We’ve outlined 10 easy steps to get you started:
Step 1. Read more about what you can do and where you can volunteer on our Campus Club section. Decide what area of volunteering you’d like to focus in on, then pick a country that offers that focus area.
As a group you'll be able to choose from these specific focus areas: educating at-risk youth, promoting positive childhood development, providing elder care, or addressing disability and accessibility needs in Ghana, Guatemala, and Peru.
Step 2. Research the process for starting a club on your campus. Each school may have different guidelines. Once you familiarize yourself with your school’s process, you’ll be able to navigate the process more smoothly.
Step 3. Ask CCS staff if you have questions regarding the process of starting a club, how to make it successful, and when you’d like to volunteer with your group. Contact our campus club representative at clubs@crossculturalsolutions.org.
Step 4. Recruit a leadership team. You’ll work together to establish your official club status and recruit other members to join your group. Try to include students from varying years, majors, and more so that your club can have more reach among the student body.
These are the typical leadership roles in a club. You may find that you need more or less depending on how you separate the different responsibilities.
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Step 5. Apply to achieve official club recognition on campus with support from your leadership team. As an official club, you may receive certain funds from the school, have access to meeting rooms, and get overall support from your university or college.
Step 6. Find an advisor amongst faculty/administrators to support your club. This may or may not be necessary for starting a club at your school. However, we recommended that you find someone who can provide advice and support for your club.
Step 7. Notify CCS once you have obtained club recognition at your school. From there, we’ll start to coordinate the details of your trip.
Step 8. Promote your club. Spread the word all over campus about this unique international volunteer opportunity to recruit members. Post flyers, host info sessions, make announcements in your classes, send emails to your school’s listservs, and talk to your professors about informing their classes.
Step 9. Plan logistics. Once you’ve obtained your group members, you’ll need to work with CCS to secure dates, pay deposits, and book airfare.
Step 10. Collaborate with group members on a fundraising strategy. There are many effective ways to fundraise as a group. Talk to your advisor and other students about your ideas. Be sure to motivate and lean on each other when working to achieve your fundraising goals.
