PRODUCT BOOKLET
www.aiesec.be
THE WORLD IS MORE CONNECTED THAN EVER BEFORE; IT REQUIRES LEADERS WHO CAN WORK TOGETHER AND EMPATHISE. GAIN A NEW APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY AND CULTURE. DEVELOP YOURSELF AND THE WORLD BY VOLUNTEERING ABROAD
We are a global network of young leaders under the age of 30 who strive to better themselves and the communities around them. We are passionate about world issues, leadership development, cultural understanding and experiential learning.
70,000
active members worldwide
200+ young Belgian & Luxembourgers who take a leadership experience abroad with AIESEC
6,000+ professional internship opportunities worldwide
12
local offices in Belgium & Luxembourg
5,000+ partner organisations worldwide
21,000+ international volunteer opportunities worldwide
AIESEC in a Nutshell
AIESEC is a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. We are a non-political, independent, not-for-profit organisation run by Youth and recent graduates of institutions of higher education.
What is Global Volunteer is AIESEC’s 6 – 8 weeks cross-cultural volunteer experience for young people who seek to develop themselves and the world. Discover the art of experiential wanderlust by working with NGOs or on projects directly contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. Open your eyes towards the possibility to build, create, teach, and travel. Grab your backpack, it’s time to go! STIPEND
ENABLER
NGO
Not Paid
DURATION
PRIMARY PURPOSE
Social Impact
6 weeks to 12 weeks
BENEFITS Develop Yourself and the World A cross-cultural volunteer experience for young people who seek to develop themselves and the world.
Cross Cultural Environment Be a local in an unknown environment and experience new cultures by working in a diverse and cross-cultural team. Step out of your box and broaden your horizon, becoming a citizen of the World!
Volunteer Experience
Challenge Yourself Understand more about yourself - your passions, skills and strengths - as you challenge yourself to step into a completely new environment. Our people offer the support to guide your learning, realisations, and self-discovery.
Develop Yourself
Grow and develop by going through Volunteer abroad in NGOs or on projects practical experiences and learning-by doing. that contribute to the Sustainable An intense cross-cultural environment Development Goals. Tackle pressing global allows you to increase your self-awareness issues to create positive impact in local and solution orientation, improve societies. communication skills and make friends. Don’t just travel. Develop the world. Become the best version of yourself!
HOW TO GET STARTED SIGN UP
Once you show interest in our exchange product. Sign up and build your profile. Visit aiesec.be/globalvolunteer to sign up!
SEARCH
Login to opportunties.aiesec.org and filter search results to find the perfect opportunities for you and apply proactively!
INTERVIEW
Sit for an interview with our overseas Project Managers. Show them why you care, ask them questions .
CONFIRM
PREPARE & GO
Attend and official Outgoing Preparatory Seminar. Pack your bags, open your mind and get ready to challenge yourself to be uncomfortable.
Once you get approved to an opportunity, we can start the process of putting things together for your internship experience.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT Be between 18 and 30 years of age. Good level of English Open-minded by new cultures and experience's. Have legal capacity to enter into legal agreements and can travel abroad independently. Read and Understand the AIESEC Exchange Program Policies and has not previously violated these policies.
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT: FEEL GOOD. Bolivia. SDG No 3: Good Health and Well-Being DESCRIPTION: This project aims to provide support to health institutions in order to approach a better health overage and have a quality, integral and multidisciplinary attention in its centers. This project works with different targets but most of all with health institutions for children with special needs. PROJECT: H.E.R.O. Oulu, Finland. SDG No 4: Quality Education DESCRIPTION: Would you like to have an impact on children and teenagers while getting introduced to one of the world's best education systems? You and other international volunteers will plan and execute an interactive project against bullying in the schools using methods such as drama, arts, sports or other ways of selfexpression. The aim of the project is to understand and address underlying problems of bullying, provide life-long tools and change mindsets. You will receive training about the Finnish education system and culture, and learn facilitation skills. PROJECT: SOCIAL WORK IN REFUGEE CAMP. Lebanon. SDG No 10: Reduced Inequalities DESCRIPTION: With the flow of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, the work sought to execute different medical, educational, and livelihood related projects aimed at restoring happiness for the displaced. You’ll learn how to deal with kids who have been through traumatic experiences and also reporting and general NGO work. PROJECT: CLEAN OUR PLATE. Malaysia. SDG No 12: Responsible Consumption and Production DESCRIPTION: Malaysians waste up to 8000 tones of food every day, equivalent to six million people’s feeding capacity. Preventable food waste is the large source of solid waste and a primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions. This project is created to increase awareness, change attitudes and initiate easy and obvious actions of youth towards reducing preventable food waste and fully utilising surplus food, in order them to influence their peers and households." would be stronger. Currently, we are partners with numerous AIESEC entities (please see sample opportunities above) and we strongly encourage all exchange participants to select projects in these countries for: • Faster Processes. • Higher quality exchange experience • Better cultural preparation and support to enable you excel in your volunteer abroad experience. Above we’ve selected four example of internships that are usually available. You can check out more opportunities for free at opportunities.aiesec.org
FEES & COSTS After you have been accepted to ideal opportunity AIESEC helps you settle the administrative process. A contract is signed between you and AIESEC and you are required to pay a product fee of €200 Excl. VAT. After payment, the final Approval takes place. AIESEC does not cover flights, visas, and/or any required vaccination.
