Global Justice Volunteers
A short-term volunteer program for young adults ages 18-30
UPCOMING TERMS for 2008
• Spring Term dates to Asia:
March 3rd -April 24th, 2008
Placements sites include Korea, Hong Kong, and China
June 25th-August 16th, 2008
Application deadline for the Summer Term has passed. Please check back for 2009 term dates.
ORIGIN OF THE PROGRAM
The Global Justice Volunteers Program was initiated by the General Board of Global Ministries, Women's Division, Committee on International Ministries with Women, Children, and Youth. The program arose from a recognized need to develop young adult programming, especially as part of an overall effort to broaden volunteer mission opportunities.
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
The program is designed to enable young adults who are 18-30 years old to have short-term experiences living and learning along side people whose lives are shaped by justice work. The program provides opportunities for cross-cultural exposure, learning, and service. Through this program, a space is created for individuals who are willing to make short-term commitments to mission and who desire to explore the links between faith and justice.
STRUCTURE and ACCOUNTABILITY
The volunteers go to sites in teams with two to four other young adults. The program is designed to be a shared experience. The program was developed this way based upon the idea that within a short period of time, the volunteers will be able to maximize their learning experiences if they are able to share them within a community of other volunteers. The volunteers will be accountable to the staff and program structure of the GBGM program, the leadership of the local partners, the leadership of the local community organizations and to each other.
The 2007 class of Global Justice Volunteers
LANGUAGES
Language skills other than English are not required, but may be useful in determining placements. Lack of additional languages will limit the type of placements available to an individual. For instance, a volunteer assigned to Projeto Meninos e Meninas de Rua in Brazil must know either intermediate Portuguese or Spanish.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
Global Justice Volunteers are asked to contribute US$2,200 for food, housing, transportation. In addition, volunteers have out-of-pocket expenses for keepsakes.
A very limited number of need-based scholarships are available upon request.
Fund-raising through individual effort, community input, and church sponsorships is expected of volunteers, even while the predominant costs - airfare, administration, and some food and ground transportation - are paid through the program's resources.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
The application process isrevolving, meaning that an application can be received at any time. Ifit is turned down for a particular term, it may be reconsidered for thefollowing term. However, there are certain deadlines for specific terms.
GJV Contact Information
Global Justice Volunteers Program
Mission Volunteers Office, GBGM
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10115, USA
Tel (212) 870-3825
Email: gjv@gbgm-umc.org
* * *