Disaster Relief: Boost Your Skills — and Karma!

It may seem impossible to live for a year volunteering without any income, but many factors apply — for instance, the country in which you volunteer might be drastically cheaper than your current living situation, and you could get by with much, much less. In some cases, you might be able to volunteer for a year on savings of a few hundred dollars. Some programs will give you room and board, some programs will pay a salary for your expertise, and others won’t do anything but give you a place to help. It’s up to you to choose a program that fits your specific needs. Keep in mind that if you ask, many volunteer programs will help with student loans, give excellent letters of recommendation, and help with job placement among many other things that might help you financially, or in the future. It never hurts to ask!