Volunteers from Notre Dame University are embraced into the community.

BRIDGE was started by Peace Corps Volunteers partners who lived for many six years in the villages communities we work. We continue working with village-based organizations by funding their projects and strengthening their ability to implement them.   BRIDGE's Civil Society Volunteer (CSV) program is integral to our mission because while BRIDGE provides seed grants and a regional office for partners to achieve their goals, our volunteers work directly with them and improve the way they operate. Since 2001, volunteers have helped groups strengthen their organizational management skills and increased their networks with groups outside their villages.

Students from Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, MIT, Cambridge, and other universities have taught much needed skills while having the cultural experience of a lifetime. Common assignments of past CSV volunteers included the following types of activities:

· Conducting workshops
· Identifying initiatives
· Designing projects
· Incorporating legal organizations
· Teaching financial management skills
· Leadership training
· Writing funding proposals
 · Conducting capacity evaluations
 · Researching potential funders
· Creating networks
· Researching local resources
· Computer training

Civil Society Volunteer (CSV) Program -- a program for people interested in development projects who wish to play a leadership role and get highly immersed in a local project.   The program includes a volunteer packet of assignment objectives, a local Counterpart who will help assist in achieving goals, workshop stipends for local partners to attend regular meetings, airport pickup, homestays with a local family, and access to the regional office for technical support.   The all-inclusive CSV program fees are $200 a week plus a $100 application fee. This is highly recommended for people who are interested in development but do not have the time to do long term programs like the Peace Corps. Learn more about the CSV program.

Teaching English Volunteer (TEV) Program -- a less development-intensive program for people who still want a fascinating cultural experience. Volunteers in the TEV program live with a local homestay and teach English at the elementary and primary schools.   The program includes airport pickup, homestays, a school supervisor, and access to the regional office.  
BRIDGE's Volunteer Program Prices by Week


4 wks
6 wks
8 wks
10 wks
12 wks
16 wks
20 wks
24 wks
Civil Society Volunteers (CSVs)
$800
$1,100
$1,400
$1,700
$2,000
$2,600
$3,200
$3,800

Teaching English Volunteers (TEVs)
$650
$790
$930
$1,070
$1,210
$1,490
$1,770
$2,050

See pictures and videos of past volunteers

For more information, contact us at: Volunteer@bridgingdevelopment.org