By Jessie Hethcoat
Because of the recent recession and lack of job availability, post-graduate volunteering may become a more popular option than ever for recent college graduates. Deadlines are approaching for applications for these programs, and students must now decide whether or not they choose to spend a year away with these programs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the current unemployment rate, 7.6 percent, is the highest it has been in more than 10 years. With the job market in such a state of disrepair, post-graduate volunteering is an even more viable option.
The Peace Corps is one of the most widely known choices for volunteering abroad. This organization was founded in 1961. It sends volunteers to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, eastern Europe and the Pacific Islands. Volunteers choose from several options for service. These include education, business development, agriculture and environment, health and HIV/AIDS and information technology.
In order to volunteer for the Peace Corps, one must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. Proficiency in a foreign language is not necessary to join. A college degree is also not required but improves a volunteer's chances at acceptance into the program.
The Peace Corps will be hosting an information session today from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Buckley Center Rm. 314, followed by an application workshop from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Katie Hainley, assistant director of the Moreau Center, advocates the decision to spend a year doing community service after graduation. Hainley explained that it is a common misconception that "taking a year off" is often looked down on.
"We enthusiastically encourage students to take their education to serve the broader community," Hainley said. "Adding a year of service actually adds to the resume; it is a year to gain skills and to discern."
Michelle Chang, program assistant of the Moreau Center, also encourages post-graduate service.
"There are opportunities for people in every field," Chang said. "It's also a good option for people that aren't sure yet of what career path they want to take."
Senior Shannon Craig is one senior who is considering post-graduate volunteering for this reason. She will be graduating with a degree in mathematics this spring but is still unsure of the career path that she wishes to take.
"People have told me that I'm good with children, and I'm trying to see if working with kids could wind up being something I could have a passion for," Craig said.
Craig is looking at volunteering for the Covenant House, which is an organization in the Americas that works with homeless youth.
While the Peace Corps is not a faith-based service program, the Moreau Center still incorporates the organization into its programs for students to consider. The Moreau Center does, however, stress that there are many other programs that are just as rewarding as the Peace Corps, just not as well-known.
One of the most popular programs that University of Portland students participate in is the Jesuit Volunteer Corps., which sends people around the U.S. and internationally to work as volunteers.
The Holy Cross order also has overseas lay missions that sends graduates every so often to Chile and Uganda.
Volunteering in the U.S. also has its benefits. During their presidential campaigns, both McCain and Obama supported the Serve America Act, which would boost national volunteering as part of the economic recovery package.
According to Bruce Reed, the president of the Democratic Leadership Council, not only have donations to charitable organizations dropped because of the recession, but also, volunteering rates have plummeted. Reed claims that this is a bigger problem than most realize.
Reed argues that volunteerism has been overlooked in financial debates. If this act passes, work-study programs at non-profits could be created for college students, and 250,000 jobs would be available for Americans working full-time for charities. In the meantime, President Obama has urged U.S. citizens to volunteer nationally to help solve the economic crisis.
Students who do choose to volunteer for a year after graduation have the option of deferring undergraduate student loans while in the programs. Each program the Moreau Center refers students to has living stipends for its participants.
"There are so many options for post-graduate volunteering," Chang said. "It makes it easy to match the program with the person."
Additionally, Hainley points out, there are other benefits. "By joining an organization that does national or international service, graduates can get connected to a large network which can be incredibly useful."
UP students like freshman Emi Brizuela have already grasped the importance of volunteerism.
"Volunteering is a really important part of the greater good," Brizuela said.
The Moreau Center is open for students as a resource for connecting them to the type of service that will suit them individually.
