THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT THE WORLD IS THAT NOT EVERYONE is granted even basic human rights. In many countries, social class, race, and gender play a large factor in the uneven distribution of rights. Whether your interest lies in helping women find freedom from sexual oppression or narrowing the gaps between social classes by volunteering in education, many international organizations, like Peace Corps, exist to help you fight the good fight, all while further fueling your travels.
THE PEACE CORPS WAS created in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship by offering the helping hands of Americans to countries in need. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have since served in over a hundred different countries. Since the organization is so well established—and pretty selective—being a Peace Corps volunteer has become a rite of passage and an excellent résumé builder for anyone interested in a career in global development. A two-year stint in a foreign country with travel, food, and living expenses all taken care of does sound pretty sweet. But it isn’t all peaceful hand-holding and love hugs. We’ll shake down everything about this government-run program so you can better see if you want to climb up the Peace Corps tree.
The agency asks for twenty-seven months of your time: three for incountry training on language, cross-cultural, technical, and health skills, and the remaining twenty-four for spending in an appointed host country, fulfilling your duties. In return, they’ll pay for your travel to and from the country, cover medical and dental expenses during service, provide you with living quarters, and give you a monthly allowance large enough to cover food, and other fun stuff. On top of that, you get a nice chunk of change (currently $7,425 before taxes) when your service is complete. As a Peace Corps volunteer, you can try your helpful hand at educating the world’s youth; creating shelters, jobs, and opportunities; and keeping the planet green.
There are six separate fields in the program, and all emphasize education. You can apply for specific positions in Education; Health and HIV/AIDS; Business and Information and Communication Technology; Environment, Youth and Community Development; and Agriculture. As long as you’re an of-age U.S. citizen you can apply, but since getting accepted has become fairly competitive, at least some background (college degree, prior experience, etc.) in a designated field will make you a much more appealing candidate. Jobs cycle fast, and the process takes months so get on it quick if you’re game.
In theory, the Peace Corps is a fantastic agency set out to better the world. In practice, many people have found their service to be a bit sketchy at times. Not all communities welcome wide-eyed Americans with open arms, and many have their own preconceived notions about our culture (or lack thereof). Manage your expectations, and—like you always should when traveling—stay alert. Many places that need help from the Peace Corps need it for a reason. They can be dangerous, unstructured, lawless lands, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PVC), it’s up to you to stay tight on your shit. Volunteers have had their gear stolen, gotten sick throughout their service, fought with locals who sometimes aren’t as friendly as you’d imagine, and—the Peace Corps’ largest looming problem—women have been raped. Worst of all, among these unforeseeable issues, is that the Peace Corps isn’t always as responsive as you’d hope. Try to envision twenty-seven months of service before you sign up, ’cause it’ll be a long time until you’ll be back home dreaming about traveling again.
The Peace Corps definitely has its ups and downs. It won’t exactly be fun or easy, but the best experiences never are. Some days will be long and grueling; others will be positively life-changing—for you and those in your community.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION THAT’S been at the forefront of building housing for those in need since the mid-’70s. Initially, Habitat aimed to build affordable housing for low-income Americans through the use of donated funds and labor. In 1984, former president Jimmy Carter participated in a building program in NYC, which gave the organization a PR boost and caused Habitat’s popularity to skyrocket. With the help of volunteers, they have built over half a million homes worldwide. You don’t have to believe in Noah and his ark to volunteer your biceps, strength, and hammering skills. International programs run from six months to a year and are available in countries all over the world.
ALL TASSELS AREN’T CREAted equal. There are currently nearly thirty million slaves in the modern “free” world—more than at any other time in history. Thriving off of the reality that “sex sells,” human trafficking is a severe, global atrocity that still goes largely unnoticed, despite the fact that it takes place in plain view. Fortunately, there are many ways to be part of the solution, beginning with learning about the situation.
