Live in a Foreign Country for 2-3 Weeks For As Little As $300
March 25, 2010 by Mrs. Frugal
Do you want to see the world but lack a sizeable travel budget? Consider an international volunteer program.
I was introduced to Volunteers For Peace about 10 years ago by a colleague that had completed three volunteer projects in Italy. I had been travelling internationally for work and had been to quite a few countries, but I wanted an experience that would take me beyond the typical tourist activities to learn first hand the local culture.
About Volunteers for Peace
“Volunteers For Peace offers placement in international volunteer projects in more than 100 countries including the United States. As part of the international voluntary service movement Volunteers for Peace participants work with volunteers from at least four other countries on grassroots-identified projects to enhance local communities.
Volunteers For Peace promotes International Voluntary Service as an effective means of intercultural education, service learning and community development. We provide projects where people from diverse backgrounds can work together to help overcome the need, violence and environmental challenges facing our planet. Our projects are truly a microcosm of a world where nations join together to improve life on our planet. They are a practical way to both prevent and resolve conflict. By participating in a voluntary service project, volunteers help sow the seeds of a better future for us all.”
My Personal Experience
I signed up and completed a project at a community center in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Their mission was to bring together families from both the Protestant and Catholic communities to help foster a greater understanding between the two groups that had been engaged in a bitter conflict for over 30 years. It was a two week long project in which we helped out with much needed maintenance around the center. In our downtime our hosts took us sightseeing and made sure we got a flavor of the local life. They also explained the history of the conflict in the area and what they saw as possible ways for both sides of the conflict to coexist in peace. Our hosts were generous and fun and strove to make our experience very positive.
Affordable Travel Alternative
In addition to providing a great experience, VFP projects are very cost-effective.
- Most placements only cost $300. If there are additional fees they will be clearly noted in the description.
- The majority of placements last 2-3 weeks and include all meals and boarding.
- You need to provide your own transportation to the country and the specified meeting place.
A wide variety of project types are available in over 100 different countries. From yoga in India to disaster relief work to archaeological digs in Greece, VFP has projects to satisfy any area of interest.
One thing to note is that Volunteers For Peace is just a placement agency so you should do additional research on the organization hosting the project. For example, my colleague said the two of the projects in Italy were great but the third in Sicily was very loosely managed. The project I joined was extremely well run and we were very well taken care of. You can also check out testimonials and photos from other past volunteers at VFP.org.
If you have two to three weeks, want to see the world and give back at the same time, I encourage you to check them out.
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Very interesting post. I’ve travel too and even lived abroad for a year. This sounds like a great idea, too bad I could never string together that much time off work
I know what you mean. I guess that’s why I only went once in 10 years.
great post,
just new here and think you do great. i appreciate your work.
That’s awesome. I have only been to Belfast briefly but stayed close by for a while. Being from London the conflict has affected me my whole life and I grew up with bomb threats and news on TV…. I have no right or wrong answers for the conflict and don’t blame any one side… I am just glad significant steps for a joint front are being made.
As for the placements I may well check these people out for when I am done living in Egypt.
This is a different twist on Tim Ferris’ advice on living abroad at a low cost. This seems like a great, feel good method to see the world without breaking the bank. I am familiar with a specific program in Israel called Livnot (which means ‘To Build’ in Hebrew). They offer subsidized, long term trips to Israel for community service projects.
I think community service is one of the best ways to see the world and get to know a new culture. The hardest part is breaking away from the office for more than two or three days at a time.
Hmm . . .I’d actually never heard of this, but it sounds great. I’m more in the ‘settle down’ mode lately, but every once in a while the wanderlust strikes anyhow. Seems like a good way to see/experience a new country without breaking the bank and while having some community involvement.