Before you apply you should consider whether volunteering for AHED – UPESED is right for you. Working in a developing country requires that you are willing to adapt to a new culture. The living and working conditions that you are used to at home may not be duplicated in your host institution and country. We will assure that housing meets minimum conditions of comfort, electricity, indoor plumbing, adequate furnishings and kitchen equipment, but these may not be up to familiar standards. Similarly, you must be comfortable with unfamiliar food, social conventions, and physical environments. Health services will be available, but might not be up to standards to which you are accustomed. Travel and health insurance will be provided to cover your medical expenses in country and your flight home in case of emergency.

You will be working for a host institution or ministry of education, and in most cases, they will be paying you a local salary and providing accommodations. You will be expected to meet the same working conditions as your local colleagues concerning hours of work, relationships with your superiors and fellow workers, vacations, etcetera. The details of this will be spelled out in the job descriptions of the projects.

We are looking for people who are eager and able to work and live in a culturally different environment. AHED - UPESED welcomes applications from people with disabilities and will make every effort to place these applicants consistent with the capacity of host countries in the developing world to accommodate particular disabilities.

If you are interested in volunteering, you should apply six to eight months before you expect to leave on assignment. We shall contact you immediately to let you know that we have received your application. It can take up to two months for AHED – UPESED to assess your application, and if the project is a joint project, another two months for CUSO - VSO to assess your application and four months for AUF to access your application.