How you can help - volunteer

Volunteer opportunities

CFCA offers many opportunities to

volunteer internationally, locally in your own community and at the Kansas City headquarters.

Volunteer at CFCA headquarters

CFCA in Kansas City gladly accepts individuals, youth groups and service organizations willing to assist with operations at CFCA headquarters. Our local volunteers help process those precious letters from sponsored friends. Contact us for more information about 

volunteering at the Kansas City                 CFCA volunteers in Kansas City prepare child letters to mail to sponsors.

headquarters.

Volunteer in your own community

CFCA advocates help spread the word about how people of good will can promote dignity for all by building a relationship with a sponsored child, youth or aging person. Read more about opportunities to help within your own local community or contact our advocacy coordinator for additional information.

"Everything is God's to give and to take away, so share what you've been given, and that includes yourself."

                                                                                                                     - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Volunteering abroad is a wonderful way to answer the Gospel call to serve the poor and experience everyday life in another culture. CFCA seeks to place volunteers at project sites according to where we have a need and resources to support volunteers. For this reason, we have a limited number of volunteer positions available in Latin America,                    Former volunteer Bart Winter and his Honduran soccer team practice.

Asia and Africa.                        

CFCA international volunteer requirements

Overseas volunteers must serve a minimum of one year. Because it usually takes some time to become accustomed to a new culture and to learn the work of the project site, we do not offer short-term or summer volunteer opportunities.

The most important skill required to serve as a CFCA volunteer is a desire to serve and live with the poor. CFCA volunteers strive to walk with the poor and understand the obstacles they face. Responsibilities may include teaching, translating (Spanish - English), child care, health care or other work supporting the sponsorship program. Previous volunteer experience is helpful, and Spanish language skills are required for projects in Latin America.

Expenses and living arrangements

Volunteers are responsible for travel, health insurance and personal needs. The average cost for a 12-month period in Latin America would be about $3,500. These costs increase for Asia and Africa. Most volunteers recruit their own sponsors through family, friends, church communities, schools, etc. Room and board is sometimes provided by the project, often in a religious community, in parish or retreat housing, or with families. While Catholic affiliation is not required, a volunteer must be comfortable living in Catholic religious or lay communities.

How to become an overseas volunteer

To become a volunteer you must complete and return CFCA’s volunteer application and submit references to the CFCA international volunteer coordinator. Once your application is received, you may be contacted for a phone interview. After the phone interview, volunteer candidates may be invited to an additional interview and two-day discernment and orientation program at CFCA headquarters in Kansas City. There volunteer candidates will visit with the CFCA staff, learn more about CFCA's work and the volunteer program. Volunteers are responsible for their own travel to the Kansas City office. For an application or more information, please contact the volunteer coordinator at 1-800-875-6564 or 913-384-6500 or online.

Current overseas volunteers

Danielle Pollock

Danielle (Dani) Pollock is volunteering with CFCA for a year at the Santa Rosa de Copan project in Honduras. She began her service in September 2008.

Read Dani's blog.

Patrick Bommarito

Patrick is volunteering with the CFCA Sololá subproject at the Hermano Pedro project in Guatemala. He began his service in September 2009 and plans to volunteer for one year.

Read Patrick's blog.

Jeri Blanch

Jeri is volunteering with the CFCA Tizimin subproject at the Merida project in Mexico. She began her service in November 2009 and will be volunteering for 6 to 9 months.

Read Jeri's blog.

Recent overseas volunteers

Bart and Annie Winter

Bart and Annie Winter volunteered with CFCA in Ocotepeque, Honduras in 2008.

Read Bart and Annie's blog.