Q: Could you give us a short background on CIEE:
A: CIEE is the leading non-profit, non-governmental, international education organization in the U.S. CIEE creates and administers programs that allow high school and university students and educators to volunteer, study, work, and teach abroad. Today, CIEE offers over 500 volunteer projects in 30 host countries, 60 study programs in over 30 countries, work programs in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.S., and teaching programs in China and Thailand. Educators can participate in summer seminars in over 15 countries.
Q: What are some volunteer opportunities you offer? Do you have any volunteer opportunities you are particularly proud of?
A: CIEE offers a wide variety of volunteer projects that encompass most every aspect of volunteerism including:
Social Services: organizing recreational programs, caring for children, the elderly, or those with special needs
Cultural: planning art, music, and performance events, creating a mural, or preparing for a festival
Environmental Protection and Agriculture: planting to control erosion, creating gardens, or protecting animals
Archaeology: excavating, clearing sites, and cataloging artifacts
Renovation and Conservation: restoring monuments, renovating youth centers, or building playgrounds
Education: assisting elementary through high school age students improve their English language skills
Q: What kind of daily life should prospective volunteers expect?
A: Each work group varies in size, male/female ratio, nationalities, and personalities. It is possible to be the only American on the project. During the day, volunteers work according to the project’s schedule. Evenings can be spent talking, singing, playing games, and visiting with locals. Weekends may include excursions with the volunteer team to nearby sites. Depending on the location, volunteers will live with the group in a “camp” such as a school, community center, hostel, or tent. Each volunteer will help plan menus, shop for ingredients, prepare meals, and clean up—and get a chance to sample new dishes in return for scrubbing a few pots. No previous experience is necessary for any project. Volunteers need only the willingness to try new things and be part of a group. No language skills are required. English is the common language on most projects, though a little knowledge of the local language always goes a long way. Certain projects—like those working with children or the disabled—may require conversational ability in the local language.
Q: What is the most important piece of advice you can offer future volunteers?
A: Prepare to the best of your ability for the experience. Prior to departure, do research on the country you plan to visit. Seek out information on the country’s people, culture, religion, local customs, history, economy, political structure, and significant current events. Use all available resources – the Internet; purchase a guidebook; a map; a bilingual dictionary; seek out people who have traveled in the country for first-hand advice; and, of course, read all materials provided by CIEE.
Q: What is the biggest challenge while volunteering abroad?
A: Learning to expect the unexpected. In the world of international volunteerism, the unexpected is as commonplace as the expected. Good volunteers take both in stride. To this end, the qualities that make a good volunteer are flexibility, initiative, a nonjudgmental attitude, a sense of humor, a commitment to serve others, and, above all, patience.
Q: On the flip side, what is the biggest reward?
A: This question is perhaps best answered by our volunteers:
"So much of what I learned during the project – both about other cultures and about myself – can't be found in a college course or even while traveling abroad with American friends. Our work provided continual opportunities to get to know one another and to share our cultures. It is clear to me that in an increasingly global community, we all must work together to strengthen our ties.”
"International Volunteer Projects are the perfect way to immerse yourself in another culture and really get to know the people and live the way they live. With other volunteers it allows for reflection of the process and your experience while it's occurring. It's unbelievably rewarding and informative."
Q: Why should they pay to volunteer with CIEE? How is the money used?
A: Simply, it is the program fee that enables the project to exist. There is much work involved: identifying and establishing service projects, marketing to secure volunteers, coordinating with international partners to bring volunteers from around the world together to work as a group. In addition to covering expenses associated with these activities, program fees are used to pay costs associated with housing, food, medical and travel insurance, materials, and on-site personnel.
CIEE considers its volunteer projects to be a service to the international community and, as such, endeavors to keep program fees as low as possible. The vast majority of projects only cost between $350 and $395.
Q: How does volunteering abroad fit into the bigger picture of aid and development?
A: Volunteerism, at home or abroad, is not just about good intentions. It’s about encouraging and empowering local populations to take an active role in the present and continued development of their communities. The involvement or participation of a host community in the creation, execution, and realization of a project’s stated goal encourages a sense of achievement and reaffirms civic responsibility. Of course, it also has a life-changing effect on those that participate. Like nothing else, volunteering abroad will challenge preconceptions and open eyes to global issues shaping the world today.
Q: Why should someone volunteer with CIEE?
A: CIEE is the oldest and, arguably, most respected, international educational exchange organization in the U.S. For years we have set the standards for program quality, safety, pre-departure advising, and support services that other similar organizations strive to emulate. As we look ahead, we at CIEE reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that guide our mission statement, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world". In support of this mission, we do everything we can to make opportunities for international exchange accessible to as many people as possible including keeping our fees for volunteer projects extremely low.
Q: How can someone get in contact with CIEE and learn more about your volunteer abroad opportunities?
A: Toll free: 1.800.40.STUDY
Email: volunteer@ciee.org
In addition to contacting CIEE directly, a searchable database with descriptions of available projects is available on our website.
Q: Do you have any advice on funding a volunteer experience abroad?
A: Volunteers that attend a CIEE Member or CIEE Academic Consortium Member institution at the time of application are eligible for the CIEE-administrated John Bowman Travel Grant for Volunteer Abroad. Detailed information on this grant, including application and eligibility requirements is available on the CIEE website via the following link: http://www.ciee.org/volunteer/apply/grant.aspx.
In addition, volunteers should never forget to look “in their own backyard”. Many volunteers successfully secure funding from civic and philanthropic organizations within their local communities.
With regard to budget, even though housing and meals are provided, volunteers are responsible for international airfare and should bring extra money for in-country travel, free time, and weekend excursions. Of course, this amount will vary according to personal wants and needs. When calculating the amount of extra money required, volunteers should take into account such things as personal items, transportation, evening entertainment, postage, and souvenirs. Generally, past participants have spent $80-$150 per week on average; but again, this will vary depending on how frugal the volunteer is, whether he/she is on a rural or urban project, and whether or not he/she will incorporate some leisure travel before or after the project.
