Go West…Go Abroad

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New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof has long been an advocate for study abroad and  recently he reiterated his stance that more Americans, particularly college students, should study abroad, do a gap year or otherwise live abroad.

“The number of Americans studying abroad has tripled over the last 20 years, but, still, fewer than 10 percent of college students study overseas during undergraduate years.”

As Kristof explains, learning another language and living abroad expands your perspective, exposes you to a new culture and way of life and gives you the tools to interact with an increasingly globalized world.

As an association, IVPA is dedicated to promoting awareness and access to valuable volunteer abroad programs. Many people don’t realize that volunteering abroad can be an adaptable experience depending on your situation and time commitment. Volunteer programs can be short term, a week or two, but many of IVPA’s member organizations offer Gap Year experiences and/or college credit with longer volunteer programs.

explore Sodavekt

Have Love – Will Travel: Reading about Volunteers’ Experiences

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havelove

 Credit: LA Hall

I am always renewed by the stories of travelers, the connections and encounters.  Just reading over some of IVPA members’  blogs I feel I am gaining some of that knowledge by reading about volunteers and their experiences. Check out some of the latest from IVPA’s members and you might just catch the travel volunteer bug yourself:

Amigos de las Americas News and Blog

AYUDA’s Latest Updates

Cross-Cultural Solutions’ Blog

Global Citizens Network’s Blog

Global Service Corps’ Blog

Globe Aware News

Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village Volunteer Stories

Projects Abroad News

Service For Peace’s Volunteer Stories

Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness…Does it?

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The western world seems to spend a lot of time searching for happiness. Consumer culture tells us that stuff makes us happy but we have all experienced that the happiness from things is only fleeting. In 2013 two behavioral scientists published their latest research in a book, Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending. In their book authors Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton outline five principles for individuals and companies can follow, when spending money, to achieve more happiness.

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The authors’ five  principles include:

  1. Buy Experiences
  2. Make it a Treat
  3. Buy Time
  4. Pay Now, Consume Later
  5. Invest in Others

These principles are such great reminders and especially ring true for volunteer travelers. So many times when an international volunteer returns home they will describe their experience as “life changing” and I think Happy Money provides a little insight into why. When people take a volunteer trip they are not purchasing a vacation but they are experiencing a whole other way of life. Volunteers are learning from another culture and community and investing their time and resources in other people.

 

 

 

 

 

Child Beggars – What Should You Do? What Can You Do?

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When traveling or volunteering abroad, especially in developing countries, chances are you will be confronted by a child asking for money. What do you do? Do you give some change, a larger bill, or do you walk away?

Last Fall, Jillian Keenan published an article for Slate.com titled  Keep the Change, Giving Money to Child Beggars is the Least Generous Thing a Tourist Can Do.   In the article she explains how harmful giving money to child beggars can be.

“Many travelers already know that when we give money (or gifts that can be resold, such as pens), we perpetuate a cycle of poverty and give children a strong incentive to stay out of school. You also may already know that giving candy to children in some areas of the world actually causes enormous suffering, since many communities do not have the resources to treat tooth decay. But the reasons to never, ever give to child beggars go much deeper than that. Organized begging is one of the most visible forms of human trafficking—and it’s largely financed and enabled by good-hearted people who just want to help.”

Child beggars are often victims of human trafficking and the money they earn begging goes to organized criminals who are enslaving children. The movie Slumdog Millionaire  opened a lot of people’s eyes to the plight of child beggars in India but the truth is human trafficking happens everywhere. A BBC’s Panorama program about an investigative report on child beggars in the UK revealed that a child begging could make up to 500 pounds a day. And what happens when the child grows up? Often they are pushed into prostitution.

I love what Keenan suggests on ways to interact with child beggars. We don’t want to ignore the children but we can’t give them money directly. She suggests donating to a legitimate charity and finding ways to interact with beggars that don’t involve giving gifts or money.

“The imperative to not give money or gifts to child beggars doesn’t mean we have to turn our backs on them. Donate to responsible NGOs, and look for creative new ways to be kind to children that won’t disrupt familial dynamics, encourage long-term poverty, undercut local businesses, or abet human trafficking.” “Find an inventive, responsible way to be kind.”

Volunteering Abroad is Within Your Reach

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This article taken from the Winter 2014 IVPA Newsletter.

IVPA Principle and Practice #5: Suggest means of fundraising to participants

To prospective volunteers who are just starting to think about volunteering abroad it may come as a surprise that most volunteer sending organizations charge a fee to participate in the program or project. Program fees allow for a volunteer sending organization to maintain a sustainable volunteer program in their partner communities and provide important support before, during and after a trip.  At first glance, a program fee may seem prohibitive to many who want to volunteer but there are ways to make volunteering abroad more affordable.

