Volunteer Corps
AJWS Volunteer Corps places professional Jewish women and men on volunteer assignments with local NGOs in developing countries. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and provide skills training, technical consultancy and general support. VC volunteers range in age from young professionals to retirees, and share a passion for service and a commitment to social justice and tikkun olam.
Successful volunteer placements leave NGO staff members with skills they will utilize long after the assignment ends. Through exchanging best practices, AJWS Volunteer Corps participants promote the sustainable development of community-based NGOs.
Volunteer placements are based on requests for volunteers from NGOs and the volunteer's professional background. Volunteers in some locations attend a week-long orientation in their country of service before beginning their volunteer placements. Topics include introduction to AJWS' mission and strategies, navigating cross-cultural issues and country/region of service, safety and security and Jewish values and international justice.
Assignment Locations
AJWS Volunteer Corps places volunteers in the following countries:
Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal
Americas: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico
Asia: India, Thailand, Cambodia
AJWS volunteers are occasionally sent to countries not listed above. Some countries have standard departures based on orientation dates, and others have rolling departures.
Assignment Length
Placements range in length from two months to one year. The average placement is three to four months long. Assignment length is determined by volunteer availability.
Upcoming Application Deadlines
- Winter/Spring 2009: September 3, 2008 for placements beginning anytime between January 1 and April 30, 2009
- Summer 2009: January 1, 2009 for placements beginning anytime between May 1 and August 31, 2009 (application will be available in fall 2008)
- Autumn 2009: May 1, 2009 for placements beginning anytime between September 1 and December 31, 2009 (application will be available in winter 2009)
Please click here to download an application, health survey and reference form.
If you have volunteered with AJWS Volunteer Corps before and would like to participate again, please contact us for more information. Preference is given to first time volunteers and any repeat assignments will be evaluated at the discretion of AJWS staff.
For more information about volunteering with AJWS, please e-mail us or call Andrea Richardson, Program Officer, at 212.792.2888.
