Apply to be an international volunteer or for an international internship

Thank you for your interest in HELP International! We are interested in training and developing excellent participants to fill our programs and fulfill our Mission Statement. Participants spend six weeks to four months designing and implementing community development projects.

Please be aware that there is a $35 non-refundable application fee. Additionally, our online application system does not allow users to save and resume an application. Once you have started, be prepared to complete the entire application. Programs fill quickly and discounts end early, so apply early to ensure a spot on the team! If you have questions about participating, review our participant FAQ page.

 

Program participants work in Belize, El Salvador, Peru, Fiji, India, Thailand, Tanzania, and Uganda, where they plan and implement sustainable development programs. Participants can spend anywhere from six weeks to four months in-country. Please be aware that program participants fund their own program expenses of $2,950 plus airfare.

Applications will not be complete until both reference recommendation forms are completed below.

You must send your references these links:

Please send your PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE this link.

Please send your CHARACTER REFERENCE this link.

Country Director Fellowship

Country Directors direct teams of volunteer participants and facilitate development projects with partners that will improve societies at a grass roots level while creating sustainable change in the community. Two Country Directors are chosen for each team. Country Directors coordinate all in-country projects and build partnerships with international NGOs. Country Directors must commit to one year, including four months working internationally from late April to late August. Country Directors are HELP’s primary point of contact in-country and responsible for maintaining international partner relations.

You should have these things ready before filling out the PARTICIPANT application:

Personal information
  • School/work information
  • Preferred departure and return dates and locations 
  • Prior volunteer service rendered, academic courses that have helped you prepare and your personal attitude in dealing with difficult experiences
  • Letter of intent (one page or less), including the following: 
  1. Why you want to be involved with HELP and the reason for applying to your country of choice
  2. Why you will be an asset to HELP International
  • Two short-answer essays (100 words or less)
  1. What experiences have you had being self-motivated, showing initiative, or being a leader? 
  2. Give a specific example from your life when you had to make the most of a difficult situation. What was the situation? What did you do? How did it turn out?
  • Names, email addresses and phone numbers for one character reference and one professional reference
  • Your references each need to submit a recommendation form because HELP International will not contact them directly  

Office Application Review Process

Once your application and two letters of recommendation have been received by the HELP International staff, we will review the materials and schedule an interview. Out-of-state applicants can schedule a remote phone or Skype interview.  Applicants can download Skype (available here for free) prior to their interview.

Our participant interview lasts generally 30 minutes. After we review your answers, references, and location preferences, we make a decision on the candidate at our weekly staff meeting. You should expect to have your answer two to five days after your initial interview.

Accepted participants will be able to log in to the HELP website to read and sign the forms necessary to prepare for their experience with HELP International.

 Applications are generally considered on a first-come first-serve basis. Applicants should be aware that there is a program fee of $2,950, not including airfare.

 

Hogar del Niño Participant

The Hogar del Niño orphanage program in El Salvador only sends two volunteers to work with persons with disabilities during winter, summer, and fall, and requires a different application than regular program participants. Applicants must speak Spanish proficiently. Please be aware that program participants fund their own program expenses of $1,950 plus the cost of food (this includes airfare).

Applications will not be complete until both recommendation forms are completed by the applicant's references.  References will not be contacted by HELP International.  Please direct them to this page.

Character Reference

Professional Reference

Campus Representative

HELP's first Campus Reps were inaugurated in the fall of 2011 and are an organically growing network, expanding to a university campus near you! This will be a dynamic, exciting, demanding, and evolving position throughout the coming years. Campus Reps are the face of HELP and are responsible for spreading and expanding to others the concept of HELP's model and the various opportunities that our brand of development provides. 

The Campus Representative is a (volunteer) student who does marketing, public relations, networking, and recruiting on in his/her campus. Campus Reps run booths, represent HELP at local events, conduct information sessions, build partnerships, and  find innovative ways to promote the vision of HELP International. Campus Reps must be highly involved in their campus community, outgoing, responsible, and organized. Participant program fees will be covered for all campus reps and at the discretion of HELP Staff, some portion of flight costs may be covered depending upon performance.

Campus Rep Job Description