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Tags: volunteer abroad, work abroad
Despite one of the worst economic sessions in U.S. history, one thing that’s not losing money or momentum is the volunteer abroad industry.
When Obama became President earlier this year he asked the young people to find a renewed sense of service to their country, so they flooded non-profit organizations. But with the lack of job opportunities at home, more college students are looking to volunteering opportunities abroad and work abroad programs.
Work and Volunteer Programs Abroad
Many students have already begun volunteering abroad with organizations like the Peace Corps. Stacey Hollis, who recently graduated from Warren Wilson College, pointed out these advantages of volunteering abroad:
- You get plugged into the Corps network of people
- Demonstrates your passion and commitment to larger goals
- Discussion starter with interviewers
She also thinks that employers will see the work abroad programs as ways to get savvier and more helpful employees.
As for work experience abroad, study abroad locations around the world are throwing money at recent graduates to teach English abroad. Because of this, schools like the Teaching English as a Foreign Language Institute in Chicago have increased their teacher training programs by as much as 50 percent to prepare students for work abroad opportunities.
The Green Scene in the U.S.
Even though many students are racing to join work and volunteer programs abroad, they still have hope for work in the U.S.
American volunteer and non-profit opportunity websites like Idealist.org are still getting inundated on a daily basis, and students are eagerly awaiting the millions of green jobs that will be created since Obama devoted $78.6 billion to clean energy.
Want to learn more? Check out Obama’s Alternative Energy Initiatives and Fast Company’s Top Green Jobs of 2009.
It’s a great opportunity to volunteer and work abroad, or to work in the U.S. It all depends on whether you’re ready for job relocation to another country or if you’d rather stick out the tough times at home.
Source: McClatchyDC.com
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