Similar organizations to Peace Corps?

Question

I am graduating this coming summer and I would like to, not directly, but eventually volunteer for a serious non for profit that is works outside of the United States. The reason that the peace corps is not something I am jumping at is because of their emphasis of importance on having a college degree to apply, and making it very difficult to otherwise participate. Can you recommend alternative non for profits or NGOs  similar to the peace corps I could look in to? Thank you.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The reason the Peace Corps emphasizes having a college degree is because its purpose is to send skilled people into the world to train others. To have skills, you either need education or a buttload of work experiiences.

You are going to find that NGOs stress education and skills even more so. After all, PC spends the government's money, but they're budgeting their own. They have a lot more interest in getting bang for their buck.

PC is *a lot* more willing to take a raw person (ie- newly graduated, never having a "real" job) and sending them into the world. Opportunities at NGOs and other non-profits are extremely competitive and usually require not only specialized education but also experience, language skills and sometimes experience in conflict zones. The positions are extremely competitive - even the volunteer ones.

You can check idealist.org and Relief Web for volunteer possibilities. 

If you are looking for a general, feel-good type of volunteer position (you don't list your major or what you would like to do, so I am guessing), you can go through a pay-to-go organization, of which there are MANY. There are also many types of programs, from working with kids to doing ocean reef restoration projects.

You'd have to search for those places because there are hundreds, but two I've done are Cross Cultural Solutions and IFRE Vacations. Another if Global Volunteers, and a person here has done Leave UR Mark might drop by to tell you about that experience, which sounds like it was great.

Jayne says READ MORE BOOKS · Answer

The PeaceCorps recruits experienced people because that's what people in developing countries want. They want expertise, not just people with good hearts!

Here's a long list of alternatives to the PeaceCorps:

Volunteer Abroad
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

Also see:

Funding Your Volunteering Trip Abroad
(includes information on where to find credible programs)
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/fundingabroad.html

Volunteer Abroad
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

transire benefaciendo
"to travel along while doing good."
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/travel/go_and_do_good.html

How to Pursue a Career with the United Nations
or Other International Humanitarian or Development Organizations,
Including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/workabroad.shtml

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Similar organizations to Peace Corps?

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