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VOLUNTEER ABROAD. CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

A volunteer trip abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions will change you. Change the way you see other cultures. Maybe even change how you live your life. All while you change the lives of others for the better. Ultimately we’re changing the way volunteering is done, making it a safe, exciting adventure of a lifetime for people of all ages and walks of life.

WHY VOLUNTEER ABROAD WITH CCS

More than ever, people around the world want change. Change in the inequities that polarize. Change in the corrupt systems that prevent self-determination. Change in the unjust repression of entire populations.

But the change we all wish to see won't be realized through big, sweeping acts—not by governments, or armies, or the UN. Instead, lasting change will be achieved through small, personal acts of kindness and selflessness, and through the spreading of tolerance and understanding between people and cultures. Only as people become more willing to change themselves—the way they think, the way they act—will real change become possible.

It is exactly these types of changes that Cross-Cultural Solutions makes possible. The passion that you bring to your volunteer abroad experience will start a ripple effect, bringing change to people and the communities in which they live. Meanwhile, you’ll find wisdom and beauty in a way of life different from your own.

You'll discover the critical role that every individual plays in achieving lasting change. You'll see that volunteering abroad can be a safe and exciting adventure—the trip of a lifetime where you can learn about another culture while learning about yourself.

Change in the world begins with you. You're closer than ever to making an incredible difference.

Change their world. Change yours.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

TOP 6 REASONS TO VOLUNTEER ABROAD WITH CCS

1. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

We virtually invented short term volunteering abroad and have been perfecting it for 20 years. We’ve made the international volunteer experience of a lifetime possible for over 35,000 volunteers. Trust us, we know what we’re doing.

2. VOLUNTEER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

We hold ourselves accountable to local NGOs. When surveyed, 99% of our partner organizations reported that CCS volunteers had a positive impact on the lives of local people. Practically no other organization goes to these lengths to ensure your efforts make a difference.

3. SAFETY

The unique CCS Home-Base structure provides incomparable safety, including 24-hour security for volunteers, the highest standards in transportation, and meals expertly prepared to ensure that you stay healthy and well-fed. Challenge us! Our safety standards across the board are unmatched.

4. VOLUNTEER SATISFACTION

Thanks to the expertise and commitment of each of our incredible in-country teams, in 2014, 99.73% of our volunteers said they were satisfied, or very satisfied with the CCS experience.

5. PRE-TRIP PLANNING

The CCS team ensures that you’re ready, covering everything from visa advice to what to pack in your carry-on. We’re all proud CCS alums, so our advice isn’t just a good guess; it’s firsthand, insider info.

6. TOOLS AND TIPS THAT HELP YOU SAVE

Tax deductibility, fundraising tools, matching gifts. Whether you use one of these money-saving tools or the whole lot, we bet you’ll find that a CCS experience costs a lot less than you may have initially thought.

As seen in various media outlets including:

OUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The CCS Education & Literacy Project

The CCS Child Development Project

The CCS Girls' and Women’s Empowerment Project

The CCS Global Health Project

The CCS HIV/AIDS Project

The CCS Support for People with Disabilities Project

The CCS Aging with Dignity Project

And So Much More!

Once enrolled, you will have the chance to select the volunteer opportunity that's most interesting to you. Volunteers will always receive their first preference. The only exception to this will be when there are national or school holidays, or there are exceptional circumstances.

Browse Opportunities By Destination

Local people are the experts.

CCS IN-COUNTRY TEAMS

Our in-country teams are all local people who understand the needs of their communities, and our Country Directors are experts in the ﬁeld of international development. With their firsthand knowledge and experience, our staff effectively connect volunteers to sustainable projects. They will guide you throughout your experience and make you feel at home in the Home-Base.

Costa Rica In-Country Staff

Home-Base

Learn More About the CCS Team

Kelly

CCS Staff

#bestweekendever

by Kelly, CCS Staff

Over the Labor Day weekend, Cross-Cultural Solutions held our inaugural alumni weekend trip, for those who have previously been on a longer experience with CCS, and wanted to reconnect with an international community and other like-minded volunteers. With the recognition that many alumni don’t have the time to go abroad for as long as they did on their initial program, CCS wants to offer quick ways to increase cultural competency and make an impact with some of our partner programs.

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