Having a job that gives back to the community is one most rewarding things you can do after college.
Oftentimes, students who are about to graduate start to become anxious about what they want to do after college or don’t know exactly what they want to do yet. Over the years, many twenty-somethings have turned to volunteer service programs in the United States or abroad and discovered a career path they’re passionate about.
However, agreeing to do a volunteer service program is a serious commitment that should be well thought out. Most programs don’t pay their volunteers by salary. Rather, they provide a living stipend and offer some benefits such as health insurance, deferring student loans and providing an education stipend for further education. This means for at least a year you will be living on a frugal budget.
Doing volunteer service programs after graduation is a good way to explore what you want to do before embarking on a serious career journey. Here are the top five volunteer service programs you should consider.
Peace Corps
If you want to go abroad and do a volunteer project related to education, youth development, agriculture, community economic development or health in various countries, the Peace Corps is an awesome program. A service typically lasts two years and volunteers will have a host family and place to stay.
AmeriCorps
This is often referred to as the urban Peace Corps and the volunteer work is focused on low income and urban communities in the United States. You can choose which organization, city and state you want to serve in and the term of service usually lasts a year. You can work in projects related to education, community development, environment, health and homelessness.
City Year
For any of you who are interested in working with children or education, look at City Year. The program immerses you in a public school setting, where you have the opportunity to tutor children in either elementary, middle school or high school to help close the achievement gap for students in those communities.
The Student Conservation Association
For all of you who are interested in doing volunteer work in environmentalism and conservation, the Student Conversation Association offers projects in all 50 states related to wildfire management and education, rail restoration and maintenance, environmental education and invasive species eradication.
World Teach
This non-profit organization offers post-graduates with yearlong teaching opportunities in 15 countries including Thailand, China, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Micronesia, Tanzania, the Marshall Islands, Guyana and American Samoa. Volunteers can choose to teach English, math, science, computer skills or HIV and AIDs education. Although you will be have to pay program costs, everything else—such as room, board, health coverage and a stipend to meet daily expenses—will be provided.
Feature Photo via World Teach