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Rating: 
Summary: Alternatives to the Peace Corps
Review: Do you feel like helping out, but don't want to be a political pawn with the Peace Corps? Don't get me wrong, the Peace Corps do a lot of good work, but they are subject to the machinations of the US government. This little book is a great reference to other organizations, who do similar work without the government interference. Some of the groups are religious, some are not, and some are religious, but you don't have to be the same religion. It gives contact info, a brief summary of their purpose.
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Summary: Pay to volunteer
Review: I'm currently a college senior and I bought this book hoping to find opportunities to work/volunteer overseas after graduation. I was disappointed to find that many of the organizations listed in the book require payment to be able to volunteer. Most program costs are quite expensive. The book is also not well-organized -- organizations are only alphabetized, not categorized in terms of project interests or even short-term versus long-term volunteering. Many organizations listed also have religious affiliations. I agree with others that there needs to be alternative to the Peace Corps. Unfortunately, I don't think such alternatives can be found in this book.
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Summary: Beware of ignorant reviewers
Review: It had some interesting opportunities in it, but after having served in the U.S. Peace Corps myself I wonder who would write a book of alternatives to it. Peace Corps is a non political, non religious, governmental organization that provides skilled professionals to countries that request volunteers and promotes a better understanding of American abroad and that foreign cultures when the volunteer returns home. They do a tremendous amount of good in the world, you also get top notch language and cultural training, get to work with other dedicated humanitarians and get the chance to make friends with a people you would never ordinarily have had a chance in your life to meet. To me there is no alternative.
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Summary: Beware of ignorant reviewers
Review: Just a note, having read the other reviews I would like to note that whoever claimed that the Peace Corps is non-political, yet at the same time a governmental organization is a fool.
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Summary: why there need to be alternatives to the peace corps
Review: This book is great. Here's why.People may question why there need to be alternatives to the Peace Corps. In my opinion, this is such an self-centered and ignorant view to take. There are many people in the world who are not American -- and thus cannot be in the Peace Corps. Or AmeriCorps or whatnot. I'm one of those many people -- I'm Canadian. What am I supposed to do to have as great a time as the Peace Corps volunteers? The book gives a lot of descriptions of opportunities for me. On top of this, only 3,000 of 100,000 in the Peace Corps are placed internationally every year; people who desire to go overseas would be advised to research other options. The book also focuses on the overseas aspect. Working with other volunteer programs also keeps the volunteer market competitive -- only so many people can be placed by the Peace Corps, it is good to provide so many other people with fulfilling volunteer work. I thought this book laid out the opportunities very well and clearly, though perhaps even more resources would've been helpful.
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