Description

Insight Abroad, our one-week volunteer abroad program, gives you the incredible opportunity to work side-by-side with local people and experience another culture like never before. Your work in-country will change and improve the lives of residents in communities throughout eight different countries.

Insight Abroad is identical to our flagship program, Volunteer Abroad, in virtually every respect, except that we have made special provisions for the fact that volunteers are there for only one week. It's the experience of a lifetime!

* Choose where you volunteer. Insight Abroad is available in eight countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, Morocco, Peru and Russia. Wherever you choose to volunteer abroad, our in-country staff welcome you to the CCS Home-Base, your home away from home.

* Choose when you go. We offer a variety of Insight Abroad start dates to choose from throughout the year.

* Receive an Insight Abroad placement. Our local staff determine your one-week placement based on the needs of the community. Your volunteer work is project-based, designed to be accomplished within the week. CCS volunteer work is in orphanages and child care centers, schools, daycares, and other community organizations.

* Gain an inside perspective. CCS in-country staff provide Cultural & Learning Activities so you can learn about the local culture and customs, as well as understand community development. There is also Free Time to relax, reflect, or explore the community.

Highlights

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.

Qualifications

No special skills required.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please 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.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Volunteering

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 applicants accepted with application

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

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