Description

Volunteer abroad for 1 to 12 weeks in China with Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS). As a volunteer in China, you will get a rare inside view of one of the world's largest and most ancient cultures. Many people in Xi'an are familiar with CCS volunteers and enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to discuss volunteering and current events with our participants. China has a vivid and distinct history, artistic tradition, cuisine, and social structure, and your work as a volunteer will help to continue this magnificent country's culture and lifestyle.

Cross-Cultural Solutions' volunteer program in China is located in Xi'an, the crossroads of Western and Eastern China, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Home to the famous Terra Cotta Army, Xi'an was once the imperial capital of China. Today, with a population of approximately 8 million in the greater urban area, this modern city still reflects its rich history and culture.

Volunteers working in China may be at local schools or orphanages, English language camps, centers for people with disabilities, and community-based health organizations. Specialized placements in the health field are available for medical professionals only.

Volunteers in China are involved with the following types of programs:
* Caring for infants and children
* Teaching children
* Teaching English
* Assisting teachers
* Sharing their professional skills/experience
* Caring for people with disabilities
* Assisting teachers of special education

Cross-Cultural Solutions is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that addresses critical global issues by providing meaningful and sustainable volunteer service to communities abroad and investing in the local economies and people.

To-date, more than 25,000 people have participated in our volunteer programs, providing over two million hours of service to communities we serve in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The continuous, year-round service that CCS provides creates opportunities for cultural exchange; promotes education, childhood development, and healthy living; encourages domestic volunteering and awareness of community needs; breaks down stigmas and stereotypes; and improves quality of life.

Highlights

Xi'an is the crossroads of Western and Eastern China and is the starting point of the Silk Road. Culturally, Xi'an is a mixture of the ancient and modern worlds. Home to the famous Terra Cotta Army, it was once the imperial capital of China. The city's ancient history is embodied by the huge stone walls that surround the city center, originally intended to protect the city from invasion. In the modern world, Xi'an is the largest capital city in Central and Western China. The metropolitan area is home to approximately 7 million people, and remains a major center of traditional Chinese culture. Just to the North of Xi'an is the Qinling Mountain range, which includes the sacred Huashan Mountain, birthplace of Taoism.

Xi'an is most unique because of its people. The diversity of China's people is represented in Xi'an's Tibetan, Muslim, Han and other Chinese ethnicities. Your time in Xi'an will provide you with opportunities to connect with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, exposing you to the wide scope of Chinese culture.In Xi'an, Cross-Cultural Solutions works on several projects within NGOs alongside Chinese volunteers from the community. Many people in Xi'an familiar with Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteers request time to discuss volunteerism and current events with our participants.

Cross-Cultural Solutions offers a wide variety of programs and experiences, but all of our volunteers come away with the same benefits:
* Personal Growth
* Having a Purpose
* Gaining Independence and Confidence
* Connecting with Others
* Seeing a Country from the Inside-Out

The CCS Home-Base

CCS offers volunteers unprecedented support, and our entire infrastructure is designed around volunteer safety. Each of our programs is located close to a CCS Home-Base, your "home away from home" while volunteering abroad. Each Home-Base is exclusively for CCS volunteers, and designed for your safety and comfort. Here, you can connect with other volunteers and CCS staff, reflect on your experiences, enjoy meals together, read, and relax.

The CCS experience also includes cultural and learning activities so that you can learn about the local culture. These include an in-depth orientation, language training, guest speakers and more. Volunteers also have plenty of free time to relax, reflect, or explore the community and country.

Qualifications

No special skills or experience required. No teaching experience required.

Intern Types

• Education

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Visit our website for program fees.

Program Fees Include:

What you get for the fee
* Personalized Volunteer Placement with our Partner Programs, based on your skills and interests, including all the coordination, in-person visits and communication necessary with each local organization.
* In-country Perspectives Programming that includes excursions to nearby points of interest, special events and discussions with a variety of local cultural, professional, governmental and community agencies and people.
* Cross-Cultural Solutions' Home-Base structure, providing you with a comfortable, safe place to live, the basic amenities, all of your meals, and transportation to and from all Cross-Cultural Solutions' placements and programs.
* An experienced U.S. based Cross-Cultural Solutions Program Manager (and former volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions) who will serve as your coordinator, guide, and liaison with our in-country staff.
* In-country basic language assistance (optional).
* Professional, locally-based staff to provide orientation, supervision and guidance throughout your stay.
* Travel medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance, applicable to participants worldwide.
* Important documents, including in-depth pre-departure packs, orientation information, and all in-country informational materials.
* Country-based airport transportation.
* Local phone calls.
* In-coming international phone service.
* A toll-free 24-hour emergency hotline in the U.S.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Community Development

Typical Volunteer

While other volunteer programs may require certain skills or degrees, Cross-Cultural Solutions' programs are open to everyone. No matter what you believe your skill level to be, you have something meaningful and helpful to offer. We are dedicated to providing a meaningful placement for anyone willing to volunteer, and believe that the only skills required for international volunteering are a willingness to learn and an open mind.

Age Range

18 and older, younger volunteers accepted with application

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Application Process Involves

• Other

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Cross-Cultural Solutions's Mission Statement

Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding. We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations.

Year Founded

1995