Brief description: The non-profit Action Without Borders provides a database of over 48,000 non-profit and community organizations in 165 countries. The database is searchable by name, location, and mission. If you are looking for an exotic or even just a challenging volunteer experience, this is a great site. One link is to “Organizations that can help you Volunteer Abroad,” some of which pay for transportation, room, and board for their volunteers. From the website: “Action Without Borders is independent of any government, political ideology or religious creed. Our work is guided by the common desire of our members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.”

Eligibility: See specific opportunities.

Locations: Worldwide.

Stipend: This is a volunteer effort.

Deadline(s): See specific opportunities.

Web Address: http://www.idealist.org.

Brief description: Interns participate in the work of the Clinton Foundation, whose mission – in addition to establishing the Presidential Library – is to strengthen the capacity of people in the U.S. and worldwide to meet the challenges of global interdependence. The Foundation focuses on four critical areas: health security; economic empowerment; leadership development and citizen service; and racial, ethnic, and religious reconciliation. Internships are available for summer, fall, or spring; the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative internships are for one year beginning in the fall.

Eligibility: Undergraduates, graduate or professional students; recent graduates.

Locations: New York City; Little Rock, Arkansas; Quincy, Massachusetts.

Stipend: Not mentioned.

Deadline(s): For Fall – June 15, for Spring – November 15, for Summer – February 28.

Web Address: www.clintonfoundation.org.

Brief description: With a goal of increasing the presence of individuals from traditionally underrepresented populations among the faculties of U.S. colleges, the program encourages students to develop their interests into academic careers and to develop skills necessary to succeed in graduate study. During the 8-week program, students conduct graduate-level research under the supervision of a Columbia University faculty mentor and meet as a group for a seminar series.

Eligibility: Participants must be entering junior or senior year, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 3.0 GPA, have a demonstrated interest and potential for doctoral study. Consideration is given to historically underrepresented groups including: African-American, Mexican-American, Native-American, or Puerto Rican. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest and scholarly promise in research and teaching in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences.

Location: Columbia University, New York City.

Stipend: Housing provided on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus; up to $300 for transportation costs; $2800 stipend to help cover living expenses, including meals.

Deadline(s): February 21.

Web Address: gsas.columbia.edu.

Brief description: Intended for young adults in business, technology, vocational, and agricultural fields, the program is designed to give participants an understanding of everyday life, education, and professional training in Germany. This 12-month program, beginning in July, includes 2 months of intensive German, 4 months classroom instruction at a German university of applied sciences, and 5 months in an internship in the participant’s career field.

Eligibility: US citizens age 18-24; at least 3 months of career-related work experience; German language proficiency strongly recommended; ideal candidates have clear career goals, good communication skills, flexibility, and diplomacy.

Location: Germany.

Stipend: program pays international airfare, local transportation, study costs, language training, orientation and seminar costs, insurance, and host family compensation/accommodation costs during study period; participants need $300-500 per month for personal expenses.

Deadline(s): December 1.

Web Address: www.cdsintl.org.

Brief description: The Earthwatch Institute’s mission is to promote sustainable conservation of our natural resources and cultural heritage by creating partnerships between scientists, educators, and the general public. The organization sponsors scientific field research projects nationally and around the world. Participants pay to be part of the expedition and to learn/perform the scientific tasks while immersing themselves in the cultural and geographical contexts. Recent examples include analyzing the ecosystem of Ontario’s ancient forests, excavating a Hopi Zuni archaeological site in Arizona, and exploring the folklore of rural Russia.

Eligibility: Open.

Location: Various.

Stipend: None; participants pay most of costs; some grants available; check site.

Deadline(s): Varies.

Web Address: www.earthwatch.org.

Brief description: Short-term awards are available for stays of two to three months in conjunction with German university language or summer courses, independent senior thesis research, or internships with a German institution or firm. Long-term awards help support a semester or year abroad, as part of an organized study abroad program or for individual, student-designed study.

Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors can apply for study in Germany for the following year; must be able to earn academic credit from the student’s university; outstanding academic record, convincing and feasible project proposal; interest in contemporary German and European affairs; proposed study must be relevant to future professional and career goals. All fields are eligible except dentistry, medicine, and pharmacy. Applicants in the arts, humanities, and social sciences should have a good command of German, as should all applicants for long-term awards.

Location: German universities primarily.

Stipend: Monthly allowance of approxiamately €650 (about $1,012), plus additional funds for travel, research, and health insurance expenses.

