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 This is a special edition of the GoAbroad.com Newsletter featuring Volunteering Abroad. You will continue to receive your regular GoAbroad.com newsletter at its regular date. You may direct any questions or comments to GoAbroad Feedback form. We have made every effort to provide a quality resource for volunteers around the world. We depend upon your feedback and guidance. Thank you for your support!
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VolunteerAbroad.com provides you with advanced search tools and Online Advisors --without charge-- that can help you find the overseas program that's perfect for you.
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Is volunteering abroad right for you?
Volunteering requires flexibility and patience. The best candidates are self-starters and independent types who will genuinely respect the host people and their culture. Volunteers should never go to teach Western ways, nor are they there to rescue someone. They go to share their energy and time with others, to experience another culture first-hand, and to grow personally, spiritually, and professionally.
Are you open enough to accept and respect a foreign culture, no matter how different it may be from yours?
This may be one of the most difficult aspects of a volunteer experience. Some of the culture's characteristics will baffle your sense of logic, or challenge your idea of justice; however, remember that you are the visitor. No lone volunteer can change centuries of social traditions and practices. Before you commit to volunteering abroad, you must look inside yourself and evaluate honestly if you are flexible enough to respect a new culture. Your role as an international volunteer is not to teach the superiority of your society's ways, but to work within a foreign culture to make a positive difference. However, many volunteer programs do incorporate modern technology and practices in agriculture, education, construction and business, to name a few. Many programs can use your help teaching your native language to the locals. Your background is invaluable to these projects.
Are you confident in yourself?
Volunteering abroad is not easy. It requires people to abandon their creature comforts, cultural norms, and often their language, and travel a long way to live and work in conditions that can be primitive, difficult, or emotionally draining. At first, volunteers may feel isolated upon arriving in a foreign city or village knowing no one — especially when another language is widely used. This is why it's crucial for those considering a volunteer abroad position to clarify their personal reasons for doing so. Read More
More…
Some Best Bets for Volunteering Abroad
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Cross-Cultural Solutions is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering. We are a non-profit organization that enables volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to the community by working side-by-side with local people, while gaining a new perspective and insight into the culture and themselves.
The volunteer work is with carefully selected Partner Programs, all of which are dynamic and inspiring community-led initiatives. Volunteers enjoy the flexibility of choosing from 12 countries, start dates year-round and programs from 1-12 weeks long. CCS offers international volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand.
CCS volunteers work in the areas of Social Services, Education and Health:
- Caring for infants & children
- Teaching children
- Teaching English
- Assisting teachers
- Observing and assisting local health professionals
- Working with people affected by HIV/AIDS
- Caring for the elderly
- Caring for people with disabilities
- Assisting teachers of Special Education
- Working toward women's empowerment
- Sharing your professional skills/experience
Request for more information!
Read Testimonials »
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Volunteering with Tropical Adventures means remarkable experiences,
life-changing moments and the chance to make a difference in some
of Costa Rica's communities most in need. Our non-profit foundation
supports many different community, environmental and wildlife projects
as we try to fulfill our goals of reducing poverty and injustice and
helping communities achieve sustainable growth.
Volunteer in the Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo, the beautiful
Central Valley or exotic Guanacaste. Discover Costa Rica's rich and
diverse culture, learn Spanish and meet new people. Programs include:
- Summer Volunteer Adventure
- Bambu Retirement Home and Indigenous Project
- Elementary Schools and Teaching English
- Iguana Refuge
- Sea Turtle Projects
- Monkey Park Animal Refuge
- National Park Projects
All packages include accommodations (option of host family or hostel),
meals, ground transportation from airport, Spanish language lessons,
project training, in-country support, complimentary tours, and medical insurance.
Participants can come for as little as one week up to six months. We are
able to adapt and customize these programs to suit the volunteer's
personality and interests - it is possible to combine different
volunteering projects and we can even arrange special tours. Explore,
experience, and expand horizons with a Tropical Adventure.
For more information on our exciting programs, contact us at
1-800-832-9419 or visit us online.
