Where can I volunteer at?

Where can i volunteer?

• I'm currently in a gap year of my life where I can't decide a major for college, and I'm looking to make good use of my extra time. I'm looking to travel and volunteer in a Central/South American country where I can make a difference (preferably in a environmental or biological setting). I don;t really think I want to spend the 27 months required by the Peace Core, I'm looking for more around a solid year commitment. The problem I've been running into is that many of these volunteer programs want me to pay thousands of dollars to volunteer. I'm looking for an organization willing to provide me with room/board (no matter how basic) in exchange for a year of service. The more exotic the location the better, I'm just looking for an experience helping others, and one that won't cost me my college savings. A little additional information about me: I'm a proficient Spanish speaker with extensive computer knowledge as well as an academic background in biological and environmental protection

• Answer:

  So you don't have a college education or a lot of experience, but you are hoping to find a cash-strapped NGO to foot your airfare and housing so you can come and do a little feel-good work in an exotic location. Not going to happen. Places that are truly trying to help people don't have the money to bring over unskilled people. Even if they did, they'd just hire locally and provide jobs in their developing world. That's pretty much the goal, and God knows developing countries have plenty of non-college educated people to work with. I traveled to India to do some volunteer work with one organization (and I paid for it). My plane ticket alone was $1800. That's steep, but I was working with people who don't make $1 a day. If the organization had that kind of money just to bring me over, why would they do it? That's 1/3 of the annual wage of your average Indian right there. It'd be wasteful to just hand it to me in exchange for a couple of English lessons. They could solve their problems. Those volunteer organizations exist for folks like you, and they charge fees for a reason. You get safe in-country transportation, housing that's been vetted, decent food that won't kill you and you're set up with reputable organizations to work with. An experience helping people that won't cost you your college savings is right in your local city. Go to the Red Cross, the library, a food bank, a Boys and Girls' Club, refugee center, animal shelter, an elderly neighbor, etc. It'll cost you nothing but you'll gain a ton in exchange.