Federal Government Offers New Grants for Overseas Volunteers

December 17, 2007

Federal Government Offers New Grants for Overseas Volunteers

The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing $100,000 for a new program designed to help American professionals afford the costs of overseas volunteerism.

Individuals can apply for grants of up to $1,000 through the program, which is run by the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity, a branch of USAID that encourages highly skilled Americans to give their time.

The grants can be used to pay for travel, insurance, and living expenses overseas. People must be able to raise a matching amount of money on their own to qualify for the grant.

“Some professionals are quite capable of paying their own way, but many others are not,” said Jack Hawkins, director of the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity.

“There may be an inner-city teacher who wants to teach English for a short-term assignment in Africa and doesn’t have the wherewithal to get over there,” he said. “This program is designed to help cover at least some of the costs involved with doing that volunteer assignment.”

USAID is also reaching out to corporate foundations and individual donors in hopes that they will provide extra money for the program. The first grants will likely be awarded in early 2008, Mr. Hawkins said.

The Office of Volunteers for Prosperity was created in 2003 as part of a push by the Bush administration to increase volunteerism and civic engagement. Mr. Hawkins said he’s seen the positive impact that volunteers can have in reminding people overseas of the generosity of Americans.

“We hear from volunteers all the time that people they work with in developing countries may have criticisms or concerns about U.S. foreign policy, but they also feel great knowing that Americans are very caring and concerned and will work side by side with them to help them deal with the problems they face on a daily basis,” he said. “From a public-diplomacy standpoint, it’s very important.”

— Caroline Preston

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