1.  Best Volunteer Abroad Web Sites

Volunteering may be the best option for working in less-developed countries, or to work for social causes anywhere. Duration of volunteer abroad programs may range from two weeks to two years or more.

Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects, www.cadip.org,  is a
non-profit Canadian organization that promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and international surroundings, primarily through Short-term International Voluntary Camps (2 to 4 weeks) and Long-term Voluntary Service (2 months to 18 months).

Directory on International Voluntary Service, www.avso.org. Site provides extensive links to volunteer organizations worldwide; hosted by the Association of Voluntary Service Organizations (based in Belgium).

Idealist.org: Action Without Borders, www.idealist.org. Web site’s database serves as a clearinghouse for over thousands of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Outstanding search provisions. Includes listings for internships, volunteering, and jobs, as well as resources for people who work for nonprofits. Organization also sponsors nonprofit career fairs.

International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA), www.volunteerinternational.org. Web site of this U.S.-based nonprofit association features a searchable database of volunteer-abroad programs. IVPA’s members are encouraged to follow IVPA’s principles (listed on the web site) for good practice in volunteer-abroad programs.

International Workcamp Directory (SCI-IVS). Volunteer-abroad program listings available at www.sci-ivs.org. Describes low-cost short-term volunteer options available through SCI-IVS in over 50 countries. Their website has links to many other volunteer organizations.

The Peace Corps: www.peacecorps.gov. Peace Corps seeks individuals to serve as volunteers in overseas communities in the areas of education, small business development, the environment, health, youth development, and agriculture. Tour is 27 months with $6,075 readjustment allowance upon completion of service. Must be U.S. citizen, over 18, in good health, and have education and/or experience relevant to programs.

Quaker Information Center, www.afsc.org. This very comprehensive website includes links to hundreds of organizations sponsoring overseas volunteer, internship, and study programs with a focus on social justice, relief, and development.

RESPONSE Directory of lay mission opportunities in the U.S. and abroad, www.cnvs.org. A comprehensive directory to Catholic and other Christian overseas volunteer organizations (most focus on areas such as social justice, relief and development), is online and searchable.

South American Explorers Volunteer Opportunities, www.saexplorers.org. Directory of Latin American volunteer opportunities.

University of California-Irvine, International Opportunities Program, www.cie.uci.edu/prospective/iopother/volunteer.shtml. Extensive directories for volunteering programs.

Univ. of Michigan, International Center’s Overseas Opportunities Office, internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/work/options/volunteermain.html by William Nolting. Comprehensive collection of articles along with hundreds of selected annotated web sites and books for study, internships, volunteering, teaching, and working abroad; plus international careers.

Volunteers for Peace, www.vfp.org. Over 3,000 low-cost short-term voluntary service placements in over 100 countries available through VFP.

(Videos) Making a Difference: College Volunteers Abroad, and Making a Difference: American Volunteers Abroad by Bob Gilner. These outstanding videos, made onsite by an award-winning filmmaker, provide first-hand insight into the rewards and realities of volunteering abroad through programs offered by established U.S.-based organizations.