Students say goodbye to job hunt and hello to volunteering

It used to be that students graduated from college ready and willing to join the real world. However with the current state of the economy and job market, students are considering other alternative until the job market opens up. The Peace Corp is one of the many volunteer programs that students are engaging in.

The Peace Corp is a government run program that pays students to take their knowledge and give back to those less fortunate. The volunteer program is a two yearlong commitment with volunteer opportunities all over the world.

The Peace Corp gives students a chance to learn new skills, a new language and have the experience of a lifetime in another country while ultimately giving back to less fortunate. The students volunteer and help with projects that improve conditions in other countries such as health care, education and living conditions.

CU Alum and Peace Core volunteer Yuri Horowitz firmly believes in this path for students. Horowitz said, “You come back with some skills, a language, some experience and you’re hopefully more employable.” He believes the program can also give recent graduates some direction and focus. “The program is hard and you have to be committed, but the things you learn and the things you see make it worthwhile,” said Horowitz.

The Peace Corp accepts volunteers of all ages but they rely primarily on recent graduates. According to the Peace Corps’ top list of 25 large schools producing volunteers, the University of Colorado at Boulder ranks No. 2 in the 2009 rankings. CU has 102 alumni currently serving in the Peace Corp. The University of Washington currently holds the top spot for the year with 104 volunteers.

The Peace Corp and The University of Colorado at Boulder have worked hand in hand since the Peace Corps inception 46 years ago. Overall since the Peace Corps inception, 2,157 CU Alumni have served in the Peace Corp making it the No. 5 school for all time producers of volunteers. The University of California at Berkeley maintains the No. 1 all time rank with 3,371 graduates joining and becoming Peace Corp volunteers since 1961.

While the program gives back spiritually and emotionally to the volunteers, there are also many other benefits. The program includes paid travel to your destination and provides you with living expenses, medical and dental care. It also allows forbearance on student loans and $6,000 after completing your service.