In the Spotlight

Featured Work, Volunteer & Intern Abroad Programs

Volunteer abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions. Work side-by-side with local people and experience another culture like never before—it's the experience of a lifetime. As an international volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions, you're making a meaningful contribution, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes you. You're experiencing another culture like never before and really getting to know its people. You'll gain new perspectives and insight into the culture and yourself. It's an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories that will be with you forever. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing from 12 countries, start dates year-round and programs from 1-12 weeks long. CCS offers international volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand. Wherever you choose, the in-country staff welcomes you to the CCS home-base, your home away from home. Cross-Cultural Solutions is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering. www.crossculturalsolutions.org

• Experience international volunteering in Xi'an, China! Watch Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteers in action—hear their stories, get a glimpse of their daily life, explore the natural wonders of the country and learn more about the positive impact you can make in the world. Watch more CCS volunteers in action »

Imagine that you could... live with a Maasai tribe in Tanzania and learn their ancient culture; be part of a marine survey team in the Bahamas or Fiji; teach English in China; work with the Red Cross in Ecuador; or track great white sharks in South Africa! With its roots stemming from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Greenforce offers volunteer opportunities on marine conservation projects; reforestation programs; animal welfare programs with pandas, penguins, great white sharks, and chimpanzees; community work with orphanages, Nepalese mountain villages and African tribes; and paid work and internships in Ecuador and Thailand. Projects range in length from two weeks to one year, with most programs averaging ten weeks. Volunteers from all ages (over 17), backgrounds and nationalities are welcome to apply. If you are ready to make your adventure a reality—to let these exciting opportunities seep under your skin—then let Greenforce show you the way. www.greenforce.org

• Working on behalf of organizations such as the United Nations, African Wildlife Foundation and the World Wildlife Foundation, Greenforce works with the local communities to develop a long-term sustainable action plan which ensures the region will continue in harmony between nature and human needs.

Greenheart Travel is a division of the Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI), an international exchange nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding, academic development, environmental consciousness and world peace. At Greenheart Travel, students and adults have the opportunity to explore the world through unique cultural immersion programs in over 30 countries. Where will you make a difference?

•	Internships: strengthen your career, language, professional development and cultural understanding skills through a 1-4 month unpaid international internship.
•	Volunteer Abroad: see the world with new eyes by volunteering in a 2-12 week projects are geared to working with children, health care, schools, environmental conservation, social services and much more.
•	Teach Abroad: get paid to share your English language expertise with students in Chile while earning your living expenses and a monthly stipend for 4, 6 or 8 months.
•	Independent Homestays: get inside another culture through an intensive cross-cultural experience; enjoy a home-cooked meal, make new friends and learn new traditions.
•	Language Schools: total immersion makes all the difference, whether in the classroom or with your host family.
•	Gap Adventures: select from any program and build an itinerary that meets both your travel goals and offers you the adventure of a lifetime.

All programs run year-round with flexible start dates; you'll also enjoy housing (most with a host family), meals, medical insurance, program orientation with local coordinator and 24-hour support. www.greenhearttravel.org.

• More than a vacation: Travel with a purpose. Make a difference on a global level as you learn about the world and yourself through a unique, hands-on international internship, volunteer abroad or cultural immersion opportunity with Greenheart Travel.

If you've ever dreamed about traveling, working and learning in Africa, Ikando can provide the life-changing experience you are looking for. With headquarters based in Accra (the capital of Ghana) and ten in-country staff members to take care of your needs and ensure you have a unique adventure, Ikando knows Africa inside and out—and only recruits volunteers and interns for Ghana organizations. Teach orphans at a refugee settlement. Coordinate events at a music foundation. Assist with HIV/AIDS education awareness with a healthcare facility. Manage exhibitions with a contemporary arts organization. Design websites for an architecture firm. Become a teaching assistant at a school for the deaf. Whether you are looking to gain more experience in your field of study or taking time off to do something different and make a difference, Ikando has something to offer everybody. Depending on placement, you must make a commitment of 2-4 weeks (the average length is 10 weeks). The program fee includes arranging your volunteer or internship placement, accommodations in the heart of Accra, airport pick-up and drop-off, welcome pack, in-country introductory session and a team of experienced volunteer coordinators to assist you 24/7. You can expect a quick response to your queries, a detailed application process resulting in a work experience with an organization that needs you and that you will want to work for. www.ikando.org

