The New York Times likens Cross-Cultural Solutions to "a mini-stint with the Peace Corps." Participants can volunteer abroad at more than 20 different sites throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Volunteer activities include caregiving, health care, teaching and community development. Programs last from one to twelve weeks. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the destination, but food, lodging and in-country transportation are provided for the duration of the stay.
crossculturalsolutions.org/
World Teach offers two-month summer programs in seven different locations: Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Namibia, Poland and South Africa. Volunteers teach English at schools or community centers in their location of choice and may have opportunities to participate in cultural activities in the area. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the destination but lodging and access to a kitchen or cafeteria will be provided.
worldteach.org
WOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, a network of organic farms around the world willing to exchange room and board for volunteer work. By joining this network, volunteers can plan a summer vacation at one farm or across many farms at locations around the world. Volunteers must pay for their own transportation, but room and board are provided free of charge.
wwoof.org/
Casa Guatemala is an orphanage in Guatemala City that is home to more than 250 children. Those interested in the Volunteer Vacation program can stay in the Hotel Backpackers and travel to the orphanage by boat each day to assist with daily needs. Volunteers staying three months or more will live on-site in the Children's Village. Participants must make their own travel arrangements to the site, but food and lodging are provided as well as daily transportation from the hotel to Casa Guatemala.
casa-guatemala.org/
Projects Abroad offers volunteer programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers can participate in a variety of activities including teaching, conservation, caregiving and hospital work. Programs can last anywhere from two weeks to several months. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements, but food and lodging are provided on site.
projects-abroad.org
Volunteers with the AMIGOS Experience will spend their summer in Latin America staying with a host family and working on sustainable projects in the areas of construction, health and the environment. AMIGOS volunteers are typically high school students. Round-trip airfare, food, and lodging are provided for this project.
amigoslink.org
Summer programs with the Global Service Corps range from four to six weeks and take place in Tanzania or Thailand. Activities include teaching HIV/AIDS prevention and nutrition education, teaching sustainable agriculture, and teaching conversational English. Thailand also offers a short-term immersion program in Buddhism. Volunteers must take care of their own travel arrangements, however room and board are provided at their destination.
globalservicecorps.org
ProWorld has summer volunteer opportunities for college students. Participants can earn college credits and learn Spanish, art and history while volunteering in Peru, Belize or Mexico. Multi-country programs are also available. The Summer Study Abroad program typically lasts about one month. Room and board are provided on site, but participants must make their own travel arrangements.
myproworld.org
Volunteer Vacations with the American Hiking Society last only week and can take place in several different locations throughout the U.S. Volunteers spend their vacation building and maintaining trails in parks across the country. Participants can choose the difficulty level and type of accommodations they would like for their project. Volunteers are responsible for their own travel arrangements and must bring appropriate camping gear, water bottles and eating utensils. Food and camp cook gear are provided by the host.
americanhiking.org/volunteerVacation.aspx
Volunteers for Common Ground Relief are provided with basic shelter for sleeping as well as three meals a day for the duration of their stay. Individuals and groups planning to work on a short-term basis can plan a stay as long or short as they would like. Volunteer work focuses on rebuilding homes in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the site.
commongroundrelief.org
