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Community Involvement Center

Mailing Address for Couriers:
Rice University
6100 Main Street, MS-200
Houston, TX  77005

Mailing Address for U.S.P.S.:
PO Box 1892
MS-200
Houston, TX  77251-1892

Campus Physical Location:
Rice Memorial Center
2nd Floor
Center for Civic Engagement Suite

service@rice.edu
Phone: 713-348-4970
Fax: 713-348-5885

Approved Third-Party Providers of International Service Programs

In order to facilitate the involvement of students in international volunteer work, the Community Involvement Center maintains a listing of approved third-party providers. This list is maintained primarily for those students participating in the Loewenstern Fellowships, but is a resource to for all students and student organizations interested in service abroad. A collaborative approval process is in development between the Office of International Programs and the Community Involvement Center for those that wish to work with other providers or establish their own programs. Once finalized, information on the process will be provided to students through the web sites of the Office of International Program, the Community Involvement Center, and the Office of Student Activities.

Agency Description Placements Available

(Loewenstern Fellowship placements in the italicized countries are approved for the specified provider.)
Amigos de las Americas 

amigos
Amigos de la Americas (AMIGOS) builds partnerships to empower young leaders, advance community development and strengthen multicultural understanding in the Americas.

For long-term placements for college students, review the information for "Correspondent Volunteers."
Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay
Child Family Health International 

chfi
Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a global family of committed professionals and students who work at the grassroots level to promote the health of the world community.  Child Family Health International's vision of advancing quality health care for all is achieved through various means, including: Global service learning programs for medical and other health science students that focus on cultural competency in the health setting; Community initiatives that support health care services for underserved communities through local medical professionals and clinics, and Medical supply recovery - Collection and redistribution of recovered and recycled medical supplies. Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, India
Cross-Cultural Solutions 

cross_culture
Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding.  We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations. Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, China, Thailand, India
Global Citizens Network 

gcn
Global Citizens Network recognizes the interdependence of people around the world, and that social and economic injustice, racial and ethnic inequality, and ecological loss affect all people. But through cooperative effort, individuals of all cultures can experience and enhance their ability to make a difference in their community and their world. To foster that cooperation, Global Citizens Network sends short-term teams of volunteers to communities in other cultures where participants immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of the community. Each volunteer team is partnered with a local grassroots organization active in meeting local needs. Global Citizens Network creates a worldwide network of people and organizations committed to addressing global issues. By providing participants the opportunity to learn about the society, knowledge, art and livelihood of other cultures, Global Citizens Network seeks to honor and help preserve those cultures. By providing the resources of participating volunteers and project grants, Global Citizens Network seeks to assist human and community development in those cultures. By creating a network of people and organizations, Global Citizens Network also seeks to enhance participants' impact on issues of local and global concern. Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, Mexico
Global Service Corps 

gsc
Global Service Corps (GSC) is a nonprofit international volunteer organization providing service-learning opportunities for people worldwide to live and work abroad in Thailand and Tanzania. Programs are offered year-round from two weeks to six months. Enjoy a true cultural immersion by staying in a homestay with local families, while working hand-in-hand with local counterparts on community development projects. Personalized service-learning programs, including HIV/AIDS education and prevention, sustainable agriculture, international healthcare, English instruction, Buddhist immersion, begin with week long technical training and orientation sessions, and provide rewarding hands-on challenges for volunteers. GSC also offers long-term internships for students seeking academic credit and a more in-depth service learning experience, as well as career-enhancing fellowship programs for participants with advanced degrees. As an accredited NGO with a complete in-country staff, Global Service Corps has become an established part of each community it serves, and tailors its development programs to offer the most benefit to the community, while providing an unforgettable experience for its volunteers. Thailand
Globe Aware 

globe_aware
Globe Aware seeks to promote lifelong advocates for a better world and to sustain the world's cultural and natural resources. The organization, together with the local community hosts, develops effective local solutions to global problems in non-religious, non-political, multi-international environments. The aim is to expand and foster cross-cultural peace and understanding between Americans and the rest of the world, to preserve culture and promote sustainability. Globe Aware expeditions provide volunteers the opportunity to live and work side by side with a host community. The hosts provide a safe and interesting setting in which to learn, help, and have fun. The volunteers help to empower the host communities in creating renewable, self-sufficient programs. While Globe Aware's financial assistance benefits the community economically, it is actually the involvement and collaboration between the volunteers and community that is the greatest mutual benefit. Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cuba, Nepal, Brazil, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Jamaica, Mexico, China
Habitat for Humanity 

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is a worldwide, grassroots movement with a presence in more than 90 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Multiple Countries in Latin America 

Multiple Countries in Asia 
Orphanage Outreach 

orphan_outreach
Since 1994, over 5000 volunteers have joined Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic.  Individual volunteers from over 100 schools and churches have participated, as have organized teams from many colleges and universities, high schools, and churches.  We work hard to make sure your basic logistical needs are taken care of.  As an individual volunteer or group leader, we don't want you to have to focus on where you next shower, meal, or bus ride will come from.  We want you to focus on what you are there for, to make a difference with the Dominican people. Dominican Republic
Projects Abroad 

projectsabroad
Projects Abroad sends volunteers abroad to over 20 countries to do over 100 different internships and service projects.  Founded in 1992, we have grown to a team of 200 people around the world that sends 3500 volunteers annually.  Volunteers can go at any time, for as long as they wish.  Our most popular programs include: environmental conservation, archaeology and cultural preservation, teaching English, care work in orphanages, as well as medical and nursing projects. Nepal, China, Mongolia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile
ProWorld Service Corps 

proworld
The mission of ProWorld is to promote social and economic development, empower communities, and cultivate educated compassionate global citizens.  ProWorld offers 2-26 week internship, volunteer, and study abroad programs in Latin America.  All programs are based on hands-on community-driven development projects.  We believe that within every project decision and every community interaction there exists the opportunity for ProWorld staff and volunteers to strengthen our mission and practice our core values: commitment, integrity, vision, sustainability, compassion, and success. Peru, India, Thailand, Belize, Mexico
Rice University - Beyond Traditional Borders 

btb2

The mission of the Beyond Traditional Borders Initiative is to foster the creation of globally appropriate health technologies that address the pressing health needs of the developing world. By engaging students through a novel multi-disciplinary educational program, we will challenge them to reach beyond their usual geographic and disciplinary experiential borders and to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to advance such innovative technologies. The program establishes a new curriculum for the middle school, high school and university levels that broadens understanding of disease processes and associated advancements within the health technology field, incorporating this understanding with important world health issues. Furthermore, the program presents real-world global health design challenges to students, encouraging the development of meaningful solutions with the potential to make a real impact today.

Guatemala, Haiti, Botswana, Lesotho
Travel Alive 

Travel Alive
We provide meaningful travel experiences for international volunteers and language students in exchange programs that greatly benefit both the volunteers and the people they meet. Study Spanish, live with a local family, volunteer and fully immerse in communities in Nicaragua and Ecuador. We welcome individuals, groups and families of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels who want to experience life as local families do and hope to make a difference in the lives of others. Nicaragua, Ecuador
WorldTeach 

world_teach
WorldTeach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University that provides opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful contribution to international education by living and working as volunteer teachers in developing countries.  WorldTeach offers summer and year-long programs in American Samoa, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Micronesia, Namibia, Poland, Rwanda, South Africa, and Venezuela. China, Costa Rica, Ecuador