• Ghana boasts beautiful white sandy beaches, dense tropical rainforests and wild savannas. Ikando volunteers and interns usually spend their weekends together exploring the country.

Help, learn and explore with Projects Abroad by participating in a worthwhile international volunteer placement or internship. Spending time overseas with Projects Abroad can last from two weeks to a year in 24 different countries around the world in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe or Latin America and the Caribbean. Whether you teach in a Mexican school, work on a veterinary internship in India, help with English classes in Peru or participate in a medical project in Ghana, you will be joining a community of volunteers and local people, all working together to better their lives and their community. Along with a life-enriching volunteer or internship project, you will also live with a host family and experience the culture of your host country intimately. The full-time, in-country staff will meet you at the airport, introduce you to your host family and make sure you settle in well. Volunteer placements and internships include care, teaching, conservation & environment, sports, culture & community, archaeology, building, performing arts, medicine & healthcare, journalism, law & human rights, business and veterinary medicine & animal care. Language courses in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish and University dissertation research options are also available. The fee includes project placement, housing with a host family, three meals a day, comprehensive travel and medical insurance, in-country staff support (available 24/7) and social activities with other volunteers. www.projects-abroad.org

• Whether you are looking to gain international work experience, help others less fortunate than yourself, or simply experience a new culture, Projects Abroad offers unique and worthwhile volunteer and internship projects worldwide.

Sustainable Development Projects. How Will You Touch the World?
With programs that form a comprehensive and challenging experience built around development work, language instruction, cultural immersion and adventure, ProWorld Service Corps offers 2 to 48 week projects in Peru, Belize, Brazil, Ghana, Mexico, India and Thailand. Volunteers develop meaningful relationships with host families and local community members by working and living together. New insights and understandings are forged daily, offering volunteers tremendous opportunities for cross-cultural learning and self-reflection. Whether participating in a semester program or NGO internship, all programs include extensive pre-program contact and personal website; comprehensive onsite orientation; full room and board; airport pick-up and drop-off at program site; all domestic program transportation; funding and staff support of development project; intensive language training (Spanish in Peru and Mexico; Thai in Thailand); academic credit; adventure and cultural activities; and health and travel insurance. Students, recent graduates, professionals, adults and families from all over the world contribute to ProWorld's sustainable development projects. Motivated and curious individuals will thrive in this program. Visit MyProWorld.org.

Hot News: Now accepting applications for fall 2009 internships and the spring 2010 semester abroad.

ProWorld programs challenge volunteers physically, culturally and intellectually through experiential learning, hands-on development work and cultural immersion. Learn more about one alumni's inspirational return to Belize »

Additional Abroad Programs to Explore

Building a World of Youth Leaders, One Volunteer at a Time.
Are you ready to challenge yourself, make a commitment and a real contribution this summer? Through the unparalleled AMIGOS Experience, more than 20,000 high school and college-aged volunteers have completed extensive leadership and service training programs in preparation to become community development promoters in Latin America. Last year alone, AMIGOS volunteers made a positive difference in over 250 communities in seven Latin American countries. These unique programs give you the chance to take on sustainable health, education, environmental service and technology projects by collaborating with local partners. Immerse yourself in the lives of your host family and community while improving your Spanish. As you build your own leadership and language skills, you'll make a genuine difference and friendships that will last a lifetime. Programs run from 5-8 weeks during the summer months; the participation fee includes authentic food prepared by host families, your airfare to Latin America, training materials and more. Learn more about 2010 projects at www.amigoslink.org

Youth Leadership. Multicultural Understanding. Community Development. These are the three pillars for the Amigos challenge. One volunteer shares lessons learned while on her five-week summer experience in Paraguay »

Looking for a way to spend extended time living, working and traveling abroad while adding a line to your CV and gaining real world experience? BUNAC work and volunteer programs offer an easy, low outlay and rewarding way to experience another culture.

