Voluntourism: AmeriCorps

You’ve graduated college and are now figuring out post-grad plans; what is your next move? Is it a job, more school or maybe even spending a year giving back with service? You constantly teeter between seeing the world and having fun to gaining experience and building a career. Well, you just may be able to do it all. AmeriCorps, a civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations and other donors, engage those in public service work with a goal of helping others in the community.

Founded in 1994, AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours of service across America. The service program provides a small stipend to around 80,000 young people each year in return for a year of work for non-profits. The organization helps Americans all across the country, like helping to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the Northeast after Sandy or in schools, national parks, day cares or soup kitchens. Members commit to full- or part-time positions to fulfill assignments in the fields of education, public safety, health care and environmental protection — this can be seen as the domestic Peace Corps.

AmeriCorps is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service that oversees the Senior Corps and formerly funded Learn and Serve America. Participation in the program strengthens civic attitudes, making members likely to choose careers in public service.

There are three AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCC and AmeriCorps State and National. VISTA or Volunteers in Service to America provides full-time members to non-profit, faith-based and other community organizations and public agencies to bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty, fight illiteracy, improve health services and foster economic development.

NCCC, or National Civilian Community Corps, is a full-time, residential, team-based program for men and women ages 18–24. Members serve at one of the five regional campuses located throughout the United States. The campus focuses its efforts on states within its region, but may travel to other areas in responses to national crises.

AmeriCorps State and National is the largest program and provides grants to local and national organizations and agencies like faith-based and community organization, higher education institutions and public agencies. AmeriCorps State operates through service commissions in each state. Participating members engage in direct service activities like after-school tutoring, homebuilding or volunteer recruitment.