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National & International Volunteer Opportunities
The International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) is an alliance of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations based in the Americas, that are involved in international volunteer and internship exchanges. IVPA encourages excellence and responsibility in the field of international volunteerism and promotes public awareness of and greater access to international volunteer programs. IVPA offers a forum for international volunteer program representatives (staff, board members, etc.) to share information and resources, develop new skills, and collaborate on cost-saving initiatives. Organizations that are members of IVPA are encouraged to follow IVPA's Principles and Practices as guidelines for good programming.
Any program that regularly sends groups or individuals to work abroad as volunteers, interns or lay missionaries, for any length of time, falls under the broad category of "International Volunteer Programs." International volunteer programs offer unique hands-on learning experiences which promote cross-cultural understanding, cooperation, and solidarity among individuals and communities around the world. They encourage participating volunteers to examine how their work and daily choices back home can have an impact on economic and social conditions in other parts of the world.
IVPA can not guarantee the quality of programs operated by its member organizations but it does strive to collaborate together to ensure the highest quality within the field of international volunteerism.
If you represent an organization that is involved in international volunteer exchanges, and would like to become a member, please contact ivpa@volunteerinternational.org.
http://www.volunteerinternational.org/home2.htm
The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental, educational organization founded in 1918 to educate Americans about the significant international issues that influence their lives. FPA provides impartial publications, programs and forums to increase public awareness of, and foster popular participation in, matters relating to those policy issues.
http://www.fpa.org/info-url_nocat2405/info-url_nocat.htm
Involvement Volunteering is an unique, cost effective way for people of all ages to gain practical experience; or to learn from practical experience while helping others as a real volunteer, and meeting the local people and their culture when travelling in a foreign country(s).
http://www.volunteering.org.au/
There are literally hundreds of opportunities for volunteering abroad. This page contains links to related web sites, as well as listings of some of the more well-known programs that exist. The most helpful resources, those with which we suggest you begin your search, are noted with gold stars. If you are a UCI student and decide to participate in one of these, or any other program abroad, you are an IOP participant and need to pick up an IOP Packet from CIE!
As of 1993, there is a special program which allows some individuals to receive a "forgiveness" or cancellation of up to 15% of certain US federal student loans for giving one year of service with approved volunteer organizations. For more information on how this offer might apply to you, contact the voluntary organization through which you would like to work.
http://www.cie.uci.edu/iop/voluntee.html
Is a project of Action Without Borders, contains an extensive database of volunteering opportunities.
http://www.idealist.org/
Cross-Cultural Solutions is a not-for-profit international volunteer organization that operates volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, and Thailand. Our programs offer a unique opportunity for participants to work side-by-side with local people, on locally designed and driven projects. Our volunteer programs are designed to facilitate hands-on service and cultural exchange in the aim of fostering cultural understanding. As an international volunteer, you will participate in meaningful community development and gain a whole new perspective of the world.
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/
A grass root education and international volunteer organization, international
volunteering opportunities overseas to teach English and computer skills. http://www.openmindprojects.org/nw_about_us_team.html
The following list was compiled in order to allow students to get an idea of some of the possible opportunities that are available with a Social Justice and Peace Studies degree. This list is far from exhaustive and it is only meant to provide students with a starting place when looking for volunteering opportunities, internships or employment. Whenever possible information about the following organizations have been taken directly from their. source.http://www.kingscollege.net/sjps/sjps_website/sjps_volunteering_internships_employment.html
A website that contains searchable links to volunteering web sites.
http://dmoz.org/Society/Philanthropy/Volunteering/Opportunities/
Here you will find information on finding the right volunteer opportunity and making the most out of your volunteer activities can be crucial to making a real difference and having a rewarding experience. Many of these resources are written by internationally-recognized volunteerism and volunteer management expert Susan Ellis. Ellishttp://www.serviceleader.org/new/volunteers/
Local and International Volunteering. VolunteerMatch.com Tips on Volunteering. Contains links and a database to volunteering.
http://www.thelivingweb.net/volunteers.html
The European Volunteering Center, there are a great many organizations throughout Europe who do place volunteers both locally and overseas, or who can offer advice. In the first instance you should contact your National or Regional Volunteer Centre. Alternatively, you could look at the following list of European and international databases of volunteering opportunities. They offer a tremendous range of possibilities both within Europe and around the globe. From arts and culture to community and political action, the environment, education, health and much, much more. They may well be able to help you find what you want.
http://www.cev.be/volunteeropportunities_en.htm
This pilot website aims to discover whether an independent team of volunteers can make a worthwhile and sustainable knowledge resource for aid workers. Right now, we are concentrating on building up useful content and developing a network of specialists who can validate pages and answer questions from readers. Would you like to get involved?
http://www.aidworkers.net/introduction/volunteering.html
Misc.
-National COOL Conference - www.cool2serve.org
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