Brand new is the exciting Intern in Britain program which enables US students and recent graduates to undertake an internship in the UK for up to six months. Expand your skills while you discover Britain.

Work abroad opportunities for full-time US students include Work Canada (six months), Work in Ireland (four months) and Work in France (three months, summer only). Participants can take almost any job anywhere. BUNAC's Work Australia program, with up to a year for work and travel, is open to US citizens aged 18-30, while Work New Zealand provides similar opportunities for 18-35 year olds in the land of the big white cloud. BUNAC volunteer programs offer challenging and rewarding opportunities to make a difference in a local community project in South Africa, Cambodia or Peru. Placements are in environmental, wildlife, education or social welfare projects and last from 5-17 weeks.

On all BUNAC programs full assistance and support are available throughout your stay.

• BUNAC programs provide you with the opportunity to live and work legally in international countries, gain real world experience and internationalize your resume while making new friends and earning money to travel and explore.

Combining meaningful volunteer work with exciting opportunities to explore a new culture, Global Leadership Adventures offers life-changing journeys for high school students throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. GLA invites you to spend a summer of a lifetime at one of these interesting destinations: Australia (outback), Brazil (beachside city of Fortaleza), Costa Rica (small town outside of San Jose), the Dominican Republic (near Puerto Plata), England (organic farms), Galapagos Islands, Ghana (southern shores), Guatemala (Mayan culture), India (small village outside of Pune), South Africa (coastal Cape Town or Johannesburg), Tanzania (base of Mount Kilimanajaro) or Vietnam (hill tribe area near Sapa).

You will have the chance to serve: volunteer in communities and make a difference through people-oriented projects; learn: enhance your knowledge about a country while challenging your global perceptions through thought-provoking discussions; and explore: live a fun, challenging and amazing adventure. The all-inclusive program fee includes room, three full meals per day, ground transportation, travel and health insurance, and entrance fees for all non-optional group excursions (international airfare is additional). If you are inspired to serve others, excited to develop your global leadership skills and are passionate about learning about another culture, connect with GLA! www.experienceGLA.com

• The Global Leadership Adventures experience is about creating leaders. With a unique program blend of serving, learning, exploring and living with other international students in a campus setting, you will be empowered to grow as an individual while making a positive and meaningful impact on the host country community.

Are you looking for that amazing feeling knowing you've made a difference in the life of a child, assisted a rescued animal so that it can be returned to the wild or built a much needed shelter for the homeless, all while living in the community you are working with and viewing life through different eyes?

Whether participating in a short-term volunteer vacation or a prolonged gap year, the Global Volunteer Network provides challenging and affordable international programs in 26 countries; along with fundraising treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. A minimum time commitment of two to four weeks is required, up to a maximum of 52 weeks. The program fee offers you choice, value and convenience. The in-country fee covers housing and meals, orientation and airport pickup upon arrival to your host country. Volunteers come from all walks of life: singles, couples and families; those with specialized skills or those embarking on a post-college adventure; all of whom want to make a difference, to offer their skills and talents to a community that needs the help of volunteers. Make the big leap today by completing the comprehensive online application.

The reason I travel to volunteer, not climb mountains, not lay on a beach (although I love all of those things and try to do them as much as possible), but make volunteering the point of the trip, is because of the more. Learn about experiencing "the more" through the eye's of a Global Volunteer Network volunteer.

