Cross Cultural Solutions provides short-term volunteer placements for international participants; “one of the primary goals of the organization [is] to follow the lead of local organizers and provide them a helping hand without imposing outside ideas.”

Cross Cultural Solutions got started after founder Steve Rosenthal spent a week with a friend in the Peace Corps in Kenya during a much longer multi-country trip. There he felt he had a brief chance to be more than a traveler – he felt a part of the community, working on a project with social impact. Upon his return to the US, and after sharing and reflecting on this experience, he decided to see if he could organize this type of experience for others. In this way, Cross Cultural Solutions was born.

“As an international volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions, you’re making a meaningful contribution, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes you. You’re experiencing another culture like never before and really getting to know its people.

You’ll gain new perspectives and insight into the culture and yourself. It’s an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you’ll develop memories that will be with you forever.”

You can choose from 12 countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand and either intern, volunteer, or have a one-week “insight abroad” in any of a selection of cities.

You can volunteer with any number of partner organizations which are community-led initiatives, generally for two to twelve weeks in fields such as: orphanages and childcare centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for people with disabilities, and other community organizations.

The cost ranges from $2489 for two weeks, plus $272 for each additional week (12 weeks comes to $5200). You can also find an explanation of the fees and a guide with tips on how to fundraise for your participation in a Cross Cultural Solutions project.