NPH USA International Volunteer Program

Cause Area

  • Children & Youth
  • Community
  • Education & Literacy
  • Health & Medicine
  • International

Location

20 North Wacker DriveSuite 4000Chicago, IL 60606 United States

Organization Information

Mission Statement

NPH USA transforms the lives of orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children with homes, healthcare and educational programs, making a positive impact in Latin America and the Caribbean. We support Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters"), which is currently raising more than 3,400 boys and girls in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. An additional 1,600 students who live outside the homes receive scholarships, meals and health care. NPH outreach programs served thousands of people each year.

Description

  • Description: Our International Volunteer Program sends qualified individuals, married couples, and families to serve for a year in any of the 9 NPH homes. Volunteers hold a job, and spend time with the children and live in community with other international volunteers from around the world.
  • Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and serve for a minimum of 13 months.
  • Finances: NPH provides volunteers with room and board, a small stipend, and access to limited health care. NPH USA pays a portion of volunteers' health insurance. Volunteers must pay for their transportation to and from the country where they will serve, as well as any pre-trip expenses like vaccines and language school (if needed). NPH does NOT require any "program fee" to volunteer.
  • Application: Start dates are mid January and early July. For a July start date, applications are due by January 1. For a January start, applications are due July 1. We often have openings after the application deadline, so please apply even if the deadline has passed. For July of 2024 and January of 2025, please apply via our website and see job openings: https://www.nph.org/volunteer-openings/

Reviews

Would you recommend NPH USA International Volunteer Program?
5 reviews Write a review
by Emily M. (2024-03-01 15:31:34.0)
I volunteered at the NPH home in Miacatlan, Mexico. I get emotional just thinking about it because it is such a wonderful, magical loving home for children. The leadership here is top notch. Before working with the kids we went through a very thorough and high quality parenting training course. The directors have huge hearts, lead by example and instill a culture of community and belonging in every child. The kids here are hardworking amazing kids who love God. A big part of your day will be doing chores with the kids. You will need to be tough and able to do a lot of hard work but trust me, it's absolutely %100 worth it. I fell in love with NPH and all the people there. I felt like a really important person in their lives. You are with these kids through their highs and lows. The bond you form with them can last a life time. I made life long friends there with the other volunteers. Waterslides, movie nights and volleyball on the plaza, skits, games, soccer. Time of my life! LOVE NPH!
by Eliza H. (2024-02-29 19:40:30.0)
I volunteered at NPH Nicaragua as an English teacher from July 2014-Dec 2015. Deciding to join NPH was a scary decision as I left college but one that I am eternally grateful for making. My time at NPH was filled with amazing people, adventures and lessons that I still recall almost every day. The cohort of other volunteers from all over the world was great in helping me to learn my way around the home and Nicaragua, and the local staff were welcoming and enjoyable to work with. Not to mention my Spanish became excellent- people still pick up on a Central American accent when I speak! Above all, the relationships made and love that I received from the kids, staff, and volunteers were so much more than I ever gave. I highly recommend this very well-run program as an excellent way to grow in love, life and make a difference in children's lives.
by Vicky M. (2024-02-29 14:46:05.0)
My husband and I volunteered for a year in Honduras as newlyweds. It was a pivotal experience in our personal and professional lives. As volunteers at NPH, we served in areas that aligned with our professional growth while we experienced life in another country. We honed our Spanish and intercultural skills, lived with a FANTASTIC group of fellow volunteers from around the world and built relationships with kids and staff. I loved it so much I went on to work for them for 13 years. Now, over 20 years after our volunteer service I am proud of the work we did and cherish the relationships we built. If you love children, Latin America, volunteer service and want to advance your career join NPH! You will not regret it.
by Spencer C. (2024-02-29 09:47:23.0)
I was the volunteer Communications Officer at NPH Guatemala from July 2019 until March 2020, fresh out of college. Without a doubt, my time in Guatemala with NPH is one of lasting professional and personal significance. Thanks to NPH, I was able to collaborate with caring professionals from around the world to make a tangible difference in the lives of children from difficult circumstances. The long-term structure of the international volunteer program helps volunteers forge genuine, lasting partnerships with the local community and stakeholders. Most importantly, my time writing reports and working in the office was always complemented by significant mentorship opportunities with the kids. Although there were challenges, I grew tremendously as an individual and reflect on this time content knowing I made a difference. If you're looking to make an impact while honing your professional skills, you should definitely consider this program.
by Jennifer F. from Chicago, IL (Administrator for this Organization) (2024-02-29 07:49:07.0)
I was a volunteer at NPH many years ago at NPH Honduras for a full year. I was the Chicas Poderosas Program Coordinator and I dearly cherish the time I spent there. It's an amazing opportunity where you get to live in a very diverse, international community of volunteers as well as local staff members. The NPH volunteer program is the furthest possible from "voluntourism"--because we focus on "partnership service." The program requires volunteers to serve for a minimum of 1 year and candidates must go through a careful and detailed application process. There are a number of reasons why this is NPH's policy, but the most important is that they do their best to maintain the emotional stability of the children—and having volunteers come and go every few months would be incredibly difficult for them. Serving for a year was incredibly challenging, but it also has impacted my life so profoundly and I'd never take that year back.

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