Volunteer Vacations

For those of you who flunked science but still want to do something meaningful with your time, consider volunteering in a foreign region. You can do anything from writing pamphlets to cleaning toilets. In most cases, there will be a "goal" and you will help in "achieving that goal." You, of course, will pay for all the expenses involved and will have to make a donation as well. Once on site, you will be working with motivated people who are trying to change whatever it is that causes problems in the local region. It can be lonely, frustrating and ultimately depressing. On the other hand, there is no better way to understand the world's problems. There are thousands upon thousands of opportunities for people who want to give of their time and skills. There are even more opportunities for people who don't mind paying to volunteer. In some cases, state agencies have replaced paid workers with paying volunteers for maintenance of trails, parks, and so forth. Archaeological digs are popular, as are works projects in Third World countries. The list and choice of volunteer vacations is so extensive that there are over 40 books and directories currently in print on the subject. There are enough of these opportunities to ensure that you will end up in the dangerous place of your choice, whether it's digging ditches in Sierra Leone, working on a Kibbutz in areas occupied by Israel or counting trout in the good old U.S.A. You can choose from mild to wild. If you want to work overseas and get paid contact: Fischer Report, P.O Box 2770 Laguna Hills California 92654 (one year subscription is $400).

An excellent resource is Volunteer Vacations, by Bill McMillon, and published by the Chicago Review Press, Another more cerebral source is:

Directory of Lay Volunteer Opportunities

St. Vincent Palloti Center for Apostolic Development

Box 893 Cardinal Station

Washington, D.C. 20064

(202) 529-3330, FAX: (202) 529 0911

Let's start off the listings with a higher moral tone. You can work with a number of religious organizations like the Mary Knolls missionaries and other groups around the world.

Archaeological Institute of America

675 Commonwealth Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02215

(800) 338-5578, (617) 353-9361, FAX: (617) 353-6560

Call to order their annual listings of digs around the world that are looking for volunteers.

Council on International Educational Exchange

205 East 42nd Street

New York, New York 10017

(212) 661-1414

Field programs and summer academic programs in Latin and South America.

Earthwatch

680 Mt. Auburn Street

Box 403N

Watertown, Massachusetts 02272

(800) 776-0188, (617) 926-8200, FAX: (617) 926-8532

Offers working vacations on 155 field research expeditions around the world. Document the decay in the coral reef off Maui, excavate Mayan sites in Guatemala, or help scientists in Siberia study active volcanoes.

GAP Activity Projects Limited

44 Queen's Road

Reading, Berkshire, England RG1 4BB

[44] (734) 594914, FAX: [44] (734) 576634

The "gap" is a British term to describe the year between grade school and college. The GAP places young people in a variety of work situations in Russia, Hungary, Japan, China and Poland. Positions include business, medical, adventure training, conservation and teaching.

Institute for International Cooperation
and Development

Post Office Box 103-F

Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267

(413) 458-9828

Semester-long programs worldwide that combine cultural and educational experiences.

Raleigh International

Raleigh House

27 Parsons Green Lane

London, SW6 4HZ England

[44] (71) 371 8585,
FAX: [44] (71) 371 5116

Can you swim 500 meters? Can you speak English? Good, you're on. Raleigh International sends eager young (17-25 years old) volunteers to the far corners of the world. The goal is to work on community, research and conservation projects while having a bit of adventure. The charity likes to challenge young people and develop their leadership skills and self-confidence.

UNIPAL (Universities' Education Fund
for Palestinian Refugees)

33A Islington Park Street

London, England N1 1QB

[44] (71) 2267997,
FAX: [44] (71) 2260880

UNIPAL provides teaching and social services to the Palestinians in Israel and Jordan.

Volunteers for Israel

330 West 42nd Street, Suite 1318

New York, New York

(212) 643-4848

Those who want to work on kibbutzim, Israel Defense Fund bases or in hospitals can expect to pay between $500 and $1000 for the privilege. Age is no object, other than you must be more than 18; over 15,000 people have signed up with this 13-year-old agency.

Volunteers for Peace

43 Tiffany Road

Belmont, Vermont 05730

(802) 259-2759

A work camp-type environment with placement worldwide.

Volunteers in Technical Assistance

1815 North Lynn Street, Suite 200

Arlington, Virginia 22209

(703) 276-1800

If you have a specific technical skill that you would like to share or apply with others, contact this group. They prefer to communicate by mail and will ask you some specific questions before referring you to one of the many volunteer groups in their listings.

Volunteer, The National Center

1111 North 19th Street, Suite 500

Arlington, Virginia 22209

(703) 276-0542

If you want to narrow down your choices, make this group your first stop. They will simply refer you to a group of organizations they think will match your interests.