Field volunteer work: Peace Corps vs Doctors Without Borders
Now that I’m leaving my job and looking at my next steps, I’ve been spending some time researching various volunteer organizations that would take me out to third-world/impoverished nations to do volunteer work. So far the two most promising are Doctors Without Borders and Peace Corps.
The problem is that neither offers exactly what I’m looking for:- Doctors Without Borders provides the 6-12 month window I’d really like to do, but it forbids married couples from going on a mission together. This is a deal breaker for my wife and me.
- Peace Corps supports sending married couples on missions together, but the 27 month commitment is a bit longer than I’d like to do.
So are there any other options out there? Ideally I’d like to focus on teaching math/science/technology, though I can probably figure out how to dig a well, build a school, or do whatever is needed. Similarly, my wife is an accountant, but we recognize that we’d be willing to help however we can. However, if there are any teaching organizations that allow married couples to stay together, are ~1 year in length, and focus on a teaching/learning program, I’d love to hear more about it.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Wow, good for you! I’d recommend investigating CARE, oxfam, and ICRC, all of whom I think have similar programs.