Category Archives: International

04.21.09
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More Peace Corps Legislation Could Enable More to Serve Abroad

As the Serve America Act becomes law, it offers no support of Peace Corps. Legislation to increase the capacity of Peace Corps was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

A fish farming family

A fish farming family

In mid-February, Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1066, the Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2009. The legislation calls for gradually increased funding for Peace Corps (up to $750 million in 2012), enabling more Volunteers to serve, and increasing the amount of the readjustment allowance Volunteers receive at the end of their service term.

13,011 Americans applied in 2008 to volunteer their service in the Peace Corps, a 16 percent increase over the 11,246 applications received in 2007. While applications to Peace Corps and other service corps are seeing record numbers, Peace Corps has funding for 400 fewer Volunteers this year (compared with 2008), and is reportedly offering one-year deferrals to candidates.

(In 1966, according to the Boston Globe, 15,000 Peace Corps Volunteers served in the field.)

According to the Boston Globe article about Peace Corps from this past weekend, former Peace Corps Country Director Mark Gearan said, “We spend more on the military marching bands. …This is 1 percent of 1 percent [of the federal budget]. There’s Continue reading →

04.16.09
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Young Professionals of the Indian Diaspora Contribute Skills and Time to India

picture-101The Indian service program that recruits people of Indian family background, from all around the world, has launched a program to offer shorter-term opportunities specifically for young professionals.

Indicorps invites young Indian professionals to commit their time and skills to India through the Young Professionals Initiative (YPI), a new sabbatical program that allows people to meaningfully bring their knowledge and talents to India.

YPI, still in pilot phase, offers new experts in a variety of fields the opportunity to participate in half-year, goal-oriented service projects that can have an enormous impact for good on Indian communities.

The program will run between July 1 and December 1, 2009.

Associates will take on these projects (see full project descriptions):

04.15.09
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The Return of Peace Corps Rwanda

Map of Rwanda32 Peace Corps Volunteers will be sworn-in today in Kigali, marking the return of the Peace Corps Rwanda program after a 15-year absence.

According to the Peace Corps, its presence in Rwanda ended 15 years ago when “the the civil unrest that resulted in the genocide” began. (Read more about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.)

The new group of Volunteers, who have been in pre-service training in Rwanda since January, will work on health and community development assignments, including collaborating with the Rwandan government and its U.S. government partners  to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Like the United States, every Peace Corps host country has its unique history and psychological scars from past Continue reading →

04.02.09
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Atlas Corps Deadline Extended for Candidates from the U.S., East Asia and Brazil

Atlas Corps — the international service and exchange corps for nonprofit professionals — has extended its deadline for candidates from the United States, East Asia, and Brazil.

Over 500 candidates have applied for the Atlas Corps Fellowship.In all cases the earlier the application is received the better, so if you want to apply, please do so as soon as possible. They are beginning to review applications now.

Atlas Corps seeks nonprofit leaders from the United States

All candidates must have a college degree, 2+ years of nonprofit experiences and Spanish proficiency. The particular skills we hope to find include candidates with capacity building, business consulting, fundraising and social entrepreneurship. Deadline has been extended to April 8, read more or address questions to applybogota [at] atlascorps.org.

Atlas Corps seeks nonprofit leaders from East Asia

All candidates must have a college degree, 2+ years of nonprofit experience, and English proficiency. The primary position we are recruiting for is a “Girls Leadership Program Coordinator” at Asian American Lead, so candidates with experience working with youth development and after school education would be a good match.  Deadline has been extended to April 12, read more and address questions to apply [at] atlascorps.org.

Atlas Corps seeks nonprofit leaders from Brazil

All candidates must have a college degree, 2+ years of nonprofit experiences and English proficiency. The primary organization we are recruiting for is the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, so a candidate with experience with the issues of child sexual exploitation and international abduction would be a good match. Deadline has been extended to April 8. Read more and address questions to apply [at] atlascorps.org.

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03.05.09
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High Schoolers Find a New Way to Serve through Global Citizen Year

A program that offers a nine-month, international service opportunity for recent high school grads is now accepting applications for its inaugural term.

Global Citizen Year aims to give gap-year kids the experience of their life time that will shape their college ambitions, career, and capacity for doing good in an increasingly global world.

Most people I know who traveled or lived abroad as kids have become citizens of the world in adulthood, speaking languages beyond English, reading between the lines of news stories set on foreign shores, and exhibiting a wanderlust and curiosity satisfied only through international travel and making friends from all backgrounds. Service abroad can also have a profound impact on the host communities—check out this video about GCY and what high schoolers can do, given a chance:

If you wish the same  for yourself or your kid, read more about GCY and the application process.