Seasonal jobs, volunteer programs, internships and au pair placements available in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, India and Central and South America. InterExchange offers placements throughout the U.S. for international citizens and placements for U.S. citizens to travel and work abroad. All programs include job placement, full support and access to low-cost international accident and sickness insurance. Many programs also include housing, meals, orientation and social and cultural activities.

•	Au Pair Abroad France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, USA
•	International Volunteer Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Namibia, Peru, South Africa
•	Teaching English Overseas Chile, China, France, Ghana, Spain, Thailand
•	Work & Travel Jobs Australia and New Zealand
•	International Citizens Au Pair, Internships, Seasonal Jobs and Summer Camp Jobs in the USA

Go where you want to be with InterExchange Working Abroad »

• Want to improve your second language skills? Experience a new culture? Or simply travel the world? The InterExchange Working Abroad program offers U.S. citizens the ability to work legally while traveling abroad.

IEP—International Education Programs at Jacksonville University—offers affordable and immersive internship, volunteer, service-learning and study abroad programs in over 25 countries throughout Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Customized internship abroad opportunities allow students and recent graduates to focus their academic studies, gain relevant work experience, and immerse themselves in the workplace and society of a foreign country. Service-learning and volunteer abroad opportunities in developing countries around the globe provide students with intercultural experiences and opportunities for meaningful travel. All internship and volunteer programs include a customized placement from 2-26 weeks, housing, travel insurance, airport pickup, on-site orientation and support services. Additional amenities such as Internet, social events, and language training may be included. Traveling overseas is a process that begins long before the plane ride. International Education Programs is committed to working with students individually through the decision-making process as they select and prepare for a study, internship or volunteer program. Learn more about your options and IEP destinations, begin the application process, or connect with IEP through email or by calling 800.IEP.3023 for more information.

• IEP academic and internship/volunteer programs offer experiences for a wide variety of majors and include direct-enrollment programs at large prestigious universities abroad, center-based culture and development studies, and customized internships in everything from banking in London to women's empowerment in India.

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to improve and develop your Spanish language skills while gaining real work experience with a business in Spain? The first four weeks of your Tandem Escuela Internacional Madrid experience will be spent at the school improving your Spanish. Located in a 19th century palace with 14 classrooms, a garden courtyard, multi-media room and library, classes are organized into small groups with four intensive language lessons per day. Following the language experience, you will participate in an unpaid internship, with options including advertising, business, engineering, finance, graphic design, humanitarian services, import/export, international relations, IT/Web design, marketing or tourism. You will also have the opportunity to practice with a Tandem Partner and to participate in Tandem's cultural program, including guided tours, cultural exchanges and organized excursions. Opportunities are available throughout the year beginning the first Monday of each month, with a three-month minimum commitment. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have an intermediate to advanced level of Spanish, and have a professional or educational background that would help them to be a responsible and productive member of the organization. Applications must be received at least 8 weeks prior to start date; email Mercedes Guerrero for more information.

• Improve your Spanish speaking skills through an intensive language course. Gain real world experience through an internship with a local business. Live and play in the culturally-rich city of Madrid, Spain. This is Tandem Escuela Internacional Madrid.

Unique Resources

View More Work Abroad Programs

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go offers an insider perspective of the trials and tribulations of being a Peace Corps volunteer (the author, Dillon Banerjee, spent two years as a volunteer in Cameroon). As an essential reference guide for anyone contemplating the "toughest job you'll ever love," you'll find the latest information and resources on Peace Corps programs.

Explore these insider tips on living, working and traveling abroad.

Get inspired with these stories from the field:
• Service Learning Africa
• Intern Abroad Belize
• Teach in Costa Rica
• Community Building Paraguay
• Volunteer Peru
• Teach in Thailand
• Volunteer Uruguay
• Volunteer Vacations Abroad
• Experiencing "The More"

Need a passport for your journey abroad? Download helpful passport information, including application forms, from the U.S. Department of State.

If you're looking for the perfect flight, hotel or rental car deal, we recommend Kayak.com.

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