Additionally, while many think of Peace Corps volunteering as being geared towards the youth, understand opportunities for all age groups exist. There is no upper age limit. Read our guide on volunteer abroad opportunities for seniors and retirees. Since the Peace Corps has two mandatory requirements you must be 18 and a U. You have alternatives to the Peace Corps. You could also volunteer with non-governmental volunteer abroad organizations.
Organizations such as Plan My Gap Year and Maximo Nivel have both short- and long-term volunteer opportunities that are similar to Peace Corps assignments. Peace Corps volunteers address the most critical problems communities face. For their assignments, Peace Corps volunteers join one of six project sectors:. What you do specifically depends on the needs of the host country and your skills and experience.
If you graduated with a degree in education, you could teach digital literacy to local youth. Going through the list of current openings is a good way to understand what Peace Corps volunteers do. Here are a few examples of the types of jobs Peace Corps volunteers do:.
Sharpen your skills in your field, or take on a new challenge and build your skillset. Before you apply for a position with the Peace Corps, make sure you meet the requirements, especially the education, language, and experience requirements. You should also make sure the assignment suits you.
After all, you want to get the most out of the experience. Because you can change the world! Peace Corps volunteers enact positive change by promoting peace and friendship. The work of Peace Corps volunteers moves societies towards a brighter future. PCVs help expand access to education and healthcare, develop the next generation of leaders, improve food production, and boost environmental conservation,.
If you have a passion for serving others and uplifting those who need it most, volunteering with the Peace Corps will bring you great personal satisfaction. You not only get to help people, but you also get to learn about other peoples and cultures. This will enable you to develop as a person in amazing ways. Russell E. Morgan Jr. Peace Corps service transforms both the volunteer and the community members they serve.
As Dr. The experience also has its professional benefits. You also can improve those important soft skills, such as communication, listening, and empathy.
The experience may even help you figure out what you want to do for your next step in life. Simply put, volunteering with the Peace Corps will make you a much more attractive candidate in your field. That experience gives you two things to put on your resume that employers value: international experience and volunteerism. As the Association for Talent Development attests, employers like volunteer experience because skills-based volunteering builds leadership capabilities and shows passion and commitment to a cause.
Before you begin the Peace Corps application process, make sure you meet the minimum requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and a U. When you apply to the Peace Corps, you can take one of two routes:. Search the list of current openings. This puts you into consideration for many Peace Corps positions around the globe. With this route, you can indicate preferences for the project sector and location.
If you choose this route, the Peace Corps provides you a timeframe for deployment. Note: Once you choose your route, apply. This is necessary because you must obtain medical clearance to deploy to the host country. The Peace Corps application takes around one to two hours. The Peace Corps application will ask about:. Required documents include:. If you qualify for a position, the Peace Corps will contact you to set up an interview via videoconference. Wear professional business casual attire.
The Peace Corps gives you the interview questions in advance, so prepare well! Do a mock interview with a friend or colleague to sharpen your interview skills and make you more confident. In general, expect questions about your motivations for serving and reasons why you chose a specific sector or location. You may have to schedule a follow-up appointment with your primary care provider, so allow time for that. You also need legal clearance.
Immediately complete the fingerprint cards you received in the mail after accepting your invitation. Additionally, you have to apply for a Peace Corps passport. You possibly need to obtain a visa for your host country, so do that right away. The Peace Corps needs things like banking and emergency contact information. If you have student loans, the Peace Corps will also give you a letter to give your lender, certifying your upcoming volunteer assignment. This will set expectations and prepare you mentally for your time abroad.
Bon voyage! Before applying, Peace Corps recommends talking with a recruiter so you can understand the application process and volunteer experience better. The application is obviously vital to getting an interview. Take it seriously. For instance, if you apply to an English teaching position, highlighting that part-time ESL tutor job you held during college will look good on your resume. You should also emphasize skills that the Peace Corps values, such as:.
