Many students consider doing some form of volunteer work during their college career. In fact, Diablo Valley College offers several volunteer jobs on campus. However, if a more unique experience is of interest, there are alternative options.

Community Partnership Programs is an intercultural program planned by a nonprofit educational organization called Xperitas. Individuals who apply will be placed in a team of 8-12 people who go to a local community, often overseas, and help with a project specific to that community. However, if volunteers apply with a group of 6-12 people, they can plan a private trip and choose when and where they would like to go.

“We do not work for them. We work with them,” said Leonor Urbain, a staff member of Xperitas. Xperitas is in partnership with for profit groups, health clinics, and local communities in the U.S. and other countries. Canada, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, India, and Nepal have all benefited from the help of Xperitas.

When an association or a community needs help with a civil project, they invite Xperitas to assist. Xperitas then plans a trip. Volunteers choose an appropriate travel plan and are then paired with locals of the community.

What makes this program so unique is that volunteers not only help communities, but exchange cultural views and make friends with people in an otherwise foreign community.

Krista McAtee, a volunteer for Xperitas, went to Kenya for 16 days with a team of 10 people. Her team project was to aid in the construction of a health clinic. She stayed in a homestay with fellow teammates. They worked with local people, spending hours with children who loved to sing with them. By playing with local children, Krista did not only volunteer, but also learned the local language on her trip.

Pamela Holt, a volunteer, went to White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. She and her teammates stayed in a cultural center and helped plant apple and plum trees with a local organization called Native Harvest. On the trip, they had opportunities to talk with local people and learn about their culture as well as help other volunteers.

Diane Van Stralen, another volunteer, and her teammates stayed with two local families in Peru while helping with the construction of a school. Besides the work, they shared good times with local people by playing games, teaching English and taking art classes.

According to Stralen, Google translate was very helpful in communicating with the local people. If a volunteer wasn’t able to speak the language, the team leader was able help, so people without foreign language skills, should not hesitate to apply. On the final day, all parties sang their national anthem as a farewell.

After the trip, some volunteers remain connected with the many friends they have made via Facebook.

Although the lengths and season of the trip depend on the community, a trip usually varies from one to three weeks. The program fees also rely on the specific trip, but range from $1,200 to $3,000.

For more information visit the website, xperitas.org.