Cross-Cultural Solutions

Africa Gap Year

Here at CCS, we understand that there is no limit to the rich and varied cultures and history that you’ll discover in Africa over your gap year. When considering a continent that hosts over 50 nations, and literally thousands of languages and dialects, we believe you must explore more than one region to begin to develop a true understanding of the many gems this continent has to offer. This is why the Discover Africa Experience immerses you in three vastly different regions of Africa. Start your gap journey in the North African nation of Morocco and explore Muslim culture and tradition and you connect with new neighbors and friends in your volunteer placements. Next, you’ll head over to Ghana’s Volta Region and learn about the unique beauty and history of rural West Africa. There, you’ll explore jungles and beautiful coastlines. You’ll complete your gap year living and volunteering in the shadow of Africa’s most recognizable peaks – Mt. Kilimanjaro. In your free time, Tanzania’s landscape will introduce you to her wealth of natural resources, including unique wildlife, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and banana fields. Discover the real Africa in this 12 week gap year program! You’ll be glad you did.

1 Members of this chapter

CCS Distribution Center Ritsona

Our Refugee Support Volunteer Program is different from our other programs, in that it is our first program that is focused entirely on emergency humanitarian aid. As a humanitarian response program, our volunteer work with refugees in Greece takes precedence over the usual cultural programming. Our amazing in-country staff will still be on-hand to help you every step of the way, but the focus in Greece will be entirely on service to meet the most pressing needs of residents of refugee camps. The distribution center at Ritsona currently provides essential services to approximately 750 refugees, the majority of whom have fled the violence of the civil war in Syria. The center is responsible for distributing water and welcome packs (both funded by the International Organization of Migration). In addition the center provides essential basics for residents on a regular basis, including: • Clothing & shoes, for men, women and children, monthly on an equitable points system • Milk, for all children between 1-12 years, pregnant and/or breast feeding mothers, and 1 litre for all other families - twice a week • Tea & coffee, once a week • Shampoo, shower gel & other essential hygiene items, once a week

1 Members of this chapter

Costa Rica HS Volunteers

As a High School Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica, you’ll be welcomed warmly into the rich relaxed ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle. The color green is one of the first images you’ll see in Costa Rica and it’s a theme that will follow you throughout your experience. Costa Rica is a land of slow rhythms and hypnotically gorgeous vistas. Costa Rican’s, also known as Ticos, are generous and eager to please. They have been welcoming foreigners to their beaches, their volcanoes, and their eco-preserves for many years and they know that their country is a treasure to behold. As a high school volunteer in the Orosi Valley, you'll learn the slow pace of the country, where everyone has a moment to stop and chat with a neighbor, help an old friend with a task, or share a cafecito.

1 Members of this chapter

Costa Rica Volunteers

The color green is one of the first images you’ll see in Costa Rica and it’s a theme that will follow you throughout your experience. Costa Rica is a land of slow rhythms and hypnotically gorgeous vistas. Costa Rican’s, also known as Ticos, are generous and eager to please. They have been welcoming foreigners to their beaches, their volcanoes, and their eco-preserves for many years and they know that their country is a treasure to behold. As a high school volunteer in the Orosi Valley, you'll learn the slow pace of the country, where everyone has a moment to stop and chat with a neighbor, help an old friend with a task, or share a cafecito.

1 Members of this chapter

Economic Development Interns

The most productive way to address economic inequality and scarcity of resources is to focus on wealth-creating opportunities that will empower community members. You will support sustainable aid initiatives by providing tools for financial literacy and business development to individuals looking to improve their lives and communities. As a CCS Economic Development Intern, you’ll gain international experience and develop skills in finance, marketing, and sustainable business practices by working with a community mentor. There are many creative opportunities for you to hone your leadership skills and explore social innovation--for instance, you can consult with local microfinance organizations and small businesses to introduce income-generating activities, improve general business practices, assist with marketing and public relations campaigns, help implement a community savings program, improve financial literacy education, or plan cultural-environmental education campaigns to help global communities thrive. Download Cross-Cultural Solutions Supervision Specifics

1 Members of this chapter

Eli Lilly and Company Connecting Hearts Abroad

Lilly partners with Cross-Cultural Solutions, an international nonprofit that operates short-term volunteer programs in 12 countries. Cross-Cultural Solutions has sent more than 30,000 volunteers to developing countries around the world. Our signature Connecting Hearts Abroad volunteer program requires no specialized skills or expertise—just a passion for making a difference. We’re giving our employees life-changing, eye-opening experiences that we believe will make them more passionate and knowledgeable world citizens. It’s an investment in developing communities, an investment in our employees, and an investment in Lilly’s future. The Lilly volunteers are providing hands-on support in four categories: health care; caregiving for children and the elderly; teaching; and community development. Each service assignment includes eight or nine Lilly employees from a variety of business functions, from lab technicians to marketing associates to manufacturing specialists. Management, hourly, and salaried employees all have a chance to participate.

2 Members of this chapter

Global Gap Year

Whether you’re hoping to develop your Spanish language skills, explore ancient history, or sandboard golden dunes, Lima, Peru is the perfect first stop for your incredible time abroad. Then, you’ll jet off to the mountain region of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Volunteer alongside new friends and members of the community and meet with the Massai Warriors , hike the illustrious Kili, or even take a safari to see the "Big Five". Your Global Gap Year ends in a whirlwind of sights and sounds in New Delhi, India. Your Home-Base is located in an ideal central location for you to enjoy Delhi’s mixture of languages, religions, spectacular architecture, and distinctive cuisine.

1 Members of this chapter

Global Health Interns

Individuals looking to take charge of their own health struggle with the absence of up-to-date information and educational resources. As a CCS Global Health Intern, you’ll explore the challenges in building equitable public health systems and structures to meet the unique needs of community members--especially for marginalized and neglected populations. You will break down stigmas and stereotypes and help educate and empower communities by assisting with community outreach programs, participatory research, and efforts to improve access to resources and information. Specifically, you will enhance health by examining these core challenges: increasing access to water, improving sanitation, and providing educational resources for communities struggling with malaria and HIV/AIDS. Your work with a community mentor will make a positive difference in the well-being of communities as you’re gaining experience-based insights into some of the world’s most pervasive health challenges.

1 Members of this chapter

India HS Volunteers

As a High School Volunteer Abroad in India, you’ll be welcomed warmly into the rich cultural fabric of the subcontinent and the Himalaya with your team of global change-makers. Dharamsala, a small city in the northern Indian province of Himachal Pradesh, literally means ‘spiritual dwelling’ or ‘rest house for travelers’. It’s famed for its large Tibetan community centered around the activities of the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan Government. As a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer you’ll work with an Indian community that receives little outside help or attention-a powerful mission in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring and historically significant settings.

1 Members of this chapter

Peru HS Volunteers

As a High School Volunteer Abroad in Peru, you’ll be welcomed warmly into the vibrant city of Lima to join your team of global change-makers. Peru is a fascinating mix of ancient and modern. Turn a corner in Lima, and you’ll see an indigenous woman in traditional clothing against a geometric mural done by a well-known street artist. Turn another and you’ll come across a centuries-old church with a popular coffee house across the street. Set on dramatic cliffs over the Pacific ocean, Lima has a picturesque coastal location. As for contrast, much of the work our volunteers do is in the Nobel-nominated community of Villa El Salvador, a neighborhood that is the definition of resilience. A community created out of necessity, during a tough period in Peru’s history, many services are under-resourced in this area, and our high school volunteers in Lima step in to fill in some of the gaps.

1 Members of this chapter