Fundraising Opens the Door
For many, fundraising is a key that opens the door to volunteering abroad. Some volunteers even fundraise all of their travel and program costs.  Asking friends, family, neighbors and local businesses to contribute to your volunteer trip involves a whole network of people with your experience and your cause. In many cases part of their contribution is also tax deductible*

IVPA member organizations adhere to Principle and Practice #5 by suggesting means of fundraising to participants.  For many first time volunteers, fundraising for their trip is their first exposure to fundraising. IVPA members have years of experience coaching and provide the support volunteers who need it.
Some of the advice from IVPA Members includes:

  • “Set concrete goals.” Global Citizens Network
  • “Make it convenient for your sponsors to donate by telling them about the simple and secure online donation process.” Cross-Cultural Solutions
  • Ask for a specific amount of money. Serivce For Peace
  • Think of creative solutions like: ‘bid on a date’ evening, arts and craft sales, car washes, entering a ‘bike-a-thon’. Habitat for Humanity
  • Approach your employer about a Contribution Match Program. Globe Aware

Fundraising is work but volunteer sending organization can provide the tools and knowledge needed to get the work done. And as Service For Peace return volunteer, Michael Bustamente, stated “Honestly, I can’t even recall what the exact cost of the project was. What I will never forget is the exposure the program gave me. You can’t really put a value on that.”

*Ask your volunteer sending organization or a tax professional if and how much a contribution is deductible.

Fundraising

“Never think you need to apologize for asking someone to give to a worthy cause, any more than as though you were giving him or her an opportunity to participate in a high-grade investment. The duty of giving is as much his or hers as is the duty of asking yours.”
– John D. Rockefeller, Jr

Make Your 2014 New Year’s Resolutions a Reality

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Love it or hate it, with a New Year comes New Year’s resolutions. Does your new year’s resolutions look something like the list below?

 

2014 New Year’s Resolutions

  1. Travel
  2. Volunteer

 

Every year some of the most popular resolutions include “taking a trip” and “volunteering to help others in need”.  Why not combine those goals and volunteer abroad? There are so many volunteer opportunities out there. Just a quick google search can overwhelm with information but the good news is that there IS an opportunity out there that will fit your abilities, interests and circumstances.

Start your journey now. Make 2014 the year you take that step outside yourself and volunteer abroad. Start by making the goal and move forward by researching opportunities and organizations . A great way to start your foot on the right path is to check out IVPA’s Member Organizations. IVPA members have a diverse list of projects all over the world that varying lengths of time and the best part is IVPA Members have committed to 35 best practices of volunteer-sending organizations. This is your year.

 

 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”- Mark Twain

Washington, DC Global Volunteering Fair – List of Organizations

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The IVPA Global Volunteering Fair in Washington, DC is tomorrow! The event will be held at the George Washington University – Continental Ballroom in the Marvin Center, 6:00PM-9:00PM

Come check out these great programs with projects all over the world:

