This past couple of weeks I had the opportunity to travel to Morocco and experience volunteering with Cross-Cultural Solutions as well as visit with two other IVPA Members, Projects Abroad and ProWorld. I was impressed with the quality  of the programs and found myself wanting to stay and volunteer more. I’ve highlighted a few of the IVPA Principles and Practices that made an impression on me while in Morocco.

• Wherever possible places volunteers with local and ongoing agencies and projects rather than creating its own. The agencies or projects should be those that allow volunteers to encounter directly the social and developmental issues of the other culture and society.

All of the IVPA member organizations really made an effort to partner with local organizations that had interesting projects and a real need and use for volunteers. IVPA member organizations worked with partners to place volunteers in projects suitable for the short-term nature of the placements. I was impressed with the range and variety of the volunteer placements and the incredible work these organizations are doing. I saw placements that included human rights work to participatory governance, English teaching for refugees and interactive play and activities for at-risk children. I was also impressed that the work volunteers were doing did not replace local Moroccan workers but was supplementary and a support to the work they were doing.

• Housing or home stay should be clean (in accordance with local standards), hygienic, and safe.

It was great to see and experience the variety of housing from group housing to home stays. I was impressed with the CCS housing and staff during my stay, where I stayed with other CCS volunteers. I also was able to visit some of Projects Abroad home-stays.

• Allows and encourages opportunities for volunteers to broaden their experience of the host culture by field trips and experiences beyond the basic obligations of the program.

There is so much to experience and learn about Morocco. For many volunteers it is there first experience in a Muslim country. There are a wealth of opportunities to travel in country and many volunteers took advantage of their free time. At Cross-Cultural Solutions they scheduled during the week classes and cultural opportunities such as cooking, Arabic and cultural discussions.

I am lucky to be spending this week with one of IVPA’s outstanding member organizations, Cross-Cultural Solutions. I am participating in their week long, Insight Abroad program and will be volunteering with children. While here in Morocco I will also be visiting some of IVPA’s other great members’ volunteer programs, Projects Abroad and ProWorld.

I am excited to get back on the ground and experience a new culture and country as a volunteer again. I’ll be posting a bit about my experience and the opportunities to volunteer here in Morocco.

There are many opportunities for volunteers in Morocco. Here in Rabat with Cross-Cultural Solutions you can choose to do a week-long insight abroad program or the volunteer experience (2+ weeks) or internship (4+weeks). Opportunities include caregiving, teaching, community development and health.

Projects Abroad, also in Rabat, offers opportunities to”anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, including those on a college summer break, gap year, career break or volunteer vacation”. Projects Abroad’s volunteer work and internships include a home stays and opportunities in Teaching, Care and Sports as well as language courses in both Arabic and French. There are also many opportunities to get out and experience the culture of Morocco.

ProWorld has recently opened a Moroccan site in Meknes that offers volunteer and internship opportunities around youth development, literacy, business training and community development.

More to come!

Service For Peace’s Global PeaceMakers program is now accepting applications for summer placements in Dominican Republic, Ghana, and Israel.

The Global PeaceMakers program is founded on Service For Peace’s philosophy of serving with a long-term investment in partner communities. Applicants accepted into the Global PeaceMakers program will collaborate with local community members on country-specific projects. Participants will work alongside local volunteers in building personal leadership and peacemaking skills through service. In addition to service opportunities, participants will be able to see and experience the local culture and beautiful sites close to their country project.

Global PeaceMakers projects bring together young adults from nations throughout the Americas and the world in an effort to offer models for intercultural cooperation through service. In the Dominican Republic, volunteers will collaborate with local community members to build a Model Classroom in the community of La Represa. In Ghana Global PeaceMakers will work with local volunteers to initiate a community poultry farm and in Israel, volunteers will join youth from diverse backgrounds and nationalities to deliver valuable education and meaningful relationships with special needs kids in one of Jerusalem’s impoverished areas.

Application deadlines are fast approaching, Israel, May 4^th; Dominican Republic, May 26^th; Ghana, June 16^th. To apply visit Service For Peace and fill out an application.

Position Description: IVPA Intern – Operations and Communications

Dates: May 2012 – December 2012

Application Deadline: April 28, 2012

Wage: Internship is unpaid but a stipend or travel options available.

The International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) is an association of non-governmental organizations involved in international volunteer work and internship exchanges. IVPA stands for quality and responsibility in the field of international volunteer abroad programs. Members uphold the IVPA’s Principles and Practices as guidelines for good programming as well as meet stringent membership criteria

The Main Duties of this position are to support the services offered by International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA).

