Can I be
a volunteer if I am not yet twenty years old?
Decisions about an applicant are made
on a case-by-case basis. We are not able to
accept anyone who is under eighteen years old.
We are looking for volunteers with the maturity
to be able to function with very little
supervision in situations that require
initiative and the ability to deal with
ambiguity.
Can people who are not members of Community
of Christ be volunteers?
Yes. Membership in Community of Christ
is not a requirement. However, volunteers will
always be working directly with Community of
Christ congregations in their assignments.
Volunteers must have a good knowledge of the
church and its beliefs, and desire to promote
the mission of the church.
 I
don’t speak a foreign language. Can I still be a
volunteer?
Yes. Most World Service Corps sites are
in area with a good level of English, However,
we ask that volunteers wishing to go to South
America should be fluent in Spanish or
Portuguese.
Why are you focused on young adults?
In the last several years, the church
has begun to focus on ways to meet the needs of
young adults in our communities. This program is
designed to provide opportunities for growth and
service. We encourage adults of all ages, but
will continue to maintain an emphasis on young
adults, who are valuable resources for the
church.
How do you decide where volunteers are
going?
Congregations or countries that desire
volunteers
contact us and complete a
Volunteer Request Form. After receiving the
request, the World Service Corps staff works
together with potential hosts and church leaders
to define the volunteer assignments, living
arrangements, and other logistics. We then
assign volunteers, matching assignments with the
skills and interests of volunteers. Our first
priority is ensuring that host sites will be
safe and ready to support the volunteer to help
ensure positive experiences for both parties.
Can I get college credit for volunteering?
We are working to find ways to make
college credit possible. Currently, we do not
have an official policy, but are willing to work
with individuals to meet their needs. If you
would like to receive college credit for your
period of service, please
contact us and we will work together to make
it possible.
Am
I too old to be a volunteer?
No. Anyone age twenty or older is
welcome. We have a
Retiree Program specifically for retired
volunteers wishing to serve, apply here.
Candidates must be in adequate health to
complete their assignment.
What would I be doing?
Every assignment varies, depending on
the host site and the interests and skills of
the volunteer. In all assignments, volunteers
are assigned to participate and assist in the
priorities and activities of the local
congregation and community. Types of activities
volunteers are involved in are listed on the "What
volunteer opportunities are available?"
section of the basic info page.
Do I
have to be fluent in English to be a volunteer?
Applicants wishing to participate in
the International Guide program need to speak
and understand English so they can work with
English-speaking visitors. It is not necessary
that English be their first language. Please
contact us for more information about
language requirements.
Who takes care of getting visas to
participate in your programs?
Volunteers are required to provide
their own passports. World Service Corps
provides all necessary documentation and fees
for visas as required, and will submit
applications for visas when possible. In some
cases, the applicant will have to request the
visa on their own, but World Service Corps will
provide as much assistance as possible to help
ensure success in obtaining the visa.
Unfortunately, the final decisions always rest
with the consulate of the country, so there are
no guarantees that all visas will be approved.
How do I become a volunteer?
The first step is to complete and
submit an
application. Once we receive your
application, we will contact you and begin the
interview and selection process.
I am
married. Can I still become a volunteer?
Yes. We do accept individuals who are
married into our program, sometimes as an
individual, and sometimes as a couple.
How much does WSC cost?
- Short Term: $750
- Long Term: $1000
- International Guides: $750
- Retiree: $1000
We do not want to exclude anyone from
this program because of financial concerns and
intend that these funds should in large part
come from contributions from local
congregations, communities, friends, and
families. Please let me know if this is a
concern for you.
Do you only go to Africa?
No. This is a common misunderstand of
WSC, we have gone to over 35 different countries
in the past 10 years. Most of which have been
outside Africa. See the locations page for more
information on WSC sites.
What are the dates for your programs?
- Short Term: May 26th till August 6th
2009
- Long Term: All year round
- International Guides: June 1st till
July 17th 2009
- Retiree: All year round.
What is the start date for Long Term
assignments?
All year round. We work with the
applicant in determining the start date that
best suits their availability and time
commitment. We ask for a full 12 months service.
What different programs do you offer?
See the
programs page of our website for further
information.
What is the application deadline?
January 31st 2009. We do accept
applications all year round for Long Term and
Retiree assignments.
Will I be safe?
Yes. While there are risks in any
country or situation, we have taken out
emergency travel insurance for your assignment.
To know more about this please see
www.sosinternational.com
What is involved in the Training Week?
(a link to training week page of
website)
What expenses do WSC cover?
WSC will cover your living expenses
will at your assignment site, such as housing,
transportation and food. WSC will also cover the
costs incurred in obtaining a travel Visa before
leaving the USA. See also
costs
above.
Can I choose the partner I go with?
No. You can make suggestions but
ultimately WSC get to choose site assignments
and partner, unless you’re a married couple
applying.
Can I choose the country I go to?
Not really. We ask in the application
and the interview what region of the world you
are most interested in and we try to honor that
request. However, it’s not always possible.
Which countries are WSC sites in?
This changes year to year. See our
testimonies pages to see countries that we have
visited in the past few years. Feel free to
contact WSC and ask about specific countries
or even make suggestions.
Is WSC the same thing as Outreach
International?
No. Outreach International
is a charity commitment to helping end word
poverty. See their website for more information:
www.outreach-international.org
Can I do WSC twice?
Yes and no. Once you have been a Short
Term Volunteer you can serve again as a Long
Term Volunteer. Currently we don’t accept repeat
volunteers for Short Term of Long Term
assignments. |
