Want to know what it might be like to volunteer abroad?
Omprakash volunteers have been posting stories, photos and even videos from their time abroad since 2007. We now have an extensive collection of personal stories from volunteers who've worked with our partners abroad. You can browse through the most recent stories below or use the category selection tool to narrow your search. Alternatively click on the Stories tab for each organization we work with to see specific accounts from a particular organization. Be careful - you might lose a couple hours of your day in here! Happy reading.
Children of Shambalaprint storyJune 28, 2012 Children of Shambala China
I've been volunteering with Children of Shambala (COS) since November 2011. I believe in COS' mission in Asia and am impressed with the efficiency and efficacy of their main program, Orphanage WIthout Walls (OWW). OWW is a long-term poverty alleviation program targeting children who have lost one or both of their parents. With COS' help, these children receive the social and financial support they need to succeed in school and break the cycle of poverty. Perhaps more importantly, COS' professionally-trained local social workers give families emotional support in the field and act as important rolemodels for children in areas served by COS.
Terje Jan Voilaas, the founder of COS, brings his entrepreneurial expertise to the nonprofit sector. When I told him I had some extra time to commit to COS, he immediately invited me on board. He's given me challenging responsibilities and has made me feel like a valued member of the COS team.
There is a team of six foreign volunteers currently working with COS. Our volunteer hours are flexible, as some of us are students and some are English teachers. We usually have a meeting once a week.
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