Global Crossroad has offered volunteer in China program (including internship) since 2003. We are able to place volunteers on the 1st or 3rd Monday of any month, year round. We recommend applying at least two months in advance, as there is an ever-increasing volume of applications. If your application must be expedited for quicker placement, please contact our office for more information.
Once Global Crossroad receives and reviews your completed application, it is then forwarded to our In-Country Coordinator in China who will then finalize a personal assignment as per your qualifications, experience and requests. Your finalized placement details are forwarded to you upon completion.
The application process may take up to 2-4 weeks � occasionally longer given the time of year and influx of applications to your chosen country. However, in the event that an applicant requires quicker placement due to time constraints, we request you contact Global Crossroad's offices prior to submitting an application.
The only initial documentation required is our completed application form, which can be found online(http://www.globalcrossroad.com/apply). We reserve the right to request further information or documentation; however, in most situations information contained in the application is sufficient. Applicants have the option to either submit their application online or download the application from the website and submit the completed form to Global Crossroad's USA-based offices by either mail or fax.
The only qualifications are:
Securing a tourist visa is the volunteer's responsibility and Global Crossroad requires all volunteers to obtain a tourist visa before departing for China. Please call our office or contact your nearest China embassy to learn more about visa, visa fees and visa extensions. Much information can be learned online by searching out China's embassy or consulate.
Global Crossroad's in-country Coordinator in China is responsible for researching appropriate volunteer projects as per the qualifications, skills and interests of the applicants.
Project schedules vary for each project in China. Most projects are from Monday to Friday, for approximately 5-6 hours a day. Most volunteers have the weekends and evenings off to sightsee or explore China on their own.
Most programs in China will take place outside of the cities in rural areas. Review the details of your project on our website or in your placement documents for the particular city or area to which you will be travelling.
The official government language is Mandarin.
Global Crossroad programs are available year round and begin on the 1st or 3rd Monday of every month.
To have a fully enriching China volunteer experience, Global Crossroad suggests that you commit to between 2-12 weeks. In general, most countries do not allow those traveling on a tourist visa to stay longer than 12 weeks. If you are set on staying longer, contact a Global Crossroad representative to discuss your options.
International flight coordination and payment of international airfare is a volunteer's responsibility.
Xi'an, China (Xi'an Xianyang International Airport). Please do not book travel until your placement is complete.
Please arrive the day before your assignment begins. If you wish to arrive earlier, your accommodation and meals will be your responsibility. Please review our the personal placement information package we will forward to you.
You will be greeted up at the airport, but you must send your travel itinerary to our China in-country Coordinator and to us at Global Crossroad's offices before your arrival in China. You will be met by a local staff member or our in-country coordinator. They will be holding a sign with your name, awaiting your arrival outside of the airport.
If you miss our representative due to flight delay or confusion, please call the in-country coordinator number provided in your placement details. This rarely happens, but be prepared by keeping this important information with you as you travel. Make sure you look carefully for your pick-up representative, as it is normally busy outside of the airport.
In the event that your arrival time is changed/delayed, requiring you to stay overnight in a hotel (or if you failed to meet Global Crossroad's representative at the airport), you should hire a taxi at the airport. Request the taxi deliver you to the hotel designated in your placement details/pre-departure information. Remember to request a receipt from the driver.
IMPORTANT: Ensure that you have contacted Global Crossroad's in-country coordinator BEFORE boarding a taxi. Participants are advised to contact Global Crossroad's China In-Country Coordinator the next day and let him/her know their whereabouts.
You can arrive up to a week early for your assignment; however, you are responsible for making and paying for these arrangements (including accommodations and food), and must still meet the in-country coordinator at the airport on the designated date.
We ask that participants depart from China on the Saturday following the completion of their assignment.
All China volunteers should depart from Xi'an, China (Xi'an Xianyang International Airport) unless you receive other instructions in your placement details.
GC does not offer airport drop-off services. You will need to arrange a taxi or bus ride to the airport following your assignment's completion. This is a simple process and our China in-country coordinator or your host family will normally be very happy to assist you with the arrangements.
Global Crossroad's in-country Coordinator in China is responsible for researching appropriate volunteer projects as per the qualifications, skills and interests of the applicants.