The Responsibilities of this position will vary but may include the following:

• Respond to general email and phone volunteer inquiries
• Provide support and development for IVPA’s Annual Conference
• Research Best Practices and Special Topics for the field or international volunteering, and the wider travel industry.
• Provide ideas and content for IVPA Blog and Newsletter
• Support administrative projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in international volunteering, cross-cultural exchange and/or previous international travel or study abroad experience
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Experience with Microsoft Office
• Understanding and experience with social media platforms
• Strong writing and copy writing skills
• Undergraduate student or

Hours and Length of Service:  Intern hours are flexible and will be arranged prior to start date. Intern must be willing to offer a minimum of six months’ of service or 200 hours. A seven month, or longer, commitment is preferred.

Supervision:  Intern’s responsibilities and work arrangements will be coordinated with and supervised by the IVPA Director.

To Apply:  Interested candidates should submit a cover letter & resume.  Please email your application to jobs@volunteerinternational.org.  Only applications received electronically will be reviewed.   No calls please.   Deadline: April 28, 2012.  Thank you for your interest.

This year’s United Nations International Women’s Day theme is “Empower Rural Women—End Hunger and Poverty”.

Zenos Frudakis- Freedom

Rural women and girls make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making (UN). Some other statistics from the U.N., “women are the backbone of communities around the world—performing two-thirds of the world’s work and producing half of the world’s food. Yet, they earn only one-tenth of the world’s income and own less, a mere 1 percent, of the property and of the 876 million illiterate adults in the world, over two-thirds are women.”

So what can you do the help the plight of the world’s women? Some ideas include:

• Educate yourself about the issues. They are complex and need thoughtful thinkers
• Get involved. Volunteer locally or internationally
• Live the ideals you want to see reflected in the world
• Donate to a nonprofit or cause that helps women

Finally, are some links for International Women’s Day. Enjoy!

A short clip on Media and its effect on girls:

Test your knowledge on Girl’s Empowerment:

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/iwd/2012/quiz.html

Check out a short video about Working Women made for Women’s Day:

Photo credit: http://www.petersmap.com/

Global Citizens Network has been highlighted in an upcoming book, How Maps Change Things by Ward L. Kaiser.

In the book Kaiser examines cartography and the sociopolitical implications of maps. Global Citizens Network was featured because their Minneapolis headquarters houses a 16-foot Peters map. A Peters map is an area accurate map that shows the world’s surfaces in more accurately proportional sizes than other maps.

The Peters map was commissioned by GCN and is the worlds largest. As an organization committed to cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation, GCN commissioned the map to highlight the equality of space the map represents.

The map covers the wall of a conference room and is also great talking piece.  GCN staff member, Laura Kurland said, “my favorite story about this so far was when a delegation of Latin American civic society leaders arrived in our office. When we took a break during the meeting they all ran over to the map and discussed their observations about the proportions and sizes.”

How Maps Change Things: A Conversation About Maps We Choose and the World We Want by Ward L. Kaiser will be available as an ebook March 2012 and in paperback June 2012.

About Global Citizens Network

In partnership with people of diverse cultures, GCN promotes cross-cultural understanding and interconnectedness through authentic immersion experiences. Global Citizens Network seeks to create a network of people committed to: the shared values of peace, justice, respect, cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation; the preservation of indigenous cultures, traditions and ecologies; the enhancement of the quality of life around the world.

Service for Peace has joined IVPA in the new year. We are excited to have them. Below is the press release.

IVPA Welcomes Service For Peace

New York, NY (PR Buzz) February 17, 2012 – The International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) is pleased to announce the newest association member, Service For Peace.

Founded in 2002, Service For Peace specializes in providing meaningful international service experiences for groups and individuals in over 20 countries. Through their programs, volunteers are introduced to issues of community development, education, health, and other social themes.

Volunteers on a Service For Peace program are involved in ongoing community development programs and work alongside local volunteers and share the experience of voluntary service.

“Service For Peace provides quality programs in international volunteering. They have a real passion for local community involvement and we are excited to welcome them into IVPA membership,” says IVPA Executive Director Genevieve Brown.

IVPA stands for quality and responsibility in the field of international volunteering. Organizations in
the US are eligible for membership in IVPA if they meet IVPA’s Practices and Principles and have at
least two years of incorporation.

Rick Steves recently posted a piece in USA Today about the global economy and the advantages of having a international perspective. He especially emphasizes the study abroad, between those who want to study abroad and those who are able.

Studying abroad, and I would argue. having a volunteering abroad experience opens the world to a young student. International experiences are not just beneficial for career development or for adding something to a resume; they change you. Unfortunately, life changing experiences are not available to everyone. As Mr. Steve notes. “students for whom foreign travel is not easily affordable are the ones who benefit most from the experience.” More and more organizations, university and people realize this. There have been bills to increase funding, both for volunteer and study abroad opportunities and I know many volunteer organizations have outreach initiatives to reach those less able to pay.

One of my favorite items from the piece is he say, “Travelers learn to celebrate, rather than fear”. That is something that is not as easily taught as it is experienced. It is interesting to ponder what our world would be like if we were all global citizens.