Volunteer Abroad - China

  China

• Xi'an: 
Xi'an

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Beginning at various dates year-round

Description: Volunteering abroad is the opportunity of a lifetime, and our flexible short-term programs let you design your ideal experience overseas. Volunteer from 1 week to 3 months in China, in meaningful projects that will let you work side-by-side with local people and experience the Chinese culture like never before.

As an international volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions, you're making a positive contribution, by sharing in the goals of a local community that warmly welcomes you. You'll gain new perspectives and insight into China's culture and yourself. It's an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories that will stay with you forever.

As a volunteer in China, you will get a rare inside view of one of the world's largest and most ancient cultures. China has a vivid and distinct history, artistic tradition, cuisine, and social structure.

Cross-Cultural Solutions' volunteer program in China is located in Xi'an, the crossroads of Western and Eastern China, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Home to the famous Terra Cotta Army, Xi'an was once the imperial capital of China. Today, with a population of approximately 8 million in the greater urban area, this modern city still reflects its rich history and culture.

Volunteers working in China may be at local schools or orphanages, English language camps, centers for people with disabilities, and community-based health organizations. Specialized placements in the health field are available for medical professionals only.

Volunteers in China are involved with the following types of programs:

    * caring for infants and children
    * teaching children
    * teaching English
    * assisting teachers
    * sharing their professional skills/experience
    * caring for people with disabilities
    * assisting teachers of special education

Cross-Cultural Solutions is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering, with more than 4,000 volunteers each year. Founded in 1995, we are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations. CCS has a worldwide staff of more than 300 people, and operates in 12 countries, with administrative offices also located in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. We are in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, and have been profiled in more than 500 news outlets.

Highlights: Xi'an is the crossroads of Western and Eastern China and is the starting point of the Silk Road. Culturally, Xi'an is a mixture of the ancient and modern worlds. Home to the famous Terra Cotta Army, it was once the imperial capital of China. The city's ancient history is embodied by the huge stone walls that surround the city center, originally intended to protect the city from invasion. In the modern world, Xi'an is the largest capital city in Central and Western China. The metropolitan area is home to approximately 7 million people, and remains a major center of traditional Chinese culture. Just to the North of Xi'an is the Qinling Mountain range, which includes the sacred Huashan Mountain, birthplace of Taoism.

Xi'an is most unique because of its people. The diversity of China's people is represented in Xi'an's Tibetan, Muslim, Han and other Chinese ethnicities. Your time in Xi'an will provide you with opportunities to connect with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, exposing you to the wide scope of Chinese culture.In Xi'an, Cross-Cultural Solutions works on several projects within NGOs alongside Chinese volunteers from the community. Many people in Xi'an familiar with Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteers request time to discuss volunteerism and current events with our participants.

Cross-Cultural Solutions offers a wide variety of programs and experiences, but all of our volunteers come away with the same benefits:

- Personal Growth
- Having a Purpose
- Gaining Independence and Confidence
- Connecting with Others
- Seeing a Country from the Inside-Out

* The CCS Home-Base

CCS offers volunteers unprecedented support, and our entire infrastructure is designed around volunteer safety. Each of our programs is located close to a CCS Home-Base, your "home away from home" while volunteering abroad. Each Home-Base is exclusively for CCS volunteers, and designed for your safety and comfort. Here, you can connect with other volunteers and CCS staff, reflect on your experiences, enjoy meals together, read, and relax.

The CCS experience also includes cultural and learning activities so that you can learn about the local culture. These include an in-depth orientation, language training, guest speakers and more. Volunteers also have plenty of free time to relax, reflect, or explore the community and country.

Qualifications: No special skills or experience required. No teaching experience required.

Cost in US$: Visit our website for program fees.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: While other volunteer programs may require certain skills or degrees, Cross-Cultural Solutions' programs are open to everyone. No matter what you believe your skill level to be, you have something meaningful and helpful to offer. We are dedicated to providing a meaningful placement for anyone willing to volunteer, and believe that the only skills required for international volunteering are a willingness to learn and an open mind.

Age Range: 18 and older, younger volunteers accepted with application

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to China Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Cross-Cultural Solutions's Mission Statement: Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding. We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations.

Year Founded: 1995