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work/study/volunteer abroad programs?

Last activity 28 December 2010 by nurulfitri

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aistalas

Hi everyone. I'm interested in going abroad but am not yet ready to do it completely on my own, nor am I looking to do it permanently. I'm 25, and it would be my first time abroad (in any meaningful sense--I went to London and Vancouver with my parents on vacation when I was younger, which is entirely different experientially). Also, my angle is finding an interesting job/program first, and where it is is secondary.

So what I'm looking for are programs where you pay a program fee and they set you up with housing, a job or volunteer placement, and miscellaneous supports. Ideally I'd like to get a job where I can get paid some, but a program which offers internships or volunteerships would also be ok. Really I'm in it for the experience/change.

I'm really looking for something rather "all-inclusive", for example:
http://www.hutong-school.com (a good friend of mine went here, it's ideal except I'm not keen on China as a first venture)
http://www.institutohemingway.com
http://www.myproworld.org

What I'm NOT as keen on is something like bunac.org--which everyone talks about--but which doesn't seem as supportive in terms of guaranteed housing or job placement. it seems like they try to "help" you but you're kinda on your own. Unless I'm mistaken.

So far I know about the triumverate of jobs/study/volunteerabroad.com, which seems like a decent starting point for locating specific programs.

Two things of note: 1) I'm not a student anymore, which as I hear can make it harder for me as a US citizen to get a work visa (true?) and 2) I'd love, love to be able to find a job or internship in my field, which happens to be film and video and the web--anything media oriented might fit the bill.

That being said, if I got an awesome straight-out job offer abroad I would consider it. Anyone have any film/media contacts abroad or work somewhere that could use me? Or know of relevant associations/job boards in your country?

My website is laurengalanter.com if you're curious. :D

Thanks guys!

geezandy

Hey,Astalas
Sorry to hear you are not keen on China as a first venture, but in you change your mind and any others are interested, you can check our program in China:
Study-Internship in Shanghai, I put the link below and you can have a look:
http://www.internabroad.com/listingsp3. … ting/45037

oreneta

There is always the classic, the Peace Corps, who are still out there and active.  There are also groups like the Sierra Club who run volunteer service trips...these may be shorter than you have in mind, but they may be able to get you onto other groups who accept volunteers in more remote locations.  You could also contact individual organisations that you feel drawn to, such as Conseration international.  The reality is that with your background in film, media and the web, you may be able to trade skills for work with any number of NCO/Environmental organisations.

I have a friend in Medicin Sans Frontiers (I am sorry, I know I spelled the French wrong) and they need non-medical staff as well, it would certainly be an oportunity to be of service and be fully supported while traveling to parts of the world most of us never go to.

Hope that helps.

nurulfitri

Hi Aistalas..
Since you posted this topic since a long time ago, I don't know that you're still need voluntary job or not.
But if you still interest with voluntary abroad, you can try with United Nations Volunteers..
You can check on their website: http://www.unv.org...

Good Luck..

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