| Frequently asked questions |
Table of Contents
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. Graceland University has already created avenues for its students to receive various types of college credit. Am I too old to be a volunteer?No. Anyone age eighteen 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?
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 misunderstanding of WSC. We have gone to over 35 different countries in the past 10 years. Most of which have been outside of Africa. See the locations page for more information on WSC sites. What are the dates for your programs?See the programs page of our website for further informationWhat 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?See the programs page of our website for further information 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?[training will be updated closer to the training period: May 2011] What expenses do WSC cover?WSC will cover your living expenses while 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 will choose site assignments and partners. Exceptions are made for married couples who are applying as a partnership. 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 world 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 do not accept repeat volunteers for Short Term or Long Term assignments. |
