Volunteering Projects Abroad

[Overkiller]

Hi all,

I know these exist as I have come across people before that have done them; I am just not in contact with them. Here is the synopsis.

-Pay a fee that covers room, food, plane ticket.
-Go to foreign country
-Build a school, hospital, shelter, etc.
-Have ~2 days a week off where the people you are with take you sight-seeing, experiencing the culture first-hand, etc.

So it is a mix of tourism with actually doing something

I would prefer this to be a non-religious endeavor as many times the intent is good but I do not believe in helping others while asking/demanding something in return (such as you MUST be of this religion or you are not receiving help, etc etc.).

These usually are in 2-3 week stints with a group of about 20-40+ people.

I would really LOVE if someone with first-hand knowledge/experience would provide some info.

Lastly, I am almost 21 so something geared more towards young adults (i.e. a bunch of 20-something year olds [with older people that have done this before] doing this) would be great!!

Thanks all!

 

[yllus]

I've worked closely with the Canadian side of Engineers Without Borders and highly recommend them as a professional, hard-working organization. They do the very thing you're speaking of.

However, being flooded with hundreds if not thousands of applications a year, expect them to be very picky in candidates to send overseas. It's best to seek out a local chapter at your college/university and use that channel.

 

[Overkiller]

Thanks for the heads up.

Any others?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Let's get this straight. If you are going for less than a month (and that is a dead minimum), you are going on a vacation. Stop trying to fool yourself.

 

[Overkiller]

Nope there are ones like this for 3 weeks.

But thanks for looking.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Pay thousands of dollars to to some third world country and do work that is worth about $30 there... I call that resume padding.

 

[dug777]

My folks both did VSO in Nigeria and loved it

Thats how they met IIRC.

 

[Overkiller]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Pay thousands of dollars to to some third world country and do work that is worth about $30 there... I call that resume padding.

You missed the point.

I work in an office that pays for my business degree. I was the youngest person in both my original position and the one I got promoted into.

Keep trying. Thanks.

 

[Overkiller]

Originally posted by: dug777
My folks both did VSO in Nigeria and loved it

Thats how they met IIRC.

Exactly. A girl I used to be friends with absolutely loved it. Not only do you get to spend time in the foreign country/ see some of the sites/ but you actually get to experience the culture firsthand...