The human sex trade is a $32-billion-dollar per year business. Simply stated, slavery continues to exist because of greed and poverty. Sex is a profitable market, second only to illegal drugs, with many “businessmen” dipping into both sex and drugs to double the financial gain. Like any sharp businessmen, human traffickers gauge their industry and pounce on opportunity. Wherever there is an extreme tragedy forcing victims into homelessness, or desperation (like the earthquake in Haiti), there are lurking predators waiting in the wings to offer “assistance.” Promising the poor and hungry a chance to eat and make money, these scumbag traffickers lure downtrodden women into working in brothels, massage parlors, and strip clubs, or onto the streets where they work off their “debts.” Most of the victims are women under the age of eighteen. Many are children who are handed over by their own parents—who are tricked into believing that they are sending their kid to learn a legitimate trade that will eventually bring money into the household. Human trafficking is prevalent wherever there is poverty, especially throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, India, Eastern Europe, and South America.
Numerous organizations are attempting to abolish modern slavery by empowering victims with tools to financially sustain themselves and their families, providing them alternatives to selling their bodies to survive. Various organizations are working toward a solution by providing a space for women to sell their handmade items and showcase their other skills. Imani (ImaniLove.com) sells beautiful, handcrafted jewelry made by Ugandan women who are victims of sexual slavery. The women are paid fair wages to make jewelry from indigenous materials and are also offered business and English courses, as well as counseling to fuel their recovery and lead them to the road of freedom. Other organizations like Not For Sale are partnering with sister groups around the globe to set up job-training programs for human-trafficking victims. These programs also offer safe shelter, holistic healing classes, and day care to help victims transition.
It is important to remember that, without demand, there is no need for supply. We’re not suggesting that you never go to a strip club again, but disengaging yourself from the activities that perpetuate the problem will lessen the demand. Sex tourism in places like Thailand encourages people to travel to certain destinations solely for the opportunity to meet underage girls and boys. If something seems creepy, it probably is—hands off! There are hundreds of hands-on ways to get involved in the movement to end modern slavery. If you fancy yourself a writer or designer, contact one of the many organizations like Not For Sale and donate your talent and time. Next time you have a gift to buy in countries where sex trafficking is prevalent, seek out items handmade by women and make purchases with a purpose.
Prostitution and stripping are not always tied to modern slavery. Women often make an educated, empowered choice to participate in these professions, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But for those whose “choice” is a life or death situation, their bodies and lives are no longer their own. As backpackers who are shamelessly into tits and ass, we need to be aware of this dehumanizing atrocity and start becoming part of the solution. No effort is too small, except no effort at all.
WHILE EVERYONE’S INTERpretation of what makes a good meal varies culturally, one thing is universal across the board: we all need to eat. The problem is, over a billion people around the world don’t (and can’t), due to factors like lack of access to adequate food sources, droughts, natural disasters, or civil conflicts. The benefits of dropping off a bowl of rice and beans (an approach taken by some relief organizations) are short-lived, and volunteer programs are often too temporary to make a real difference. Building your career around alleviating world hunger—now that’s a tasty idea that sits well in the stomach.
Devoting your life to combating hunger starts with getting a degree in the field. The main umbrella for this sort of work is known as International Development, and you can study the field at all levels (BA, MA, and PhD). If you want to get more specific, there are programs that go into the economics of food scarcity and security, agricultural development, nutrition, and logistics (moving food from developed to developing countries), among others.
If you like getting down and dirty, there are plenty of opportunities to work directly with local communities on a smaller scale. If you want to be outdoors, check into small sustainable farms that need help with planting, reaping seasonal harvests, and transporting food to markets. Working at food banks (both at home and abroad) will usually put you in direct contact with those who need a helping hand. If you’re obsessed with food documentaries and read books like The Omnivore’s Dilemma, put all of that food knowledge to use and teach nutrition classes in communities that have high rates of malnutrition. If fair trade is your game, find organizations that advocate for fair wages paid to small farmers in exchange for their quality produce.
An industry giant, the United Nations’ World Food Programme is first to respond when disasters strike and wipe out food sources. These guys also work to prepare for emergencies before they happen, as well as educate communities worldwide on nutrition and agriculture. Another huge NGO (non-governmental organization) that dominates the field is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The FAO focuses on everything from sustainable farming practices to researching water scarcities. Both organizations are constantly looking for internationally-minded individuals with varied skills and offer opportunities that place employees and interns on projects all around the world. Pick up some creds working in the field and apply to the opportunities these big shots have available.
