So how come these people want me to volunteer (ie work without getting a wage) and and top of that, PAY THEM!

I just got laid off from work. This is something I always wanted to do, but never had the time. Now I figure I might as well go do it.

I dont have the bachelors degree that they want for the peace corp, so im looking at all the others. And its seems like the peace corp are the only ones who dont make you pay.

Now dont get me wrong, I have found some cheap/affordable ones, but it still makes no sense to me.


so the question:

Are there any cost-free alternatives to the peace corp?

If so, what are they?


And has anyone here done this? If so what was your experience like?

If you haven't got a solid skill or qualification I think you can kiss goodbye to the whole 'all expenses paid' volunteer kind of trip.

Though, if you look round, there's a few oppurtunities where your food and accomodation are provided, and you only have to cover the cost of the flights and spending money.

this (http://www.independentvolunteer.org/index.php) site seems to have some decent oppurtunities posted, though I haven't enquired into anything yet.

Until I have enough to cover myself, I'm just going to keep scouring and scouring flight comparison websites and volunteer oppurtunities, so when the time comes I can pounce onto the cheapest one. Thinking of hitting Thailand next year, seems to be a lot of oppurtunities around for English teaching where you need no teaching qualifications, and they let you stay in the school or with a family.

The reason why they can't pay for everything is just think how expensive it'd be. The organisations would pretty much all go bust.

Thanks. Ill have a look at that site. But I DO have a skill.

You give me a busted up engine/mechanical thing and the right tools and I can get it running.

But I dont think developing countries really have that many vehicles, except those toyota pickups that they use to transport all those rebels...

^^ Go to Mexico.

Nearly every vehicle in the country is used and requires constant upkeep. Anyone with mechanical skills can make a decent living there.

Thanks. Ill have a look at that site. But I DO have a skill.

You give me a busted up engine/mechanical thing and the right tools and I can get it running.

But I dont think developing countries really have that many vehicles, except those toyota pickups that they use to transport all those rebels...

Most slums around the world have community centers, they need people that know English, have decent computing skills, and are willing to do menial tasks and whatnot. Figure out where you want to go, and look for community centers in impoverished areas. IE: Township South Africa, Favela Brazil. With mechanical skills you could probally do pretty good, pretty much every developing country has vehicles, just not that many and there all beat up.