PRODUCT FEES = €200 EXCL. VAT AIESEC is a not-for-profit organisation. This fee is taken to cover our administrative processes to keep us financially sustainable so we can continue to provide high-quality leadership experiences.
WHAT ARE YOU PAYING FOR? APPROVAL SUPPORT
Support from AIESEC Local Committee in Belgium and Luxembourg to get you approved to an ideal opportunity and virtual support while you are abroad.
EXCHANGE PREPARATION SEMINAR
Start your leadership development experience and get prepared before you embark.
EXCHANGE SUPPORT
Support from AIESEC Local Committee in Belgium & Luxembourg and the Host Country to assist you during your exchange experience.
VISA APPLICATION
Providing guidance and support, if necessary, for the visa application process.
RE-INTEGRATION SEMINAR
Close off your Global Talent experience and complete your leadership development journey.
COSTS TO CONSIDER
TRAVEL & VISA
FOOD INSURANCE & MEDICAL
ACCOMODATION
TOURISM
NB: Most opportunities are in the developing world. We require flexibility from exchange participants in terms of selecting a project to work on by focusing more on an issue you care about and not the destination.
TESTIMONIALS When I went on an AIESEC volunteering project to Azerbaijan I didn't really know what to expect. In the end I am glad I took the opportunity: it gave me the chance to explore a new region and to get to know its culture, as well as teaching me to be more flexible. But what I will remember most of all are the people: I made friends for life and my host family gave me a second home.
Rebeca Francklin - India
My trip to India was an insane experience. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I was immediately projected in a new world in which you learn all the customs of the country and you live in a new environment, surrounded by internationals and curious but very bounteous locals. I discovered the architectural beauty of India and I tasted delicious dishes and, at the same time, I also become aware of local issues such as gender equality, poverty and pollution. During my stay, I learnt that a change is possible and that it starts in people's mentality. A situation that challenged me through my experience was the sudden awareness when I visited the biggest slum in Asia. Since that day, I understood my personal values, especially the importance of taking action and my opportunity to make a little difference during six weeks. If everyone behaves as a concerned citizen and a leader, things will evolve. The memories made in India will last a lifetime and I simply can’t wait to one day return to uncover more of what this beautiful country holds.
I expected to be placed out of my comfort zone. I thought that the most difficult part of the inter nship would be to gain new friends (which was absolutely not the case). The best thing where the other EPs. In the weekends we all gathered and shared our experiences. The progress we saw with every person was incredible. They provided a stimulating atmosphere where you could personally gr ow. Now, I understand my values , my strengths (and weaknesses) better and I can work on this in the future. Selfknowledge is the beginning of all wisdom.
Faith Njeri - Thailand
Frank - Azerbeijan
Charles Ghesquiere - Thailand
I have always love d kids so I knew that whateve r p roject I would end up doing would have to be kid oriente d. It’s common knowledge that Thailand has some of the friendliest people in the world but e ven that didn’t m ake me any less ne rvous to embark into this six-week journe y, in a totally unknown culture. I obviousl y have to include my m ost memorable experience but I had so m any that narrowing them down seemed impossible; eve ry single day was amazing, filled with unforgettable memories. As one amazing author once said, home is not a place or a lifestyle, but the state of your he art and all the people who take their place in it, and I will eternally grateful that I had the chance to be part of something so beautiful.
Read more stories at: www.aiesec.be/blog
Explore thousands of Global Volunteer opportunities that will help develop yourself and the world APPLY NOW AT
aiesec.be/globalvolunteer
Š2016 For more information.
CONTACT US!
AIESEC in Belgium & Luxembourg Email: internships@aiesec.be www.aiesec.be www.facebook.com/AIESECinBelgium www.twitter.com/AIESECBelgium