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.:Resource Guides:Year of Service Programs-Exploring Opportunities
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Year of Service Programs
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Exploring Opportunities
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.
-Maya Angelou
As you explore the world of Year of Service opportunities, here are some things you will want to consider:
Self Assessment
Start by assessing yourself. Begin by thinking through your motivations. Why are you considering a year of service program? Do you have a genuine desire to serve and learn or are you just not really sure what you want to do and/or have concerns about the job
market?
Think through and begin to answer for yourself the following type of questions:
- When would you like to go and for how long?
- Where would you like to serve? In the U.S., inner city, rural community, overseas?
- Why are you considering this? What do you hope to gain and how do you see it fitting into your future goals?
- What would you like to do, in what capacity?
- What do you have an interest or passion for?
- Whom do you want to serve? What population do you want to work with?
Resources for Finding Opportunities
Unfortunately, there is not one comprehensive source that lists all Year of Service type of programs. However, the following resources should provide connections to the majority of opportunities available:
International Opportunities
The following sites focus on international (outside of the United States) opportunities. Most of the sites highlighted above also list international opportunities as well as U.S. based experiences.
A couple of special notes regarding international opportunities:
Some books and directories worth exploring:
- The Back Door Guide to Short Term Job Adventures
- Alternatives to the Peace Corps
- The Peace Corps and More
- International Directory of Volunteer Work
- Teaching English Abroad
- How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas
Researching a Program or Sponsor Organization Once you have identified programs that interest you, call, email or write for more information and application materials. You will want to read the organization's literature, visit their website, talk with the recruiting
staff, and ideally speak with some current or former volunteers/participants from the program. When evaluating a program and possible opportunity, the type of questions you should find answers to include:
- What is the mission and philosophy of the organization?
- Does the organization have any affiliation (government, religious, etc.)?
- What is the financial situation of the organization? Where do they get their funding?
- What is a participant's financial responsibility?
- What are the expectations and the specific role/responsibilities of the placement?
- Who will you be serving?
- What will the living situation be like?
- What type of training and supervision is provided?
- Will you be working and living with other volunteers?
- How does the organization relate to the community? How is it received?
- If the placement is overseas, what documents are required; any special health, language or cultural issues?
- What provisions are made for health insurance?
- Is it possible to have your student loans deferred?
- What have past program participants gone on to do?
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