Job Discussion Forums

[aynnej]

Has anyone had any experience with this company? It's a volunteer program. I'm interested in their Conversation Corps, where participants live with a host family and teach the family English 15 hrs/wk.

I'm primarily interested in Brazil but am considering other countries. I'd have to pay 1135 USD to stay 3 months in Brazil, plus the flight. This seemed like a lot at first (and to have to pay to volunteer?). But, that's only $378/month for room and board. So it seems like a good way to see the country.

If anyone has done this, do you know if private tutoring on the side is allowed?

Thanks.

[parrothead]

There are a lot of For-Profit organizations that specialize in volunteer placement. Exactly how much of your 1135USD will go to the host family and how much to Geovisions? It's remarkably hypocritical for a company to play on the virtue of volunteers while the company itself makes a profit.
No, 1135USD is not a fortune, but why should someone who wants to volunteer their time have to be rolling in bags of money to do so? As a volunteer you would teach 180 hours in 3 months. It is a very admirable gesture, and your host family would assist you with free room and board. Surely there are ways to cut out the middle man.

Where does your money go? The Geovisions website says:

Identifying appropriate host organizations overseas (reputable and safe) and working with them is time-consuming, takes resources, and requires an experienced and professional staff.
The process of preparing, training, transporting, housing, feeding, and supervising volunteers is not cheap. Additional services such as health care, re-entry assistance, travel medical insurance, and more, all add to the expenses of a program.
The costs of recruiting volunteers, producing literature, answering the phones, sending mailings, developing a website, and interviewing potential volunteers are significant.

Gosh, they should be canonized for their charity.

[Nozka]

Parrothead is right. I ran into this problem when I looked to volunteer in Nepal. Forget these organizations that are located in developed countries because the vast majority of the money you pay to volunteer (a non sequitor if there ever was one) will not end up in the country or the hands of the people you wish to help. The intentions of Geovisions may be noble, but your money can be better spent.

I suspect that if you do more research on NGOs located in Brazil or other countries you are interested in, you will find an organization that would want your services without charging you all of the overhead. Then you could stay for six months, or a year, or buy some school supplies or medicine that will go directly to the people you wish to help.

Above all, go. You will not regret doing something like this.

Peace,
Nozka

[aynnej]

Thanks Parrothead and Nozka. I'll certainly do a little more research and see what else is out there.

If anyone has worked with GeoVisions, though, I'd love to hear about your experience.