Frequently Asked Questions

General

What makes a VIA experience unique?

VIA is an itsy bitsy organization.

We have about 10 staff members dedicated to 40-45 volunteers a year and we like it that way. Our small size enables us to understand our volunteers' interests and needs. Our staff has the time to get to know you and support you in your big move to Asia. Our host institutions trust us and value our volunteers just as much as we do. Simply, we care about you and who you touch.

VIA is non-government and non-religious.

How else are we able to place volunteers in countries and areas in which other organizations cannot? We were in Indonesia starting in 1967 and remained in-country through the Suharto regime. We were one of the first American organizations to send volunteers to China in 1980. Same for Vietnam in 1990! Wherever we go, we step lightly. So far, it's worked!

VIA gives YOU a voice.

Volunteers help shape the future of our programs. They discover new partnerships, explore new country opportunities, and tell us what the needs are in their communities. Once a year, volunteers convene to share their input and perspective on where VIA should stay and where VIA should go.

VIA offers substantial training.

We provide volunteers with the knowledge and skills to help them do a better job. Long-term volunteers receive cultural training, TWO weeks of teacher training in Thailand, and THREE weeks of language training in their host country. In some countries, language tutoring is provided by the post for the entire time the volunteer is posted there, as stipulated in our contracts with partner institutions.

VIA offers substantial in-country support.

As a volunteer, you have a solid support network of current and former volunteers, a U.S.-based program director, and an in-country field coordinator. You can take advantage of this network as often as you need it but it's flexible enough to allow a more independent experience.

VIA builds leadership and professional skills.

Our volunteers are given a stake in our organization and as such, are given the opportunity to contribute in a variety of ways. Previous volunteers have led workshops at conferences, spearheaded new initiatives to meet special needs at their posts, helped create new posts or country programs, served on advisory committees, fundraised for a local project, and returned to work as directors in our office!

VIA is affordable.

It costs a lot of money to recruit, select, train and manage volunteers, but a comparison with our peer organizations reveals that our program fees are very competitive. Our alumni believe in the importance of our work and help us keep our program fees low with annual donations. Further, we want our programs to be accessible to everyone, including those with financial hardships. That's why we offer scholarships to approximately 40% of our volunteers, a unique benefit of VIA.

What about safety?

Safety is always a concern for VIA. Our home office staff and in-country staff regularly follow the news and State Department warnings. In case of emergencies such as political upheaval, natural disaster, or illness, VIA has staff on the ground to respond to situations 24 hours a day. VIA has emergency and evacuation plans in place, such as for a possible bird flu pandemic. Volunteers are also required to submit emergency/evacuation plans once they arrive at their posts.

Why do I have to pay to volunteer?

VIA's status as a non-governmental organization means that we do not receive any government funding and can maintain our independent status. Participation fees only cover a small portion of the costs associated with running volunteer programs and supporting volunteers during pre-departure and in-country. These include recruitment, training, home office and in-country staff support, flights, visa, insurance, living/housing stipends, conference, etc. VIA provides more support than many of our peer organizations.

See our Fees page to read more about the benefits of going with an organization over going on your own.

Eligibility

Who can become a VIA participant?

VIA program participants range in age from 18 to 80 and come from many different walks of life. Interest in Asia, cultural immersion and a simple lifestyle bring a diverse group of volunteers together. VIA does not require any specific educational background, prior language training, teaching or overseas experience. However, to become a VIA participant, you must meet the following requirements:

• Participants must speak English with native fluency.
• One and two year volunteers must have a B.A. or B.S. degree at time of departure. (Exceptions can occasionally be made. Contact the office with questions.)
• All participants must attend and take part in all aspects of training.

Do I have to go the the VIA office in California to interview?

No. We have a large network of enthusiastic alumni who interview candidates outside of California. However, if you interview at the VIA office you are guaranteed to meet with the country program director and alumni of the country program you're interested in.

Typically, interviews outside of the VIA office are conducted in a handful of cities across the U.S., such as New York City, Washington D.C., Madison (Wisconsin), and Seattle. Contact our office early if you would like to be interviewed at another location and we may be able to arrange something. Interviews conducted away from the VIA office are usually followed by a phone interview with home office staff.

Do I have to attend all the training sessions?

Yes. All training sessions are mandatory. In some cases, exceptions are made such as if an applicant has prior experience in-country. However, applicants who can attend all trainings will receive priority in the selection process.

Do I need to speak the language?

You do NOT need to speak the language for most posts with VIA, although language skills will help you adapt to the culture more quickly. Some posts do require some language skills and you can find out which ones by reading the post descriptions. VIA strongly encourages volunteers to begin language classes or tutoring once accepted.

Do I have to have teaching experience to teach English?

