The Nonprofit FAQ

Where I can learn about volunteering overseas?

Action Without Borders (the publisher of this FAQ) operates the website at http://www.idealist.org, where nonprofit organizations from every part of the world post announcements of volunteer opportunities. Idealist.org also lists other services that help volunteers and organizations find each other: http://www.idealist.org/volunteer/vol_sites.html "Just Naive Enough" is a program of Northwestern University that assists with overseas service-learning projects for American undergraduates. http://www.justnaiveenough.org/ Jayne Cravens wrote on July 17, 2002: There is a comprehensive listing of the various organizations that offer international volunteering opportunities for U.S. citizens at: http://www.serviceleader.org/advice/overseas.html This portal links to more than 30 other web sites, many of which offer links to even more organizations. International opportunities vary in length from one week to several years, depending on the program sponsor. Many of these organizations require participants to pay a program free as well as their own travel expenses. There is also an excellent book regarding volunteering abroad: How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher. It covers choosing an organization, overcoming financial obstacles, what to do before you go, how to be an effective international volunteer, what to do when your service is over, and much much more. It's available from most major online book sellers, and can be ordered at most book stores or through Amazon.Com with http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/014200071X/internetnonprofi">this link (a portion of the proceeds will help maintain this site). Erwin S. Bandoo said on ARNOVA-L on 26 Jun 1995: I would like to inform all those interested that InterAction has a home page located on the World Wide Web at http://www.interaction.org InterAction is a coalition of over 150 US-based non-profits working to promote human dignity and development in 165 countries around the world. InterAction is the nation's leading advocate for humanitarian aid to the world's poorer countries. Also located on this page is information concerning The Alliance for a Global Community -- a project of InterAction whose purpose is helping Americans understand that: a)U.S. support for the developing world is important, cost-effective and successful; b)The U.S. and developing nations share a common future; and c)Opportunities have never been greater for reducing world hunger and poverty and building a just and sustainable future. There is a wealth of information at this site, including information on disaster relief, advocacy issues, and human rights. Also available is information on volunteer opportunities, humantarian issues, upcoming events, and access to several newsletters. Kristin Hegazy suggested that the Internet Nonprofit Center should add a reference to her organization on 3/23/01: Cross-Cultural Solutions: International Volunteer Programs offer the exciting opportunity to travel overseas to Asia, Africa and Latin America to volunteer with local non-profit organizations. Short and long-term assignments are available. The link is: http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org And Michele Gran, vice president of Global Volunteers provided this summary of that organization's work on 10/18/02: "Keep peace in your heart and pass it on." Global Volunteers, an international humanitarian organization in consultation with the United Nations, places short-term volunteers on development projects serving over 70 host communities in 19 countries worldwide. Projects include teaching conversational English, nurturing disabled or abandoned infants, assisting with health care, restoring or preserving rainforest areas, or painting and repairing community structures. Visit the website at http://www.globalvolunteers.org for more information. Revised 4/12/01; 7/18/02, 10/18/02; 3/24/05; 7/22/06 - PB