Amigos de las Américas Amigos de las Américas inspires and builds young leaders through collaborative community development and immersion in cross-cultural experiences. Amigos de las Américas believe in a world where each young person becomes a life-long catalyst for social change.
Armenian Volunteer Corps The Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) is Armenia’s premier volunteer placement organization.  AVC has helped over 500 volunteers from around the world, 21 years of age and older, to find fulfilling service opportunities for terms of one month up to one year, in Yerevan and throughout Armenia. AVC Professional Corps is open to professionals over age 32 who can commit to a minimum of two weeks of service
Atlas Corps Atlas Corps seeks nonprofit professionals from around the world to apply for Fellowships in the U.S. and Colombia. Atlas Corps engages leaders committed to the nonprofit sector in 12-18 month, professional fellowships at organizations to learn best practices, build organizational capacity, and return home to create a network of global leaders. Fellows serve at Host Organizations working on issues that complement their expertise.
AYUDA AYUDA is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that empowers youth to serve as agents for change and implement sustainable diabetes programs throughout the world. AYUDA’s innovative peer learning model uses international volunteers as a catalyst to empower local youth living with diabetes to form healthy habits and better manage their diabetes. AYUDA has established an international volunteer program that mobilizes individuals – ranging from high school students to world-class medical professionals – to support educational and leadership programs around the globe.
Child Family Health International (CFHI)  CFHI places participants on 1-4 month internship-style experiences alongside local healthcare professionals in underserved communities in Latin America, Africa, and India.  Participants rotate through clinics and public health sites, attend health information lectures, and become immersed in the healthcare system of the community. CFHI programs showcase local experts and support underserved communities abroad.
Creative Learning Through its three divisions, Creative Learning works in overlooked areas to support locally-led initiatives. We exchange knowledge through people-to-people partnerships and sustainably improve lives and livelihoods.
Cross-Cultural Solutions Cross-Cultural Solutions is a nonprofit working to address critical global issues by providing meaningful volunteer service to communities abroad, and contributing responsibly to local economies. We provide volunteer abroad opportunities, international internships, and gap year programs for individuals and/or groups in 10 countries around the world (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Morocco, India, and Thailand). The CCS experience offers a genuine volunteer experience with opportunities to connect with, and learn from local people in those communities.
Cuso International Cuso International is an international development organization that works through volunteers. Cuso International recruits skilled professionals from a variety of professional backgrounds to work in partnership with local or national organizations around the world.
GapFORCE Gapforce is a leading provider of volunteer, internships, Gap Year and summer programs abroad. We offer over 40 programs in 15 countries including Marine Conservation, Wildlife protection, community development, expeditions, Leadership and training courses, internships and paid working holidays.
Global Citizens Network Global Citizens Network works to promote peace, justice and respect through cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation. We are committed to enhancing quality of life around the world while preserving indigenous cultures, traditions and ecologies. Each team partners with a host developing community engaged in grassroots initiatives that meet local needs. Participants and community members work and learn side-by-side on projects pioneered and directed locally.
Manna Project International Manna Project International (MPI) connects college students, recent graduates and young professionals with international service opportunities to apply their passions and education collectively through service to communities in need. With the vision of communities serving communities, MPI’s model is a collaborative community-based approach to development stressing three organizational pillars: holistic approach, community focus and leadership development. At our sites in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, groups of year-long volunteers live and work together implementing a range of education, health and livelihood community development programs.
Operation Groundswell Operation Groundswell is a non-profit organization that offers travel and service learning experiences around the world. We aim to build a community of “backpacktivists” that are socially, environmentally and politically aware of their impact in the communities they travel to and live in.
Partners of the Americas Partners of the Americas connects people and organizations across borders to serve and to change lives through lasting partnerships that create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems.  For 50 years, Partners has carried out our mission through a variety of programs, local chapter organizations, and inter-institutional partnerships between higher education institutions, development agencies, and civic organizations.
Peace Corps The Peace Corps is a volunteer program run by the United States government. Over 210,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance; helping people outside the United States to understand American culture; and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries.
Projects Abroad Projects Abroad sends volunteers to 28 developing countries to do internships and service projects. Since being founded in 1992, we have grown to a team of over 500 staff members around the world that send over 10,000 volunteers annually. Volunteers get to choose their start dates and can go for as long as they wish. Our most popular programs include: childcare work, medical placements, teaching programs, law and human rights internships, environmental conservation, and building projects.
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic provides life-changing, low cost, and essential healthcare to the impoverished people in a remote area of southern Nicaragua.  The clinic helps over 12,000 patients per year by providing general and emergency medical care, dental care, ambulatory surgery, lab work, and preventative health education.  Our volunteer program combines international travel with benevolence and hands-on medical training.
SIT Graduate Institute SIT Graduate Institute equips students with theoretical knowledge, field experience, and professional skills. Programs are based on an experiential learning model and a commitment to social justice and intercultural communication. SIT Graduate Institute prepares students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible global citizenship.
Volunteers in Asia VIA (formerly Volunteers in Asia) is a private, non-profit, non-religious organization dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States and Asia through service and education. Since 1963, our Asia Programs have provided U.S. Residents with an opportunity to work and live within an Asian culture while meeting the needs of Asian host institutions. We currently offer one-year and summer programs in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
2Seeds Network The 2Seeds Network, recognizing abundant human capital around the globe, is building a network of community-based agricultural development projects in East Africa. 2Seeds recruits and trains young people to live in rural Tanzania for one year and develop projects in partnership with subsistence farmers. Our goal is to incubate the region’s human capital so that local farmers create more food to eat and capture more profit from the produce they sell.

The Number One Risk When Traveling Abroad

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Traveling and volunteering abroad is unfortunately not without some risks. One of the biggest risks to a volunteer or tourist is simply traveling on the road in another country. USA Today reported that “1,820 Americans have been reported killed in road accidents in foreign countries from Jan. 1, 2003, through June 2010. On average, one American traveler dies on a foreign road every 36 hours.”

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The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting published a Roads Kill Map, an interactive map where you can see by country the number and type of road accidents.

Some tips when traveling abroad include:

  • Wear a seat belt whenever possible
  • Avoid open-back trucks or mini buses
  • Don’t ride a motorcycle without a helmet
  • Select a taxi driver or personal driver carefully and don’t be afraid to ask the driver to slow down
  • Have Travel Medical Insurance in case of emergencies