Volunteering FAQ
Welcome to Geekcorps’ Frequently Asked Questions, the first stop on your exploration into the Geekcorps volunteer experience! First and foremost, please understand that registration with Geekcorps does not guarantee that you’ll be selected soon, if ever. We have only a few openings each year, but trust us, the experience is well worth the time it takes to read this FAQ and register.
FAQ Sections:
- Volunteer Selection Process & Requirements
- Volunteer Assignment Activities
- Travel Arrangements and Accommodations
If you have questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to email us at geekcorps [at] iesc.org.
Volunteer Selection Process & Requirements
How are volunteers selected? What is the procedure?
Geekcorps is in constant need of experts in its programs and accepts registrations on a rolling basis. As we receive them, we make notes and file them in our expert database according to area of expertise. When a new skill need arises, we look in the database for experts who match the particular information technology and/or business skills required. Experience, language skills, cultural adaptability, and willingness to live in circumstances with fewer amenities, are all significant factors.
When we have a short list of experts, we interview candidates by phone or in person. Final decisions are made soon afterwards. As soon as decisions are made, we send you detailed information about where you are going and what you will be doing, and what preparations you need to make.
Am I guaranteed a Geekcorps volunteer position if I register?
Nope. Financial and logistical constraints only allow us to take a limited number of volunteers for Geekcorps programs each year. You can increase your odds of selection if you company is willing to sponsor you, but don’t loose heart if not. We will keep your registration in our database and are constantly looking for different skill sets, both for Geekcorps and IESC. We could call you the day you register, or a year or two later.
Where would Geekcorps send me and for how long?
We send experts all over the world. The volunteer time period for the majority of our programs is four months, although other placements may run for as short as one month or as long as six. Our program sites have included Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania), Central Asia (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan), Northeast Asia (Mongolia), Southeast Asia (Thailand), Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Mali) and the Middle East (Lebanon, Jordan) and we are investigating additional countries for future programs as well.
How much does it cost? Who pays?
We understand that volunteering one’s skills is quite a sacrifice. You are most likely leaving a job or forgoing an opportunity to make a great deal of money on paying projects. We aim to make a volunteer tour as low-cost as possible to a volunteer.
We pay for airfare, accommodation, insurance and a monthly living stipend. Volunteers’ only out-of-pocket expenses come from any incidentals or personal purchases. We can’t, obviously, cover at-home expenses like rent, car payments, etc. that a volunteer might incur while on a project.
For Geekcorps, it costs several thousand dollars to send a volunteer abroad for four months. If you are in the enviable position of being able to help defray the costs, or have an enlightened company that will, a tax-deductible donation to Geekcorps/IESC for that purpose would be very much appreciated.
How is Geekcorps funded?
Geekcorps is a tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our funding comes from many sources. We depend on private donations, foundation funding, and U.S. Government grants. We also receive corporate funding from companies involved in information technology, primarily in the form of sponsorship of individual volunteers. You can contribute right now in fact, using the “Donate Now” button on this page.
How can I get my company involved?
Service with Geekcorps can empower talented people with greater insight, enthusiasm and experience for their work than they had before, a tangible benefit for your company, and one we hope they will sponsor. We’ve had companies like Hewlett-Packard give 4-month sabbaticals, sponsor volunteers, or contribute via a companywide giving campaign. Please contact us if you would like more information to take to your company and we can also speak with them directly if needed.
What kinds of tech specialists do you need?
All kinds… programmers, graphic designers, public relations and business consultants, database and e-commerce architects, marketing and networking gurus, web developers and designers, and GIS specialists… just about everything. We’re looking for really high-level skills, and though we don’t expect an individual to know everything, the more flexible you can be, the more attractive you are as a volunteer.
I have less than five years of professional experience. Can I still apply?
Geekcorps generally accepts tech-professionals with at least five years’ experience as Geekcorps volunteers are required to be technical experts in their field, able to lead projects and design solutions in challenging environments. We actively discourage college and high school students from applying. While we understand a university student has been studying IT from a very theoretical or intense project standpoint, on-the-job experience is a different ballgame. A volunteer without work experience in his or her own culture is a hard sell to place in a foreign work environment. If you are a college or high school student, take some time to work in the industry to hone your skills before registering.
Would I need to know any languages?
It depends on the country to which you are sent. Geekcorps is committed to making sure that you can communicate comfortably with your hosts. Since this is a U.S.-based program, you need to have a basic working knowledge of English in order to apply. To go to Ghana, you need only English. To go to Latin America, you also need to have a working knowledge of Spanish. To go to Francophone African countries, you need a high level of French proficiency. To go to Mongolia or Armenia, Russian knowledge certainly helps out. Geekcorps does not provide language training, but will help out with technical vocabulary.
I’m not an American. Can I still apply?
Absolutely. Our applications come from every continent- and we have had volunteers from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia- and yes, even Antarctica!
Volunteer Assignment Activities
What would my job be like?
Your job would probably be unlike anything you might expect. You spend the majority of your weekdays working closely with counterparts and other staff members in a local business or non-profit, training them in the skills that are your strong suits. Jobs vary. If you are a web designer, you could be teaching HTML to your counterparts. If you are an expert in tech-business, you could be helping an organization write up a business plan. Additionally, you will be asked to help other staff members in tech-related questions that you may, or may not, have experience in.