Deadline(s): Varies by program; check website for details.

Web Address: www.daad.org.

Brief description: NPR internships provide students and recent graduates with opportunities to learn about broadcasting and the supporting areas of NPR. Programs are 8-10 weeks summer, fall, and spring. Not all internships are available in all 3 sessions.

Eligibility: Undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students.

Location: Washington, DC and Culver City, CA.

Stipend: Usually none; some programs may provide a small stipend.

Deadline(s): For summer, February 15; for fall, July 15; for spring, November 15.

Web Address: www.npr.org.

Brief description: The Orion Society compiles a rapidly changing list of opportunities for place-based work in conservation, education, restoration, and environmental justice. Organizations contributing to the list are always grassroots; internships are often unpaid but may be in interesting locations or addressing issues of specific concern to the applicant.

Eligibility: Varies.

Location: Widely dispersed; list can be searched by region.

Stipend: Determined by position.

Deadline(s): Varies; opportunities often have a very quick turnaround, so check often.

Web Address: www.jobs.oriongrassroots.org/.

Brief description: Designed for students interested in learning to address critical environmental issues, this program gives high school and college students experience in hands-on, community-based field work in SFS programs around the world. Programs are available for Fall or Spring semester, or as a 30-day summer courses. Participants work with faculty to help local communities look toward balancing economic development with environmental stewardship. Participants will need enthusiasm, compassion, flexibility, and social concern.

Eligibility: for semester-long programs, at least 18 years old and completion of at least one college-level ecology or biology course; for summer, at least 16 years old and completion of junior year in high school.

Location: Australia, British Columbia, British West Indies, Costa Rica, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa.

Stipend: none; need-based scholarships and/or interest-free loans are available to defray costs of participating in the program.

Deadline(s): rolling admissions; apply early; summer programs do have deadlines, so check website.

Web Address: www.fieldstudies.org.

Brief description: The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) is reaching out to tomorrow’s leaders. Students will be placed in leading policy institutes, non-profit organizations, foundations, and corporations, helping to build awareness of the interdependence of groups and communities and the need to improve public education for low-income students as a means to enhance the quality of civic life, democratic participation, and economic growth. Past placement sites include: CARE USA, Georgia Pacific Foundation, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Eligibility: Completion of at least 90 credit hours (junior status or above) or enrollment in a graduate program in a college or university in the South; familiarity or interest in social justice or education policy and practice.

Location: Atlanta, GA and a placement site in the South.

Stipend: living expense of $3000 for undergraduates and graduating seniors or $3500 for graduate students; travel expenses to attend opening orientation and closing activities in Atlanta.

Deadline: March 14.

Web Address: www.southerneducation.org.

Brief description: The SCA, the oldest and largest provider of conservation services, places interns and volunteers in positions contributing to conservation and the public enjoyment of public spaces. Interns gain experience in conservation service, outdoor skills, and leadership. Examples of areas of opportunity include archaeology, photography, trail construction, hydrology, and environmental education. Internships ordinarily run 3 – 12 months.

Eligibility: 18 and older; high school graduate.

Location: Nationwide, at national parks and forests, historic and cultural spaces, and urban green spaces.

Stipend: Positions are usually only “expenses paid” but do offer education awards.

Deadline(s): As positions open in various locations; website is the best place to check for open positions.

Web Address: www.thesca.org.

Brief description: VFP is a Vermont-based non-profit organization coordinating an international exchange of volunteers. People register for “workcamps” in locations in 90 countries, and VFP coordinates an exchange of domestic volunteers for “foreign” volunteers wishing to participate in workcamps in this country. International Workcamps are an affordable and meaningful way to travel, live and work in a foreign country. A donation of $30 is required to request access to the Directory of workcamps; a registration fee of $300 is required to fund participation in a workcamp. Transportation to/from is paid by the volunteer, but the registration fee does include meals and accommodations. Work may range from construction to social services to AIDS counseling. The nature of the workcamp is decided by the needs of the community, and all workcamps involve an international cadre of volunteers working toward that common goal. English is the language of most workcamps, regardless of location.

Eligibility: For most work camps, participants must be at least 18 years of age; some camps state a preference for older workers; some are open to participants younger than 18.

Locations: Around the world.

Stipend: Participants pay $300 fee and costs of transportation to and from site; housing and meals are provided.

Deadline(s): No application required; registration for workcamps can begin as early as late March.

Web Address: www.vfp.org.