Peace Corps

She will have to have a BA before she can join the peace corps from what I've seen (I wanted to join too). So she wouldn't be only 18 when she joins.

When I was a teen, I volunteered 3 summers in Latin America with a group called "Amigos de las Americas". It changed my life, and opened my eyes to the conditions people live in. My mom was scared to let me go, fearing for my safety, but I'm so glad she did. I never felt in any danger, except from water-borne illnesses. I lived with a family and would travel alone to meet other volunteers. The communities I lived in were very protective of me. But I was there with an organization for support, that had done their homework of where I should stay. She'd definitely want to find a reputable organization.

Peace Corps would not work for her situation. From their website:
"The minimum requirements for Peace Corps are:
18 years of age or older
U.S. citizenship
A four-year college degree, or solid work experience in an area such as agriculture, business management, or a skilled trade. A community college degree paired with specific skills or work experience may also qualify you."

There are numerous other groups she can volunteer with; maybe do an online search for volunteer travel. Since she will be 18, she'll have more choices.

Good luck

Hi Page,
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer from '95-'97 in Gabon, Central Africa. Your daughter will need to finish college before she can apply for the Peace Corps. In certain circumstances they take 4H kids from rural areas, etc., but I think that has become even more rare now because they are looking for people with a certain educational background or experience. You can check the website- www.peacecorps.gov for application requirements.
I understand your concern. I think it's another reason to have her apply after college. She'll be a little older and have a bit more life experience under her belt.
When I was in Gabon, we had Ebola break out twice. I was evacuated from my post and sent to Libreville, the capital, until things settled down. I know it scared the heck out of my parents, but I was ok. It was very hard on my family having me so far away from home. I was only able to talk to them every other weekend by phone. For many Volunteers these days, depending on where they are posted, they might have regular phone access or email access. Things have changed in the past 10 plus years. Unfortunately, Volunteers do not choose their countries of assignment. You can request 3 different regions, but they put you where they feel you will be best able to help.
I would suggest doing research on the website to see what countries are open right now, where your daughter would like to go, and what she would like to major in in college, so she can start to think about what program she would like to work in. Also, if she has language skills (Spanish or French), they will take that into consideration when placing her. Taking some more language classes in college will only help her transition should she be placed in a country that speaks that language. If she does not speak the language of the area she is placed in, they have a very intensive, immersive language program to teach her what she needs to know. :)
I was placed in a very small village about 10 miles from a regional capital in Gabon. I lived in a mud hut my first year, with no running water or electricity. I LOVED it! I caught rain water from my roof, took baths with a bucket of water, and got to ride a motorcycle to get around. My town had about 100 Gabonese in it. I worked with local farmers to raise fish- Tilapia- and also worked to help them improve their farming techniques. It was VERY challenging, and also very rewarding. I always say it was the hardest and best thing I did (before becoming a parent!). LOL!
I'd be happy to talk to your daughter, should she have any questions she wanted to ask me. Private message me and I can give you my phone number. I live just outside Chicago. Most larger cities and college campuses have a PC recruiting office where she can talk to a recruiter and get more information about how to make herself as attractive a candidate as possible. She will need to be in excellent health (it's the #1 reason people are declined), and fill out an extensive application. Please also let her know that they are very selective, so if she is not chosen, she can either reapply at a later date, or take part in another overseas program to volunteer. Studying abroad while in college is another great experience for her! :)

Good luck to both of you!
T.

One of my friends was in the Peace Corps. He was in Niger for 2 years, and he liked it, except he got every digestive issue possible the first few months he was there. Then he was fine. He had a great time teaching the people there about agriculture, which was one of his majors in college.

I know several people who did Peace Corps and I almost went in my 20s. I've only heard of one, isolated bad experience, but as long as your daughter observes all of the rules and watches her behavior just as she would in the states (i.e. don't put yourself in a bad position away from the group), she should be fine. I'm not implying your daughter would do that, but if she is careful, it should be a fantastic experience for her!

One friend has parlayed her experience into work for The Carter Center and now works for the State Department and is often called upon because she's one of the few people who speak the tribal language of Mali!

Also, the Peace Corps doesn't cost YOU anything and she can check once she turns 18. Depending on what they need, they don't always require a 4 year degree, although they do usually like people to be in their 20s or above with a degree. Sometimes they do take younger people though if it's a particular need or situation they need to fill.

My good friend did this after college and now she does PR for the corps. She LOVED it and is still in contact with people she served with. It's an amazing experience, she was totally safe the entire time. The Peace Corps has people who can completely answer all of your questions and who are willing to guide you through the process. GOod luck! What a cool adventure for your daughter!

A close friend was in the Peace Corps and joined after college. All of the people she went to Lithuania with had college degrees so I'm not sure if that is a requirement or not. She had an amazing experience but it was not always easy and many people dropped out and came home. It's a huge commitment and I'm not sure that there are many 18 year olds who could have handled what she went through. By that I mean being away from family and friends, having to learn a new language and living a very different lifestyle than she was used to. To our knowledge she was never in any danger and she did have internet service most of the time-she took her own laptop with her. It wasn't fast but she was able to keep in touch. She also met and still has several amazing friends both from the Peace Corps and from Lithuania. I would highly recommend it for once your daughter graduates from college. Good luck to you!

no experience except i was at the receiving end: volunteers, human rights workers, NGo employees. you have to know one thing: any place she gets to go, she will be treated better than family. people appreciate, and go out of their way to protect those 'helpers.'
your daughter will love the experience. kudos to you for being a cool mom.

My step nephew did the Peace Corps. It's an awesome experience that develops selflessness and global awareness. I think it's often perceived as an elitist endeavor, because I don't think it's cheap though!

Peace Corps gets better every 5 years or so. Now they are actively recruiting ethnic minorities, gays, seniors, and professionals.