Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Does anyone have any experiences with this volunteer organasation? How does it compare with thte Peace Corps?

I've looked at their site and see that they take people who are citizens of X countries and then they go on to say that you must also be currently residing in X country. Why is that? And why isn't simply having citizhip enough?

Any comments are appreciated.

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:36 am Post subject:

What would you like to know about VSO? I have an acquaintance from the States who is volunteering -- she will be leaving for your neck of the woods very soon. Very Happy

Can I drop her a line for you? PM me if I can help.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Hey, thanks. I want to know the answers to questions above. And it would be wonderful to correspond to her while she is volunteering.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

In my experince,VSO does not measure up to the Peace Corps,although the Peace Corps has some problems.too.PM me if you want specifics.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

In my experince,VSO does not measure up to the Peace Corps,although the Peace Corps has some problems.too.PM me if you want specifics.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

A mere typo. Smile

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Not to knock either organisation.

I have heard tell of some people who, having invested their time and energy for an allotted period of their life, returned financially out of pocket as well. It would be wise to consider your finances as well before accepting to volunteer.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

The Peace Corps pays an EOS(End of Service )allowance to its volunteeers.This amounts to a few thousand (probably five or six at this time) if the volunteer stays for the fullt two year commitment.If the volunteer leaves early,the amount of the EOS is prorated.To my knowledge,VSO does NOT provide such an end of service allowance,so some of their volunteers might very well end up in financial difficulty after their terms of service.
Peace Corps also provides some assistance in finding a job after the term of service,and sometimes scholarship assistance for grad school,etc.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Actually,there is a recent Peace Corps ad on the International Jobs Offered Forum on Dave's.And the readjustment allowance(they used to call it EOS,end of service) is now $ 6075,according to the ad.That is if someone stays the full two years.Some people ET(early terminate) for various reasons...personal,health,etc.

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Is the Peace Corps open to non-north americans?

Iain

MonkeyKing · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 96 Location: Beijing

Heres a summary of what you can expect from VSO, cash-wise. Seems there is a resettlement grant.

http://www.vso.org.uk/volunteering/financial.pdf

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

I am pretty sure that the Peace Corps regs state somewhere that they will only take in US citizens.However,they have been known to make exceptions.In my group,there was a woman from Canada,a woman from Luxembourg and a guy from India.And no,they did NOT have dual citizenship.However,it is rather exceptional for them to take non-US citizens.Usually the ones they take have some special skill or qualification,but not always.