Here's an Idea

I too wanted to volunteer abroad for 1 month so I researched the Peace Corps and found the minimum time commitment was 27 months and as a soon to be graduate student, I didn't have that amount of time to dedicate but I still wanted to embark on a life-changing experience. So I continued researching and found Cross Cultural Solutions. After talking to the program director, talking with my family, and doing tons of research I decided to volunteer one month in Cape Town, South Africa. The entire thing was very organized, volunteers from all over the world (mostly the U.S) where there with me. We were housed in a beautiful and safe "home base." I was exposed to cultural and language lessons throughout my time there and given free time so I could go on my own exploring such as a safari ride, peninsula tour, shopping, and just walking about the neighborhood. We were given cell phones and given proper instruction on what cabs to use, to always travel in pairs, emergency numbers, medical insurance, ect. The program was great! But the volunteer experience was even better, I volunteered at an elementary school at on the townships. There are several placements such as mental health, medical, education, women's empowerment, and daycare facilitates that a volunteer can be placed at. I filled out a lengthy placement matching form and this is to ensure that each volunteer gets placed in the correct place.

Anyways, sorry for going on and on. But I had to share my experience, I never in a million years thought I would get the opportunity to travel to South Africa for a month and volunteer which is something I have always wanted to do and CCS made that experience safe and educational and everything I could have ask for!