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Content Tagged Under : Volunteering Abroad
Elaine volunteered abroad in Tanzania with SIC!
That awkward moment...
When you’re standing in line to buy some condoms and you see your gossipy next-door neighbor making her way behind you in line. You hastily grab a basket, throw the small box in it, and do your best to conceal it under packets of gum and an over-sized “snack” bag of Hot Cheetos. The truth is, prying eyes and undue judgment make being proactive about safe sex a little uncomfortable for some of us.
Luckily, the age of online shopping is upon us. There are many websites available for people to order condoms and other...
Try to pick up the local language - English is only the third.
Volunteering in a foreign country is a truly amazing experience. But no matter how excited you might be about what awaits you, leaving your home country for foreign soil can be an intimidating and stressful situation. You will meet all kinds of new people. You may have to deal with a major language barrier. Customs will not be what you are used to. Accommodations might be less modern than the ones you have at your home. All of these things are especially true when volunteering somewhere as unfamiliar as Kigali, Rwanda. But if...
Sterilizing Water Bottle
Our friends over at Much Better Adventures are the experts when it comes to roughing it outdoors in all types of terrains. This handy list should be useful to any active and adventurous traveller preparing for their next trip into the unknown – take note, backpackers, campers, and volunteers (or any travellers) who will be staying in remote areas! No matter where you are in the world, these seven things will make your life easier.
Sterilising water bottle
Nobody wants to get ill when they’re volunteering abroad, but quite often water-born bugs can be the cause....
When people first think about volunteering in a developing country they think about working in an orphanage or teaching English. But have you ever thought about giving back to the community in a more sustainable way? Volunteering your time to help out at an orphanage and teach English is noble and undeniably fulfilling but it is short term. However, by contributing to an organization that promotes microfinance, your actions will continue to make a difference.
For those of you who are not familiar with microfinance, it is a system in which small loans are provided to people who are in need of...
Volunteer Director Katie and her Mexican host family
Choosing your accommodations for an extended period abroad can be a struggle. One of the most discussed options when travelling or studying abroad is a homestay with a local family. Homestays can be a rewarding experience and present an unrivaled opportunity for genuine cultural exchange. Living situations can range from a basic room-rental agreement to full-blown family immersion. Depending on what kind of experience you’re looking to have abroad, either side of that spectrum could either sound awesome or awful. Here are a few pros and...
Is Volunteering with the Peace Corps right for you?
This Program is Too Long; This Program is Too Short; This Program is JUUUST Right.
The incredibly long, unfathomable-from-the-other-side-of-the-application-process duration of the Peace Corps program attracted me when I first decided to apply. I wanted to volunteer abroad, and being—in my own mind—mildly hard-core, I greedily sought the greatest adventure available, the biggest slice of cake. “If you’re going, why not go all the way?” was my deluded reasoning, and the Peace Corps fit perfectly. The Peace Corps is a 27 month commitment, but...
Take the easy way out.
Editor’s Note: The article you are about to read is to be taken extremely seriously and is no way an Onion-style satirical piece. This article is the 2nd in a multi-part investigative series about the dangers of spending meaningful time abroad. To be safe, we recommend reading part 1: Why Studying Abroad Will Ruin Your Life.
Despite – and partially due to – the increased popularity of volunteering abroad, people rarely discuss the darker side of helping the less fortunate. Recent surveys show that only 99.4% of people are happy with their volunteer experience. That...
Africa: the flagship continent when it comes to international volunteering - at least it always has been for me.
It’s hard to believe that it was only a year ago that I boarded my first flight to Africa. In search of inspiration (post-cancer treatment), I headed to Cape Town for a six-week volunteer program with Cross-Cultural Solutions. It was this experience that sparked the idea for my volunteer trip around the world, so I knew I had to include Africa in my global itinerary.
After explaining my long-term goal of creating the Fresh Chapter Foundation - to help other cancer survivors...
Namaste India
I arrived in India late at night after a fourteen-hour flight to be warmly greeted by the CCS staff. At the airport, I met up with another volunteer, Katie, who I later learned I would be sharing my placement with. We chatted while we waited for a few additional volunteers to arrive, and then we were taken to the home base. At night you could smell the distinct scent of Delhi, a combination of what can only be described as incense and pollution – something that takes a bit of time to adjust to.
Cultural Adjustments
New Delhi CCS provides a wonderful orientation; in the first few...
Why wait? Keep volunteering even at home.
So you’ve just returned from your volunteer experience. Now what? If you're anything like me, you don't want the learning to stop. There are plenty of opportunities that your volunteering experience can make available to you, even after the trip is over. Here are a few of your options when you come back from your adventure abroad.
1) Are you interested in going back to school?
Volunteer experience shows that you are self-motivated, flexible, and equipped to deal with a variety of people and places. This looks great on a grad school application. Get a...
Miririni Secondary School on the HIV Testing Day
Being a woman isn’t easy. But being a woman in a developed Western region, with the full access to proactive measures and open discussion of sexual health, is somewhat easier than being one in other cultures and countries. On March 10, 2012, the United States observed National Women’s and Girl’s HIV Awareness day. Here in the Bay Area, where Go Overseas is located, student health centers and clinics celebrated by offering the community free testing services. Having volunteered in Tanzania as an HIV/AIDS educator last summer, I think it speaks...
Join hands and volunteer abroad!
I volunteered with Projects Abroad last summer in Moldova, and although Moldova’s location is the source of many questions, the one I get asked the most is: “OMG! Weren’t you scared?” The truth is, yes, I was actually terrified, but it was the best choice I have ever made. That is why if you are thinking about volunteering, interning or studying abroad, don’t wait - just go for it.
Getting Cold Feet – Don’t Worry It’s Normal!
My decision to volunteer in Moldova was easy, to be perfectly honest. I knew that I wanted to go somewhere different and the program I...
After a thrilling three weeks volunteering with Cross Cultural Solutions in New Delhi, I have a few days in UK en route to Rwanda. It’s been great to reflect on my time in India… and to sleep in a big Western bed. I knew India would be a challenging portion of my trip, but I’m so glad that I went.
If I’m to be really honest, I will admit that India had not made it to my Top 10 List of Must-See Places. Sure, I loved hearing other people's stories of India and often got a hankering for Indian take-out, but to actually travel to a country of billions of people, risk picking up a wretched case...
Offering your time for the benefit of others can be one of the most rewarding experiences there is. If you’re a foodie, why not combine your passion and energies by volunteering for a good cause with a food theme?
Here are six volunteer programs fit for foodies worldwide:
Argentina - Perfect your empanadas!
1) Community Outreach - Buenos Aires, Argentina
What you’ll do: The program includes preparing food baskets, delivering them to families in need, cooking and serving food and snacks, and teaching local residents about healthy lifestyles and nutrition. This program also includes related...
Lend a hand: volunteer with your mind, body, and soul!
While travel itself is filled with uncertainty, there is one thing that's for sure: volunteering abroad is a life changing experience. For those who really put their effort into helping a humanitarian cause, the rewards and lessons learned can be priceless. After spending time teaching English in Thailand and doing orphanage volunteer work in Ghana, I've come away with some valuable lessons.
Here are the top ten things I learned from volunteering abroad:
#1. Small changes make a big impact.
One thing many people wonder before signing up...
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