Not to worry - any assistance is appreciated. The goal is that that when you leave, you’ve transferred enough of your technical capacity so they know how to do things they didn’t know how to do before.
The work week is 30-40 hours, though “work” includes what you might consider “non-work” activities like conversing with your colleagues or learning about local culture. Counterparts will be local technology experts and partner organizations run the gamut from radio stations to graphic design firms to Internet cafes. In all cases, organizations have gone through a rigorous application process so that we can be sure of their interest in, commitment to, and preparation for a Geekcorps volunteer.
Would I work alone or with other volunteers?
Generally, one volunteer is assigned to each partner organization. However, volunteers often work together to draw on their combined skills. You might arrange small projects to collaborate on. Volunteers may live together and always have regular meetings. The Country Director in each Geekcorps country provides direct in-country support for volunteers
How are partner organizations selected?
Our trained staff on the ground in each country spends a lot of time getting to know the local business community and non-profit sector. We select locally-owned and -run organizations that are the most likely to benefit from a Geekcorps volunteer. They must demonstrate a clear business plan or mission, and have legitimate offices, a good reputation, and good community standing. They also must have employees with fundamental skills who are in a good position to learn from a Geekcorps expert. They undergo a rigorous application process, including site-visits.
What is the training like for Geekcorps?
Geekcorps believes very strongly in providing a thorough orientation for all volunteers prior to beginning a project. The in-country training program incorporates relevant cross-cultural training to bolster coping skills in an unfamiliar environment. This includes both general principles of cultural competence as well as country-specific information.
Because the ability to transfer skills is a major part of the volunteer program, we review adult learning and training-of-trainer concepts. It is also an opportunity to talk about the Geekcorps mission and get to know staff and fellow volunteers before launching into your project. We talk about expectation management, the thorny dilemmas of technology and development, and many impromptu topics! The Geekcorps training takes an experiential approach, with very few “lecture” components.
Travel Arrangements and Accommodations
What are the travel arrangements?
We make the arrangements for you to travel from home to your host country and you will be met at the in-country airport by a program representative.
Do I need a passport and visa?
Yes, passports are a requirement for any international travel with Geekcorps, and visas may also be required depending on the country. We will give you guidelines on how to apply for a visa at the appropriate Embassy, if required.
How about longer or shorter volunteer periods?
Most assignments are planned for a four-month stay. Other placements run anywhere from one to six months, and since all are considered short-term volunteer projects, no interim home visits are planned.
Is there any “time off” to explore the culture, the different regions of the country, and to get to know people outside of work?
Volunteers have weekends to explore as they please. Geekcorps sponsors optional cultural excursions for the volunteers during their service. Some volunteers plan to stay in the country of service after they are finished serving as volunteers, and use this time to travel and follow up on interesting tips they may have gotten while working with the partner organizations.
Where would I live? What are the amenities like?
In most Geekcorps programs, volunteers often share a house or apartment, with each volunteer in a private room, though sometimes, they may stay in long-term hotels. The living stipend covers food, and volunteers often eat meals together. Telephones are available and some volunteers opt to pay for local cell service.
Can I bring my spouse/partner/children?
Spouses or partners can accompany volunteers if they cover their own expenses. If both spouses/partners qualify and wish to serve as volunteers, we will do our best to place you both. Otherwise, we do not provide work for the spouse/partner, but there are many opportunities for volunteer work in the host country. We do not encourage bringing children.
What happens if I get sick?
You get lots of shots before you go. And we tell you ad infinitum how to prevent disease. We arrange health insurance and medical evacuation insurance. In country, your Country Director is a resource on common travel ailments, and has located health professionals, clinics, and hospitals to use if necessary.
Any time a volunteer becomes ill or injured and it is determined that he or she cannot receive quality care in country, the volunteer will be transported home. There are some health risks living in a less developed area, but we do everything we can to keep volunteers healthy.
Is it safe? What happens if there’s a coup?
Although we look really laid-back, we are serious about making sure volunteers are safe. Part of our country selection criteria looks at the political stability of the location where we establish offices. In terms of personal security, the places we send volunteers are no more or less safe than any other city. It is important to use reasonable safety measures, such as not walking down dark streets alone at night and not carrying many valuables in your back pocket, but the risk is no greater than the home communities of most volunteers.
Of course, situations can change. If the area where you are sent becomes a security risk, we will bring you home immediately. You also receive security training in country, and have emergency procedures explained to you.
What would be the availability of Internet access?
This depends on the country. While Internet cafes are everywhere now, there may be access at the Geekcorps office/residence. The speed and consistency may not be what you are used to, but it is sufficient for regular e-mail communication. Your chances of successfully downloading Google Video files are probably pretty slim.
If you have questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to email us at geekcorps [at] iesc.org.
Papou Coulibaly is young boutique owner in Ouélessébougou. Previously, Geekcorps partnered with Papou to create a Cybertigi - an Internet access point for the local community via a wireless link to a Community Information & Learning Center (CLIC).