Can you really afford to volunteer for an extended period of time? Will it give you all the relevant skills you need for a career in social justice and international development?
Extended service programs certainly offer their participants a wealth of unique overseas opportunities, but their main job is to send volunteers out to serve the less fortunate. These organizations do not always have the resources to give their volunteers a leg up into graduate school, a technical skill for a paid job, or even a well-rounded debriefing session to help them deal with the homecoming and reintegration process upon completing an assignment.
The Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship is keenly aware of these issues. The work of this Seattle-based organization shows how even a small nonprofit can contribute to global development and diplomacy.