The best volunteer abroad organization/program?

What is the best "volunteer abroad" program I can do this summer that will be both rewarding and affordable?

• I am a premed student trying to build my resume. I'm looking for a "volunteer abroad" program for this summer. Can anyone tell me of a good affordable program? I'm looking for something medical related, though I don't have any certificates yet, I'm just a student. I'd also be interested in construction, perhaps helping build a school or hospital. I'd prefer central or south america, but also interested in Africa. I speak a little Spanish but not much. All the programs I've found cost around 1500 - 4000 dollars. Aren't there any programs that will pay for travel and room and board? Any help would be great! Thanks!

• Answer:

  "Aren't there any programs that will pay for travel and room and board?" Not for a summer volunteer program, as it's much more beneficial for local people to use such funds to hire local people to do the work themselves and be able to support their families, rather than bringing foreigners in to do the work. One way to build your resume with volunteering without paying anything is to volunteer *locally*. You can find such opportunities here: VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org Idealist, http://www.idealist.org Change.org, http://www.change.org CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/ ServeNet, http://servenet.org/ Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site, http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/ If you want to go overseas for just the summer, then you need to be prepared to cover all costs yourself, so as not to take any resources away from local people: for your flights, in-country transportation, health insurance, accommodation, food, security, translators, training, staff to create the service opportunities and then to supervise and support you in your service, liaisons with the police and local officials, etc. There is a listing of the more-than-30 member organizations of the International Volunteers Program Association (IVPA) that is a good place to find reputable volunteer-for-a-fee programs -- programs where you don't need to have much experience in order to participate, and the placements are just for a few weeks or months: http://www.volunteerinternational.org/ Here's one specific org recommendation: Unite For Sight, which workes through partner eye clinics and communitie to create eye disease-free communities. "While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that works for everyone..." This program was featured on CNN International. Volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, are 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. It is obligatory for accepted volunteers to purchase insurance coverage through Unite for Sight's recommended provider, and volunteers are responsible for all travel arrangements, visa vaccine requirements, lodging, airfare, food, and any additional expenses. http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/ Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations, or organizations that don't charge volunteers but require volunteers to be highly-skilled, and how you can start to gain such experience locally, wherever you are now. http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html