Cross-Cultural Solutions and Volunteering Abroad
International Volunteer Organization Gives Chance to Change Lives
Feb 21, 2009
Take advantage of the opportunity to travel abroad and experience other cultures while giving back to an impoverished community.
Cross-Cultural Solutions is an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations that offers the opportunity for people to volunteer abroad and help local communities. The organization’s mission is “to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding,” according to Cross-Cultural Solution’s web site.
What Do Volunteers Help With?
Volunteers can help in four different categories: Caregiving, Teaching, Health Care and Community Development. In each of these categories the volunteers will focus on working with local communities on carrying out important objectives established by the local people.
Caregiving
Volunteers who choose to help with caregiving have the choice of working one-on-one with infants and children, the elderly or people with disabilities. Responsibilities with caregiving include becoming energetic and stimulating companions for the elderly community members who have been forgotten, showing love and affection toward children to aid in their overall development and to become compassionate and enthusiastic leader in the community who help change the stereotypes of people with disabilities.
Teaching
Volunteers who choose to help with teaching will work in education centers such as schools and community centers teaching children, conversational English or assisting special education teachers. Those who assist special education teachers will work with special needs students so they can have more individualized attention. Through teaching children, volunteers will serve as a positive role model and encourage the students’ interest in education. While teaching conversational English, volunteers will teach language skills with students of all ages with the hopes of opening doors to better career opportunities for them.
Healthcare
Volunteers who choose to help in the healthcare field will assist in the small health clinics and understaffed hospitals through providing moral support and reducing anxiety for patients. Volunteers may also assist with the daily workload of health professionals, support HIV/AIDS patients who have been outcast from their communities or provide sex education and disease prevention to community youth.
Community Development
Volunteers who choose to help with community development will work to empower both community organizations and individuals and provide them with the tools they need to be self-sustainable, successful and knowledgeable in future endeavors. Volunteers may work with at-risk teens, young adults wanting to join the workforce or women striving to earn income for their families.
Where Can Volunteers Go?
Cross-Cultural Solutions offers programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Some specific countries the organization works in include Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, China, India and Russia.
How Much Does It Cost?
Volunteering abroad starts at $2,664, or £1,449. There are also other packages with different price structures such as the Intern Abroad Program, Insight Abroad Program and the Teen Volunteer Abroad Program.
How Do I Get Involved?
Volunteers will go through a placement process that involves creating a volunteer profile and completing a skills and interest survey, which will help the organization match them with partner programs. The process usually begins about 60 days before the volunteer will start. More information can be found on Cross-Cultural Solutions’ web site under Enroll.
Volunteering abroad can be a great way to travel the world and experience new cultures. For a small price, volunteers can live in a country for two to 12 weeks, travel the country’s perimeters and make a difference in the communities they’re visiting.
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