Read Testimonials »
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Are you looking for a unique travel experience that will give you the liberty to explore beautiful South Africa whilst giving some of your time to children, wildlife & communities in need? As South Africa's leading volunteer organisation, AVIVA is committed to supporting sustainable projects while providing you with a life changing volunteering experience.
We believe that volunteering promotes self-growth, cultural understanding, and provides you with a chance to really experience a country first hand. We only work with grass roots projects that have evolved to meet real needs - so you can be sure that you will be contributing your time to a worthwhile and rewarding cause. From 16 year old students to 70 year old retirees, we have hosted volunteers from a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds, and our dedicated support team (the largest in Africa!) are here to ensure that your volunteering experience not only matches, but exceeds your expectations. Like many previous volunteers, you can open your eyes to new adventures, new friends, and an experience that will capture your heart and mind…
Come and join us, we would love to see you in South Africa soon!
Read Testimonials »
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Challenge yourself in the land of the Incas, climb Machu Picchu, learn Spanish, and experience life in a Peruvian community whilst making a real and lasting contribution to the lives of the people there.
Peru's Challenge works in partnership with communities over a period of 3-5 years, to develop better health, education, and general living standards, providing a better future for the children and the
community at large. Living in our volunteer house just 6kms outside
the beautiful historical city of Cusco, our volunteers work with us,
to provide lasting and sustainable solutions to the problems the
community faces. Whether building a toilet block for the school,
helping the mothers create craft produce to sell, teaching the
children, or visiting households in the community with the local
social worker, you'll be making a permanent contribution to the
community whilst also having the chance to experience the beauty of
Peru on our tailored tours.
Key elements to your trip:
- 1, 2 or 3 month placements available
- Variety of projects to meet or develop volunteers' skills and experiences
- Access to English speaking team doctor
- Guided tours around Peru
- Regular volunteer meetings to discuss progress
- Volunteer Manager working with you day to day
- Spanish lessons
Learn more about us, or apply here
Read Testimonials »
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Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV) is a non-profit organization based in the small southern city of Tacloban, Philippines. Established in 1992, over 300 international volunteers have joined VFV in its community development and educational projects in and around Tacloban. VFV currently has 138 sponsored kids and runs numerous community projects where the local families are actively involved.
Volunteers of all ages can participate in build-a-home and build-a-school projects, orphanages, medical missions, feeding, eco-farm project, teaching in rural schools, and much more. To immerse in the local culture and experience the everyday life of a typical Filipino family, volunteers live with host families. Filipinos are incredibly hospitable and go out of their way to make their guests feel at home. During free time, excursions to nearby towns and islands are popular activities for volunteers.
VFV accommodates volunteers from 2 weeks to 6 months and programs run throughout the year.
For more information, visit the VFV website or apply here.
Read Testimonials »
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Featured Organizations :
Great Volunteer Destinations:
Peru, Kenya, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nepal, Chile, Philippines, India, Ghana, Thailand, Ecuador, Brazil
Types of Volunteer Work:
Agriculture, Animal Welfare, Building Schools, Childcare, Community Health, Community Development, Conservation, Education, Elderly, English Teaching, Environment, Global Warming, Orphans, Street Kids, Teaching, 2008 Summer Olympics
Read journals on firsthand experiences of volunteers abroad as they immersed themselves in a foreign culture. Ask for advice and insights directly from them to help you come up with an informed decision on the type of volunteer work that would best fit you and what volunteer program to participate in.
"It has added to my book of experiences and further shaped me and the world that I live in. I felt like I changed after this experience." - Allan420th
"Being here makes me realize how lucky I was…" - srycrof
Read more Volunteer Journals…
Ready to go abroad? Then you're ready for iNext. Your iNext card comes with a complete network of travel insurance coverage - accident, sickness, hospital, transport, repatriation baggage, and document - fulfilled through a partnership with AIG Travel Guard the world's leading travel insurer.
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AirTreks provides students, teachers and independent travelers with the necessary tools and expertise for planning and finalizing their own custom Around-the-World and Multi-Stop International trips.
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