Global Crossroad's weekly fees include management of volunteers' meal plans and accommodations throughout projects and travel options. Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be provided and will consist of local ingredients and feature traditional cuisine choices for China. Our meal program can accommodate vegetarian needs; however, we are not able to provide for other dietary restrictions. Food and drinks outside of mealtimes are the volunteer's responsibility. In most cases, there are restaurants and markets nearby the homes in which our volunteers stay.
In China, most volunteers stay in our homebase. This concept is a permanent residence set up especially for international volunteers. There are several bedrooms at our homebase and volunteers will normally share a room with a same gender volunteer. There are community rooms and a television. The environment is very relaxed and social and a great place to unwind after a busy day. The kitchen and bathrooms are shared, and there is running water and "western-style" toilets. The neighborhood is very safe and clean. There are many amenities nearby like internet caf�s, grocery stores, restaurants and mass transit stops.
If there are a large number of volunteers during your timeframe or your project is far from the homebase, you may stay with a host family. Volunteers staying with a host family usually have a single bedroom, but may occasionally share a room with another volunteer of the same gender. Our host families are chosen carefully and are esteemed community members, who have experience in the realm of hosting international travelers. Host family residences are in comfortable, clean and safe neighborhoods and rooms are simply furnished and tidy. Staying with a host family can offer the support system a volunteer will crave during their program and it is a great way to learn about a host country's culture and customs.
A unique and important part of Global Crossroad's successful volunteer abroad programs is our volunteer support in-country. We put safety and comfort first as we deliver enriching and consistent experiences for our international travelers. Our support is multi-faceted while volunteers are in China and our staff is in contact with our volunteers on a regular basis either with face-to-face visits or via phone/email. Key support comes from our country coordinator and in-country field staff. These individuals are employed by our company and committed to ensuring your experience the best it can be. Your chosen project staff and host family offers support as well, and they are familiar with working with international volunteers and accustomed to answering questions and providing guidance. Volunteers also have access to our country coordinator's mobile number for emergencies. With longer assignments, our field staff visits regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to ensure the experience is meeting your expectations. Sometimes an assignment may be too far to visit physically, so staff members will touch-base via phone/email. You are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time. You are never alone.
Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.
In many situations yes, but please contact our office regarding your situation, since it may depend upon individual accommodation availability and time-of-year circumstances. Please be reminded that volunteers of different genders are often not permitted to stay in the same room, unless they are a married couple.
In many situations yes, but please contact our office regarding your situation, since it may depend upon individual accommodation availability and time-of-year circumstances. Please be reminded that volunteers of different genders are often not permitted to stay in the same room, unless they are a married couple.
Yes, more often than not, but this depends on the exact assignment and accommodation placement. If you want to travel with a companion or group, we allow and encourage this option. You may be placed with different host families, but these residences will generally be located close (within one to two miles) to each other. Please be reminded that volunteers of different genders will normally not be allowed to stay in the same room, unless they are a married couple.
Bathroom facilities depend up on the location and project. Most of our host families have running water and western (or modern)-style toilets. However, in a few projects/accommodations there are varying toilet and bathroom situations.
In most cases, laundry will be washed by hand. It is the responsibility of volunteers.
It is your own responsibility to do your laundry. In most instances though, you will need to wash your clothes by hand.
Yes, but you will need an electrical converter. Information for different countries can be found on the Internet, for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity . Your local small appliance specialty or travel retailer can advise you on plugs and voltage converters.
Global Crossroad can provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. However, we cannot accommodate special dietary needs (i.e. diabetics). If you require a special menu, you will need to be responsible for your own meals.
In most developing countries, tap water is not safe to drink. We recommend that you purchase bottled water for your consumption, but make sure that the cap's seal is not broken! You can also request that your host family boil water for you each day for you to consume.
Specifics pertaining to availability of hot water will be included in participants' placement details.
No, the purchase of bottled water is a volunteer's responsibility.
Any international travel requires caution and awareness. We suggest that all volunteers consult their own government advisory office before participating in a Global Crossroad program. International travel does present risks, especially with the modern-day threat of international terrorism. The U.S. State Department issues travel warnings and advisories in many countries for American travelers. These travel advisories and warnings change frequently as situations in each country transform. These links provide travel information:
We use the Center for Disease Control traveler's health recommendations www.cdc.gov. You should also consult a travel doctor who will be knowledgeable about current epidemics, health risks and recommended vaccinations.
