Want to volunteer abroad?

posted by on October 10, 2011
Filed under: Events and Volunteering & Service
featured

Image of monks volunteering in Kyegundo earthquake zone via SFTHQ (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Have you been thinking about volunteering abroad, but aren’t sure how to go about it? If you’re wondering where to go, how long you can afford to stay, and how you can be sure you’ll contribute to a meaningful and positive impact, here are two free events that might help:

At these free events, you can chat with representatives from organizations that lead volunteer projects in communities around the globe. You can also attend free workshops—sponsored by Cross-Cultural Solutions—on the basics of international service and strategies for making volunteering abroad more affordable.

Our former colleague Erin Barnhart is coordinating these fairs along with the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA), so we’re sure they’ll be beautifully organized and full of valuable info. Click the Eventbrite links above for the full details and to RSVP. And let us know if you go check ‘em out!

And if you can’t make it to one of these events, check out our International Volunteering Resource Center.

Tags: , , , ,


«
»


Comments (13)

  1. Gary Williamson writes:
    October 10, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I have an abiding interest in volunteering. I have spent a year in Iran teaching english, and spent about 3 weeks in Kenya, and other interesting places such as Turkey, India, etc.
  2. nabukonde janepher writes:
    October 11, 2011 at 8:56 am

    what has one got to do if she wants to volunteer but can’t get a way out as in up keep?well am in Africa ( Uganda), could i find any way of doing it with u cos i have a heart of Volunteering.
    i will be great full hearing from you.
    thanks so much
    be blessed.
  3. Brittany writes:
    October 13, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    @Gary Williamson
    You mentioned that you volunteered in Kenya teaching Enlish. What program did you go through or did you arrange on your own?
  4. Yvonne marian Quaicoe writes:
    October 15, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    Am looking forward to set up a foundation for the poor and needy and orphanages.Am also looking forward to volunteering abroad is there any help.
  5. FURKAN ARISOY writes:
    October 16, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Hello,

    I’m from Turkey and I had volunteering programme in the field of culture in Istanbul 2010 European capital of culture. I joint in many organizations and now I want to be volunteer abroad. Countries i want to go are Spain,Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Italy basically.
    I speak fluent English and my mother tongue is Turkish…
  6. Hubi A writes:
    October 17, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    Hi,

    I’m interested in Volunteering abroad also, especially countries in Africa! I’m not sure what programs to get involved in and I would love for anyone that can help direct me to the right resource. I speak fluent English and Somali, with the knowledge of Arabic and French. I’m currently volunteering at an English Language Program, hoping to gain the experience, so that I can one day teach English abroad.

    Thanks
  7. Amanda Orme writes:
    October 19, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    Hi,

    I will like to send my daugter, to do some volunteer in Colombia. She is a junior in high school and she is fluent in Spanish. Any information is hightly appreciated.

    Thanks
  8. Elisa Milos writes:
    October 19, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    Hello everyone, I am Elisa, Chilean, clinical psychologist and currently living in Washington DC. I am really interested in having some experience working abroad as a mental health educator/facilitator. Fluent in Spanish and English..

    Thanks for any information about programs or teams ready to start something better for those in need

    Thanks,
    Elisa
  9. uma11 writes:
    October 20, 2011 at 3:05 am

    hell
    i am interesting in doing volunteer work in Africa. I enjoy help other. I am Register Nurse and i live in DC. I speak English, Arabic and Somalia. I would high appreciate info about any volunteer organization that are interested in volunteer to work abroad.
    Thank you
  10. Erin Barnhart writes:
    October 20, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Hi folks! Erin Barnhart here (coordinator of the upcoming global volunteer fairs and a former staff member at Idealist). It’s so great to see so much interest in volunteering internationally! Fortunately there are many programs and organizations out there with worthy projects around the globe that may be a good fit for your interests and availability. To get started, I’d recommend checking out Idealist’s International Volunteerism Resource Center (link in the blog post above). There is a ton of terrific information there, including how to research and select an organization to volunteer with, what questions to ask, how to make international service more affordable, etc. If you are in NYC or DC, you’re also welcome to attend next week’s global volunteer fairs; we’ll have free workshops there on the basics of international service and making it more affordable. I hope this helps! Good luck and safe travels, everyone
  11. Amy Potthast writes:
    October 20, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Also, in case anyone didn’t click on the Eventbrite links above — you can see the lists of organizations that are tabling at Erin’s event … even if you can’t go to the event, I encourage you to look up these organizations:

    American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
    American University School of International Service
    Atlas Service Corps
    AYUDA
    Child Family Health International (CFHI)
    Coptic Orphans
    Creative Learning
    Cross-Cultural Solutions
    Earthwatch Institute
    Franciscan Mission Service
    Global Citizens Network
    Global Volunteers
    Greenheart Travel
    Helambu Project
    InterExchange
    International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership (IPSL)
    International Volunteers in Action (iVIA)
    International Youth Fellowship Educational Foundation – Good News Volunteer Program
    Manna Project International
    MASA Israel
    Projects Abroad
    ProWorld Service Corps
    Service For Peace
    SIT Graduate Institute
    UBELONG
    United Planet
    VIA (Volunteers in Asia)
    Youth Challenge America

    And these are tabling in NYC:
    American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
    Atlas Service Corps
    AYUDA
    Canterio International
    Child Family Health International (CFHI)
    Creative Learning
    Cross-Cultural Solutions
    Earthwatch Institute
    Global Citizens Network
    Global Routes
    Global Volunteers
    Greenheart Travel
    GVI International
    InterExchange
    International Medical Corps
    International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership (IPSL)
    International Volunteers in Action (iVIA)
    International Youth Fellowship Educational Foundation – Good News Volunteer Program
    Manna Project International
    MASA Israel
    Projects Abroad
    ProWorld Service Corps
    Service For Peace
    SIT Graduate Institute
    Smaller Earth
    United Planet
    Volunteers for Peace
    WAVES for Development
    WorldTeach
    YMCA International
    Youth Challenge America

    If you are interested in longer-term volunteering (with a stipend and benefits) also check out http://thenewservice.org – it was a listing of service corps.
  12. Connie Marianacci writes:
    October 21, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    An organization I am directly in contact with and has volunteer opportunities: http://www.giveanopportunity.org
  13. Julieta writes:
    October 22, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    I just hope not get disappointed. Not expectations about it. See you all there :)

Add Your Comment

Want to see your face in the comments? Click here to upload your photo with Gravatar.