training, etc.

You might also want to look into Engineers Without Borders (EWB). They're great and you aren't required to actually be an engineer in order to apply to their programs. They pay for you to go overseas and have short and longer positions. But, you need to start getting involved in organizations like Oxfam, EWB on your campus, Amnesty International, etc. They really look for someone who has been involved for a while to show their dedication. There's most likely an EWB chapter at your campus. Check out their website. I'm involved with them and am not an engineer, so I know they will take other professional volunteers.

Answer 3

gooogle search.

Answer 4

You never said anything about what it is that you can do. What are your areas of expertise? Can you work in a language other than English?

Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by organizations that don't charge volunteers but require volunteers to be highly-skilled, and how you can start to gain such experience locally, wherever you are right now:

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

If you skills and experience that are very much needed in the developing world -- you've managed a literacy project, you've built a water filtration system using local materials, you've directed an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign with teenagers, you've helped establish a farmer's co-op, you've  provided medical services, you've helped with a prisoner education program, etc. -- then you can look into  SCI - Service Civil International (http://www.sci-ivs.org/) and Winrock International. Both are based in the USA and have short-term assignments for highly-skilled, expert volunteers. Look at their web sites to get an idea of the kinds of experts they are looking for.

Without skills that are very much needed in the developing world, you are an unskilled volunteer, and will need to pay all expenses associated with your experience: flights, in-country transportation, health insurance, accommodation, food, security, translators, training, staff to create the service opportunities and then to supervise and support you in your service, liaisons with the police and local officials, etc. The reason is that the organization wants to spend it's money hiring local people for unskilled jobs, so they can gain experience and feed their families.

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/

Here's one specific org recommendation for a pay-to-volunteer program: Unite For Sight, which workes through partner eye clinics and communities to create eye disease-free communities. "While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that works for everyone..." This program was featured on CNN International. Volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, are 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. It is obligatory for accepted volunteers to purchase insurance coverage through Unite for Sight's recommended provider, and volunteers are responsible for all travel arrangements, visa vaccine requirements, lodging, airfare, food, and any additional expenses. http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunt...