Geekcorps is a volunteer program that specializes in placing experts from the IT industry in communi

Short of winning a sweepstakes, a no cost holiday millennium hotel discount codes to a foreign country is an impossibility for most people. Of course, there are countless ways to reduce the cost of a trip , but ultimately you must decide if the traveling is worth the money you will spend on it. With growing fears of recession and a dramatically weakening dollar, millennium hotel discount codes the scales millennium hotel discount codes of reason seem to be tipping more and more in favor of staying at home.
Purposeful travel has become very popular and the opportunities to take 'volunteer vacations' are endless. However, all of these programs millennium hotel discount codes cost money, often just as much as a traditional package tour.
The Peace Corps is the classic all expenses paid volunteer option that first comes to an American's mind. They offer two-year appointments, mostly in Africa, Asia, and South America, as well as modest stipends. Popular among recent college graduates, the Peace Corps is actually open to people of all ages. It is part of a larger government program called Freedom Corps , which includes the Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP). millennium hotel discount codes VfP offers similar benefits and projects as the Peace Corps, but assignment lengths are variable, from a few weeks to several millennium hotel discount codes years in duration.
The United Nations volunteer program sends experienced professionals from almost any field to every region on earth. As a volunteer all expenses, including airfares to and from your work site and any pre-appointment necessities like vaccines and visas, are covered. In addition, volunteers receive various grants and stipends that vary in amount depending on the project's local economy. Like most of the groups in this list, they are looking for people with extensive experience in their field. Like the Peace Corps, millennium hotel discount codes most appoints are for two years, though they claim to be increasing the number of six-month and year-long millennium hotel discount codes options.
The ArtCorps millennium hotel discount codes is a program specifically designed for professional artists. The program focuses on using art as a teaching tool, as well as a means of expression, for communities that face pressing social millennium hotel discount codes problems. Though the program does require that participants do some personal fundraising, the cost of travel is otherwise fully covered, along with a small stipend. Most assignments last 11 months.
Voluntary millennium hotel discount codes Service Overseas (VSO) was recognized as the International Development Charity of the Year at the 2004 UK Charity Awards. They have placed over 30,000 millennium hotel discount codes volunteers, primarily in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. They provide a stipend, in addition millennium hotel discount codes to covering all expenses. While most assignments last two years, there are some special projects for experienced professionals millennium hotel discount codes lasting between two weeks and six months.
Geekcorps is a volunteer program that specializes in placing experts from the IT industry in communities with the goal of fostering digital independence. Geekcorps runs projects primarily in Mali, Ghana, and Lebanon. The program covers travel and living expenses in addition to providing a small stipend. Most of the placements are four months in duration, though options range from one to six months.
Winrock International is a non-profit organization that works to build economic prosperity and civil empowerment while encouraging sustainable resource millennium hotel discount codes use and environmental millennium hotel discount codes protection. They have projects in many parts of South America, millennium hotel discount codes Asia, and Africa. They offer to cover all travel expenses including a small per diem and most assignments last two to three weeks, including travel time.
ACDI/VOCA leads projects focused primarily on economic development. They are looking for experienced professionals with knowledge of business, banking and finance, marketing, agriculture, food processing, and community development, millennium hotel discount codes in addition to other, project specific, areas. They administer projects all over the world and cover all project-related expenses. Typical assignments are between two and four weeks long.
The International Executive Service Corps (IESC) encourages the development of private millennium hotel discount codes business and industry with the goal of increasing prosperity and development around millennium hotel discount codes the world. They are looking for volunteers millennium hotel discount codes with a background in business or industry and operate in many locations. All travel expenses are covered by the program in addition to a small stipend. Assignments millennium hotel discount codes vary from one week to several months long.
The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) places business and finance professionals in developing and reforming economies to provide education and guidance. They cover all expenses and operate primarily in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Assignments typically last between one and two weeks.
Willing Workers millennium hotel discount codes On Organic Farms (WWOOF) places volunteers on organic farms around the world. While working, your room and board at the farm is free, though volunteers are responsible for all expenses involved in getting to and from the site. Volunteers must pay a small annual membership fee to join the organization in the country they wish to work in order to access the database of farms. This is a great opportunity to learn about organic millennium hotel discount codes farming and spend a week or two doing some fun physical work.
Finally, there are a number of work camps worldwide millennium hotel discount codes that place teams of volunteers on a two or three week project. These can involve everything from farming to construction, education to art, every project is different. It costs about $300 for two or three weeks of room, board, and work. Not free, but not bad for two weeks of traveling. These projects are organized through clearing houses, the most popular being Volunteers for Peace and Service Civil International . As a great deal, Volunteers For Peace charge $500 for an entire family , regardless of the size.
Keep in mind that these trips will not be a week sitting on the beach. millennium hotel discount codes You will have to work, but even if you are doing something related to your everyday job, the location and unique challenges will make it seem fresh and new.
Besides a vacation, these opportunities provide an opportunity to learn a new language, take a leadership role, experience everyday millennium hotel discount codes life in a foreign country, and make some new friends and professional connections. With experiences like that, maybe it is smart to take a vacation during a recession.
We ve been looking (I guess I should say thinking) into opportunities with expenses paid and stipends for when my husband finishes his degree. It s nice to know there additional programs to the Peace Corps, although that s a good program too.
What a refreshing contrast to the list of summer millennium hotel discount codes camps for college bound students that was published yesterday in the New York Times. I think my daughter would learn a lot more working with Volunteers for Peace than she would at a $5000 or up summer camp!
Mary, I agree that a summer with Volunteers for Peace would be a great opportunity for your college millennium hotel discount codes bound daughter. I spent a summer working on a project in the Czech Republic arranged through VFP after I graduated from High School and it was a great experience. I was able to apply for local service grants millennium hotel discount codes that ended paying for all of my registration and travel millennium hotel discount codes expenses as well!
Myshca, I agree the Peace Corps is a great option for a lot of people. I have met and known a lot of volunteers and they all seem to have had great experiences. I think the major drawback isthat it is kind of a large commitment for most people though.
It is a long one. The last I checked though, they paid living stipends and six grand per person millennium hotel discount codes (or something like that) at the end of your completed commitment. Since we have other resources rolling in and wouldn t need to use them while we did the Peace Corps thing, we would actually be saving more. However, it s true most don t have the flexibility. At least at our age.  I m definitely planning on setting aside some time this afternoon over hot tea and soup to check out some of the ones you recommended in more detail. Thanks again.
Yeah Jack, I know, most of these options are a bit professional. I know I don t have the experience for the best ones. I really think that WWOOFing is a great option for people who are on the road and on a budget millennium hotel discount codes though. Imagine what two weeks expense free would do for the backpacker s or hobo s budget! And, if you are already in the country, the cost of getting to the farm would be minimal.
Myshca, I know this is probably frowned upon, but many of the Peace Corps volunteers I have talked to mention other sources of income that the pursued in their free time. Teaching English lessons is perhaps the most obvious.
Many churches do volunteer projects that are two to three weeks in length and are not mission millennium hotel discount codes based. I worked with several groups millennium hotel discount codes in Nome, Alaska millennium hotel discount codes who came up for two weeks (from Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia) to install community playgrounds, run summer camps, and do repairs to elders (a respectful term for respected older Native Alaskans) houses and vehicles.
These vacations were usually just the cost of travel, and the hosting church and community millennium hotel discount codes really pulled together to provide meals, millennium hotel discount codes housing, fun outings, and genuine friendship for visitors with hard to find skills (like construction, car maintenance, etc.)
I heard of another program specifically for families where a stipend is given and (if I remember correctly) even airfare is discounted for teaching English abroad. The program was aimed at teaching Business English, but actually looked for families (especially with school age kids) to interact with families and kids from other language backgrounds on the weekends. If I remember millennium hotel discount codes correctly it was a sort of vacation/teaching abroad program in the summer, with an average trip being two or three weeks long. I can't recall the name of this program, but maybe someone else knows.
The JET (Japan English and Teaching) Program pays for your roundtrip airfare to and from Japan, as well as a salary of $35,000, in exchange for a year (up to three, if you choose) of teaching English as a foreign language. No English-teaching experience required.
You do have to submit and go through a long (and