In the essay, discuss your cross-cultural experience, commitment to certain causes, and how you would overcome obstacles while serving. Prove that you have what it takes to succeed. You should also research your country of consideration before interviewing. Your knowledge of the country and local culture will show that. Finally, apply early and be flexible. The more time you give yourself, the better chance you have to get a suitable Peace Corps position. That increases your odds of acceptance greatly!
The process of applying and getting accepted to the Peace Corps takes months or even longer. So, if you have a specific window of time for volunteering abroad, the Peace Corps may not be your best option at the moment. Volunteer organizations like Plan My Gap Year and Projects Abroad can place you on similar assignments in less than a month. Furthermore, though there are only two mandatory requirements, the Peace Corps is highly competitive.
There are simply way more applicants than open positions. The fact is many roles do require a good deal of education, work experience, and qualifications, such as the ability to speak a foreign language or expertise in a project sector. Again, you have other options. For example, you could volunteer with Maximo Nivel , a leading volunteer program provider in Latin America. Interested in farming? Join their eco-agriculture project in Costa Rica.
Believe in the power of education? Teach English to children in Peru or Guatemala. Take time to bolster your resume. Although English is an official language in Ghana, there are many children who struggle to speak it fluidly because of the more dominant use of Pidgin at home. By supporting the teachers in their pronunciation and helping with other subjects, you can also have a very positive influence on students in the rural communities.
This program is also open for different durations, so you have the freedom to choose what length of time is best for you. With the opportunity to work with teachers and students in Bangladesh, you can benefit the people within the communities. This program offers duration times from 1 week to 12 months. Accommodations will involve living at the school that you teach at in the rural areas outside of Dhaka. While finding a job as an english teacher abroad or getting TEFL certified are both amazing opportunities, they both require a large sum of money and time.
By volunteering with projects abroad and teaching children in Ecuador conversational english, you can get teaching and classroom experience without having to get certified. This program allows you to choose the duration of your trip, and allows you to interact with young children as you teach them how to improve on their english speaking skills.
Healthcare volunteer opportunities are some of the most robust and developed options actively seeking international volunteers. For some programs, previous medical skills are not required. So if you have a heart of gold and hands willing to help, search no further for international volunteer opportunities in health , health education , or nursing. Volunteer in small local clinics in the the rural areas of Guatemala to gain more experience in the medical field.
Since some medical background is required for this particular program, it is a great way to get experience while immersing yourself in a place where public health is very different. Not to mention you will get to enjoy the beauty that is Guatemala, as you help improve the lives of the Guatemalan people. There are a few program options through Maximo Nivel to volunteer outside of Cusco, Peru. If you are experienced, you can shadow doctors and work in a more hands-on way at the local clinics.
This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who are passionate about the health of people worldwide, and it's great because you can volunteer no matter what experience you have! Are you passionate about public health and hygiene? You can volunteer to promote health and improve the standard of living outside of India. While some medical experience is sought after, it is not mandatory, making this a viable option for anyone who is interested in health promotion.
Meet other volunteers while living in India, as you all work together to improve the health of local people. Begin harvesting and cultivating crops in the African country.
For example, you could volunteer on a cassava farm and learn how to harvest the crop, as well as how to prepare and package the country's major cash crops. Get a glimpse into how food is harvested, and learn practices from other cultures that you can implement into your own life! Take part in environmental research and sustainable organic farming in the a Maya community in the Yucatan.
Learn about ancient Mayan farming techniques while also taking part in rainforest management and recovery. This programs has optional durations, leaving the decision up to you!
Work on maintaining gardens, and sowing seeds, all the way to improving soils, and composting! Work in the Rift Valley on 35, acre reserve to support conservation and environmental work in Kenya. Duration lasts from one w eek to six months. The volunteer work mainly consists of organic farming and other methods of agriculture, but also gives you close exposure to the wildlife that exists in Kenya.
Work to preserve, and conserve the biodiversity that exists in the Rift Valley. Habitat restoration is also a big aspect of this volunteer opportunity!
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