Led by experienced team leaders, most of whom are on-site country managers, volunteers spend one to three weeks living and working in partner communities worldwide. Some extended stay opportunities enable volunteers to serve for up to 24 weeks.

Up to 20 volunteer teams serve each community every year.

Volunteers contribute a tax-deductible service program fee to support the on-going development work which includes their on-site program-related expenses, operation of the program and a financial project contribution.

Volunteers range in age from 11 to 90-plus, participating as individuals, couples, families and groups, from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Each year, 35 percent of volunteers have volunteered on an earlier program. In fiscal year 2007, 185 teams of volunteers served over 100 communities in 20 countries.