Fund for Teachers Fellows
www.fundforteachers.org

Location: Worldwide

Duration: Open

The Experience: The Fund awards almost every type of professional development imaginable, anywhere in the world, including travel, language study, counterpart shadowing, and attending professional development courses (see website to see examples of what past Fellows have done). However, there are a few exceptions. The Fund will not provide monies for student travel, the completion of post baccalaureate degrees, on-site (or campus) professional development, compensation for substitutes, or stipends.

Financial Info: Applicants may apply individually for up to $5,000 or as a team for up to $10,000.

Eligibility: Teach in a Pre-K through 12th grade classroom (as a full-time teacher spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom or classroom-like setting), minimum of three years classroom teaching experience, must have intention of returning to teaching in the same district following the fellowship, employed by a school/district in an eligible geographic area (see map of eligible areas in 42 states at www.fundforteachers.org/apply.html).

FYI: The Fund awards almost every type of professional development imaginable. However, there are a few exceptions. The Fund will not provide monies for student travel, the completion of post baccalaureate degrees, onsite (or campus) professional development, compensation for substitutes, or stipends. More than 3,500 teachers from across the United States have studied and traveled in 110 countries on all seven continents as Fellows.

Requirements: Upon completion of their fellowship, Fellows must submit a budget summary, an overview of the experience, and complete a survey

To Apply: Proposal detailing how the fellowship will make the applicant a better teacher and how improved skills are to be implemented in the classroom, benefiting students, curricula and school. Fellowships are awarded based on application quality and merit as judged by a committee (see website for the application scoring rubric).

Application Deadline: January 30, 2009

Contact:
Fund For Teachers
2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713.296.6127
Fax: 713.296.6134
info@fundforteachers.org

VSO Volunteers
www.vso.org.uk (main site)
www.vsocan.org (for North Americans)

Location: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Malawi, Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Duration: 7 months-2 years

The Experience: VSO functions much like the Peace Corps; the main difference is that the Peace Corps is a U. S. government agency, whereas VSO is a non-profit organization. VSO Volunteers work in the areas of Business and Management, Education, Health Care, Information Technology, Natural Resources, PR/Marketing and Media, Science and Engineering, Social and Community Work, and Technical.

Financial Info: Airfare to and from the placement and training sites; up to CAN$1,000 grant for pre-departure equipment; housing, living stipend, health insurance, quarterly stipends of CAN$300; mid-service allowance of CAN$700; and a resettlement grant of CAN$3,800.

Eligibility: Minimum age of 18 to apply (most placements require a minimum age of 21), 2 years of professional experience, and a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must be residents of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, or United States.

Requirements: All finalist candidates must attend an “Assessment Day” (the applicant covers travel expenses and accommodation), and incoming program participants participate in a pre-departure training (for which all expenses are covered).

FYI: Most placements through VSO are for 2 years, though opportunities for one-year placements occur occasionally. VSO has more than 40 years of experience recruiting, training and, supporting volunteers.

To Apply: Completed application, one essay, 2 references, and in-person interview.

Deadline to Apply: Rolling. Apply at least 6 months prior to desired start date.

Contact:
Voluntary Service Overseas Canada
806-151 Slater Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5H3
Canada
Phone: 613.234.1364
Fax: 613.234.1444
inquiry@vsocan.org

Earthwatch Expedition Educator Fellowship
www.earthwatch.org

Location: Placements vary depending on current research activities. Locations currently include Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States (Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, DC, Wyoming), Vietnam, Zambia

Duration: 5 days-3 weeks (throughout the year)

The Experience: Educator Fellowships allow teachers and administrators to join a one- to two-week Earthwatch Expedition alongside other Expedition participants. The group members work as full participants in the research under the direction of scientists. Earthwatch Educator Fellows join a team of other Educator Fellows and/or volunteers and work alongside leading environmental scientists, actively supporting their work, learning field research methods, and helping conserve threatened natural and cultural resources. You’ll also be asked to share your experiences through developing lessons and giving presentations on your experience, and by attending events designed to spread the word to other educators and volunteers. Education Fellows are assigned to projects according to their interests, skills, availability, project need, and grant restrictions.

Financial Info: Fellowships cover the full cost of the Expedition (normally $1,800 to $5,500) and include room and board. Recipients should expect to pay a portion of travel costs.

Eligibility: Current K-12 teachers and administrators from any country are eligible. Applicants may receive a fellowship only twice, and it cannot be in consecutive years. Educators are not eligible for a fellowship if they have already reserved a seat on an Expedition. Applications are considered based on available funding in the applicant’s geographic region, financial need, and the benefits that would result from participating in an Expedition.

Requirements: No special skills are needed, though a few Expeditions require SCUBA certification. After completing the expedition, Fellowship recipients are required to compile a final report, a lesson plan or community plan, and materials and activities to share with others within 30 days of the project’s end. Recipients are required to remain at their schools for at least one year following completion of the Expedition.

FYI: Teachers can participate in any of the 90 current expeditions available.

To Apply: Completed application (available online or call to request a copy), 3 recommendations, a non-refundable $35 fee

Deadline to Apply: Rolling. Early applications are eligible for a wider range of projects. Applications received after March 1 are subject to more limited funding and projects. Fellowships will be awarded until available funding is exhausted.

Contact:
Earthwatch Institute
3 Clock Tower Place, PO Box 75
Maynard, MA 01754-0075
Phone: 800-776-0188
info@earthwatch.org

Peace Corps Volunteers
www.peacecorps.gov

Location: Urban and rural areas in Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zambia

Duration: 2 years plus 3 months of pre-service training (programs begin throughout the year).

The Experience: Peace Corps Volunteers work in the following areas: education, youth outreach, and community development; business development; agriculture and environment; health and HIV/AIDS; and information technology. Within the field of education, volunteers teach in universities, teacher training institutes, and primary and secondary schools. Some Volunteers also develop teaching materials, tutor youth, and develop summer camps and after-school programs.

Financial Info: Volunteers receive language and cross-cultural training, a living allowance, medical and dental insurance, airfare to and from the program site, 10 weeks of vacation per year, deferment of student loans, and a readjustment allowance of $6,000 upon completion of 2 years of service.

Eligibility: At least 18 years old, U.S. citizenship. Most, but not all, positions require a bachelor’s degree.

Requirements: Volunteers placed in countries that are not English-speaking must be committed to learning the language of the country or local region; intensive language instruction is provided during the pre-service training.

FYI: Flexibility in geographic region and/or work area can speed up the placement process. Prospective volunteers need not have significant experience in a work area in many cases; beef up your eligibility through volunteer work, research, or an internship in your professional area of interest.

To Apply: Completed application, (available online or call for a copy), a phone or in-person interview, unofficial college transcripts, a health form, and 3 references.

Deadline to Apply: Rolling admissions programs begin throughout the year. Apply at least 4 months prior to desired start date.

Contact:
Peace Corps
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20526
Phone: 800.424.8580
Email: dcinfo@peacecorps.gov