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International volunteerism is a hot topic as more and more individuals seek to make a difference beyond their borders, whether through global service or more travel-focused voluntourism. In either case, the challenge for volunteer management professionals is to find new ways to engage volunteers from around the world. While many strategies can be found in the literature on diversity, there are also a handful of great resources specifically on how to work with international volunteers. Similarly, we’ve included some research here on what volunteerism looks like around the globe.

• Looking for International Volunteerism Opportunities? Check out this resource page to find great programs to go with a group or resources to go it alone!
• Also see Finding Volunteers
• Connect with your peers!

International Volunteerism

• The Brookings Initiative on International Volunteering and Service - The Brookings Institution
• Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS)
• Global Trends and the Challenges for Volunteering (PDF) – Mary V. Merrill, LSW @ The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• International Volunteering and Service - Center for Social Development, Washington University
• The Overseas Experience: A Passport to Improved Volunteerism (PDF) - Sean Kelly, Robert Case, Imagine Canada Knowledge Development Centre
• Service Enquiry - Global Service Institute and Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa (VOSESA)
• Service-Related Publications – Center for Social Development, Washington University
• Small Research Grants and Fellows Program 2005 – Center for Social Development, Washington University
• Small Research Grants and Fellows Program 2002 – Center for Social Development, Washington University
• Vacation Volunteering - World Volunteer Web
• Voluntourism - Pros, Cons, and Possibilities - Susan Ellis, Energize, Inc.

Working with International Volunteers

• Accepting Volunteers from Overseas - Volunteering England
• Hosting International Volunteers: A Where-To-Start Guide For Local Organizations – Jayne Cravens and Coyote Communications
• Involving International Online Volunteers: Factors for Success, Organizational Benefits, and New Views of Community (PDF) – Jayne Cravens @ The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• Involving New Populations in Volunteering – The Points of Light Institute
• Is a Vacation Volunteer Program for Your Organization? – Tiffani Hill, CVA @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Managing International Volunteer Programs (PDF) - Elon Gilbert, Robert Navin, Gary Alex, Eric Benschoter, Anne Cullen, and Ronni Flannery, USAID (Written primarily for USAID programs, there are sections on topics like volunteer recruitment, orientation, and outreach and public awareness)
• Managing the Placement of Volunteers (PDF) - Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
• Overcoming Cultural Barriers: Recruiting and Training Volunteers for Mercy Ships and Fisher House (PDF) - Sarah J. Schmidt, Volunteer Leadership Magazine
• Visas for Volunteers from Overseas - Volunteering Australia

Sending Volunteers Abroad

• Engaging in Effective International Exchange – VolunteerResource.org
• Volunteering Overseas – Volunteering England

Volunteerism Around the World

Also see By Location: Volunteer Management Organizations and Associations for national and international volunteer management organizations and associations

Energize, Inc.: International Volunteering and Volunteer Management

Also Worth Checking Out:

• Australia: National Survey of Volunteering Issues 08 – Volunteering Australia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Volunteering in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Azra S. Kacapor, MSc, United Nations Volunteers @ VolunteerResource.org
• Botswana: Research Partnerships Build the Service Field in Africa: Special Issue on Civic Service in the Southern African Development Community (PDF) – The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher, University of Johannesburg, and the Journal of Social Development in Africa, School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
• Canada: 2004 Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering, and Participating (CSGVP)
• England: Helping Out: A National Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving (PDF) – The National Centre for Social Research and the Institute for Volunteering Research
• England: National Statistics – Volunteering England
• England: Who Gives Time Now? Patterns of Participation in Volunteering (PDF) – Institute for Volunteering Research
• EUROPE: CEV Facts and Figures – European Volunteer Center / Centre Europeen du Volontariat (Volunteerism statistics for several European countries)
• Finland: Organising Volunteers: Activating Infrastructures and Reflexive Volunteering in the Municipality of Helsinki (PDF) - Peter Hilger, City of Helsinki Urban Research Unit
• Japan: Japan and Volunteering – The Points of Light Institute
• Malawi: Research Partnerships Build the Service Field in Africa: Special Issue on Civic Service in the Southern African Development Community (PDF) – The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher, University of Johannesburg, and the Journal of Social Development in Africa, School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
• Mexico: Philanthropy in Mexico (PDF) – Anthea Stein de Levy @ The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• Mexico: Volunteerism in Mexico – Francisco J. Morales Camarena @ ServiceLeader
• Nepal:Volunteerism in Nepal (PDF) – Bishnu Hari Bhatta, PSD – Nepal @ The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• The Netherlands: Torn Between Two Sectors: Government or Business? (PDF) – Lucas C.P.M. Meijs, @ The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• Singapore: Individual Giving Survey 2006 (PDF) - National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Singapore
• South Africa: Research Partnerships Build the Service Field in Africa: Special Issue on Civic Service in the Southern African Development Community (PDF) – The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher, University of Johannesburg, and the Journal of Social Development in Africa, School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
• U.S.: Survey of Volunteering in the United States – Corporation for National and Community Service
• U.S.: Volunteer Growth in America: A Review of Trends Since 1974 – Corporation for National and Community Service
• U.S.: Volunteering in America: 2007 City Trends and Rankings – Corporation for National and Community Service
• U.S.: Volunteering in America: 2007 State Trends and Rankings in Civic Life – Corporation for National and Community Service
• U.S.: Volunteering in the United States – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Zambia: Research Partnerships Build the Service Field in Africa: Special Issue on Civic Service in the Southern African Development Community (PDF) – The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher, University of Johannesburg, and the Journal of Social Development in Africa, School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
• Zimbabwe: Research Partnerships Build the Service Field in Africa: Special Issue on Civic Service in the Southern African Development Community (PDF) – The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher, University of Johannesburg, and the Journal of Social Development in Africa, School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Let us know and consider checking out the following sites:
Energize, Inc.
The Resource Center (CNCS)
Volunteer Canada
Volunteering Australia
Volunteering England
World Volunteer Web