Teaching experience is definitely preferred, but not required. We are looking for volunteers who have enthusiasm and desire to learn about Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL). All volunteers are strongly encouraged to enroll in TESOL classes and observe ESL classes once accepted. VIA provides a two-week introductory TESOL course in Thailand that will cover basic syllabus design, lesson planning, and classroom management.

Can I speak to former volunteers and current volunteers?

Yes! We encourage everybody who is considering our programs to get in touch with former or current volunteers. You may even contact a volunteer who has volunteered at a post you are interested in. Please contact us to do this.

Long-Term Specific

What will I do as a VIA volunteer?

Most VIA volunteers serve as either an English teacher or English resource volunteer.

As an English teacher, you will be posted at a local university, college or middle school. You will be responsible for creating lesson plans and teaching courses as varied as speaking, writing, literature, business English or film. No previous teaching experience is required. Long-term volunteers will receive a two-week TESOL course.

As an English resource volunteer, you will work at a local non-profit. You may be editing journal articles, helping with grant reports, or supporting field work. Most English resource volunteers also tutor their co-workers in spoken and written English. The majority of English resource positions are available in Indonesia; and a limited number are available in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and China.

For more details, please visit the 1 and 2 year volunteer program pages for the country of your interest.

How many hours a week will I volunteer?

Most long-term English teaching positions require a maximum of 16 hours/week (prep time, grading, etc. no included). Some long-term English resource positions require up to 40 hours/week. Summer programs positions vary.

How much will I be paid?

Living stipends vary from country to country and city to city depending on the cost of living. You may receive from $50 to $300 depending on your city's cost of living. The living is stipend is comparable to that of a local salary and allows you to live comfortably at a local level.

Can friends and couples volunteer together?

VIA is generally able to accommodate friends and couples wanting to volunteer together. Some of our posts have capacity for more than one volunteer. Other posts are close enough for volunteers to see each other frequently. Because not all posts are available each year, it is important to speak with a program director if you feel strongly about being posted together.

Will I be in a rural or urban community?

VIA has long-term posts in both rural and urban communities. As part of the posting process you will be given a chance to list your preferences.

Will all long-term posts listed on your website be open next year?

No, not all posts listed on our website will be open next year. Because our volunteers have the choice to spend either one or two years at their posts, some of the posts listed on the website will be filled by a second year volunteer. Also, at our annual long-term in-country conferences, volunteers vote on opening new posts and closing old posts. If you have questions about a specific post, please contact the program director for that country.

Do I get to choose which long-term post I go to?

You do not get to choose the exact post you are placed at, however you do have the opportunity to express your interest in specific posts. Many volunteers receive one of their top three choices. However, we ask that volunteers be flexible and consider the needs of the program and our partners.

Do I get to choose which country I am posted in?

Yes. You apply to a specific country program. If you are interested in more than one program, we encourage you to speak with the program directors and current volunteers. If you are unable to decide before turning in the application, you can mark more than one country on the application form.

Should I volunteer for one or two years?

VIA encourages you to commit to two years of volunteer service from the start. If you choose to commit to one year, you will be asked in early spring if you would like to extend for a second year. Extensions are based on mutual satisfaction between you, your post, and VIA. We encourage all volunteers to stay for a second year because it will allow you to have a much more enriching experience and it benefits your post. Don't take our word for it. Here are testimonials from two recent volunteers:

"It DOES feel good to walk into the University this time and have the confidence of knowing where I'm going, what I'm doing, and who I'll be working with. It feels good to get a smile and a wave from the guy who parks my bike. It feels good to have the cleaning lady in our building get excited to see me again. It just... feels good. I think back to June when last year's vols left, and I'm SO happy I wasn't one of them. I feel like they left just before the best part. The first year is hard. You spend your time figuring things out.  But, the second year...well, it is already so much better." Amy Cherry, Hanoi University of Foreign Studies, Vietnam, 2005-07

"I signed on for two years because when I talked to past vols about it, they were overwhelmingly in favor of the benefits gained for two vs. one year. It didn't seem to matter whether the vol him/herself had actually stayed on for 2 years or not. The ones who didn't wished they did, and the ones who did gushed enthusiasm for their choice. When I made my decision to stay for 2 years, I was a little apprehensive. Two years of my life seemed like a huge commitment. But my second year is winding to its end, and I am not looking forward to leaving. Two years IS more of a commitment, and that alone changed my outlook on what I was doing. I didn't have the luxury of thinking, oh well, if I don't like this, it'll be all over soon. Because I knew I was here for the (relatively) long haul, I had to push myself harder to do more. Knowing that I'd be coming back the second year, everything I did in the first year was consciously a building block for the next year. I have never regretted my decision. The second year is heads and shoulders better than the first. Relationships reach a deeper level; my teaching has improved tremendously; my position in the community is more stable; I have learned more about myself in the past 16 months than my whole college career." Tien Truong, Dalat University, Vietnam, 2004-2006; Pre-Collegiate Program, Myanmar, 2006-07