Major cities have ATM machines, although not all will accept international cards. You can withdraw cash from most international banks from ATM machines, but $2-4 USD surcharges apply for each transaction.
MasterCard, Visa, Cirrus/Maestro and American Express cards are usually only accepted at the more expensive restaurants and hotels. Use caution when paying by credit card, as there is potential for fraud.
Ensure that you have notified your home bank of your intent to travel to China. This will provide you the necessary information and alleviate any confusion at your home bank regarding international transactions, which can result in a cautionary freeze on your account in some cases.
The official local currency in China is the Renminbi (RMB), which means, ‘The People’s Exchange.” You can find exchange rate information at currency websites like www.xe.com, or by looking in a newspaper like the Wall Street Journal.
Money exchanges by cash or traveler's checks can be made at various bank branches found throughout China - primarily in the major cities. Remember, you may have to present your passport whenever you change currency or traveler checks.
Global Crossroad manages food and rooms for our volunteers throughout the assignment; therefore, you will not need more money to pay for these expenses. However, if you plan to take part in activities outside of our organization or buy some souvenirs, you will need to bring extra money. On a side note, you must also remember the fee for visas, which can range from US $50-100 depending on the length of stay. There may also be an airport tax that you pay upon your departure from China. You will want to determine the amount of extra money you bring based on these factors.
Carrying cash is not always safe; therefore, do not carry a large surplus of cash with you. It is advised that you carry cash in a money belt with some additional stashed in your wallet.
The contact details of our China in-country Coordinator will be given in final placement sheet. You can contact him by email or telephone; we suggest all volunteers talk with country coordinator before they arrive.
International Direct Dialing from China is available in cities. Phone cards are widely available and calls can be made from post offices, hotels and phone booths on the streets. In hotels, local calls are generally charged at a nominal fee. Internet cafes are available in most towns, although they can sometimes be noisy as they are a popular spot for the youth to play online games. You can use any type of communication to call back home.
Communication options depend on where you are placed. Most placements will have access to a post office, so mail and postcards are an option. If you are in a city placement, there are many places to make international phone calls or access the internet. These details will be provided prior to your departure to China, so you can share communication options with your family and friends before you depart.
Yes, but it may or may not work. You will want to contact your mobile phone provider to make sure that your phone will work while you are in China, but remember that roaming will apply and those charges can be very, very expensive. To avoid them, you may be able to buy a local SIM card to use in your phone. Research and confirm this information before traveling.
Global Crossroad's volunteering in China projects are typically based in rural areas outside of the big cities, however access to captivating sites and attractions are within range when you have free time from your specific volunteer program in China.
China is country rich in history and culture. There are countless activities worth experiencing during your volunteer work in China free time. You can check out the Terracotta warriors and horses, the Hanyang Mausoleum, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and or the Shannxi History Museum. And don’t forget about the impressive Great Wall of China!
There are all sorts of tours, temples, and beautiful terrain to experience too. China presents an eclectic mix of foods to try, as well. You won’t have a boring moment when you are free from your chosen volunteer abroad in China project!
The contact details of our China in-country Coordinator will be given in final placement sheet. You can contact him by email or telephone; we suggest all volunteers talk with country coordinator before they arrive.
Volunteers should dress conservatively when at their assignments. Jeans and a t-shirt are acceptable. No short-shorts and tank tops please. Remember to consider the regional religious beliefs of China which may be extremely conservative and revealing clothing is unacceptable - shorts and skirts must be at least knee-length and no one should show their shoulders.
Be inclusive and show respect of their culture.
China’s culture is rich in customs and traditions. People of China enjoy sharing their customs and traditions with foreigners so feel free to take part with them. You can go with your host family on outings if they ask you to or invite them along with you to go on an outing. Simply helping your family do household chores will be another bonding experience that you can enjoy.
Materials to Bring for any of the China Volunteer Trips
NOTE: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is generic information and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly. Participants should consult Global Crossroad or travel advisors to verify this information.