FAQ

Who is Service For Peace?
Service For Peace is an international not-for-profit organization that brings diverse groups together in service in order to cross barriers of race, religion, class, creed, or national origin and address urgent social needs. We advocate service, diversity, community, peace, leadership, partnership, learning, and transformation. For more information about us, please read the About-us drop-down menu above.

What is Global PeaceMakers?
Global PeaceMakers (GPM) is a signature program of Service For Peace that involves youth in volunteer service programs designed to promote understanding, tolerance and intercultural communication, and transform the participants who volunteer, as well as the communities they serve. We form strategic alliances with colleges, government ministries, NGOs and businesses to increase our impact. Our programs provide experiential learning, cross-cultural exchange and include training in leadership, project planning, global citizenship, and social and environmental responsibility.

How long do programs last?
GPM programs typically last between 7-21 days.

How much is the program fee?
Program costs range depending on the host country and complexity of project. Part of the program fee goes towards buying materials for service projects. The average program fee is about $650 for a weeklong project, but can be as high as $900, not including airfare. Service For Peace will assist accepted applicants with fundraising ideas and events. We also have a scholarship fund to which participants are welcome to apply.

What does the program fee pay for?
The Global PeaceMakers program is funded by the volunteer’s program fees. The expenses will cover the services we provide including room and board, ground transportation, workshop and lesson materials, local excursions, some or all of the  materials for the service project and overhead costs.

Do participants need to speak the local language in order to participate?
No! Most programs are conducted in English and if not, there is always a translator available when one is needed.

Do participants need to have previous experience in order to participate?
No! We welcome youth participants from all levels of experience. As long as participants have the desire to serve, learn, and have the experience of a lifetime, we say “come on over!” There is work available appropriate to the abilities and skills of each accepted participant.

What will the accommodations be like?
Participants sleep grouped by gender and by rooms of 2-4 depending on the housing for the project. Some programs have home stay where 1-2 participants stay with a local family. Participants should expect modest settings; past lodging sites include rooms rented at a convent, hostels, religious campsites and elementary schools. We typically eat breakfast and dinner at this site and bring lunch to the worksite. While these sites vary in the comfort level, participants can always expect running water, drinking water, and bathrooms.

What does a typical daily schedule look like?

A typical daily schedule might look like this:
7:30 Wake up
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Depart for worksite
9:30-12:30 Work
12:30-1:30 Break for Lunch
1:30-3:00 Work
3:00-3:15 Break
3:15-4:30 Work
4:30 Depart for lodging
5:00-6:30 Shower/rest/free time
6:30-7:30 Dinner
7:30-9:00 Group activities, special guests, etc.
9:00-9:30 Reflection

What have past participants said about our programs?
“Working with Service for Peace was one of the best experiences of my college career! I not only got to work hands on in the community but I also got to experience the rich culture that the Dominican Republic had to offer. The staff we worked with was incredible, the really made our trip go from a great experience to one that was absolutely amazing; they went above and beyond my wildest expectations. A day doesn’t go by where I don’t think about the DR and how those kids impacted by life and changed me body and soul. The DR will forever be interlinked in my heart and I highly recommend working for Service for Peace and I plan on doing so again in the near future.”

“If you are someone all about meeting great new people, doing incredible service and learning about an invigorating new culture then Service for Peace is the organization for you.”

“This village has opened its heart to me, and the other participants of this international community project. This experience has been like no other. This experience has not only changed my life, but also of the kids of the village. What I did in El Cidral is something I have wanted to do for years in developing countries.”

“The thing which was most moving about our program was the relationships I
created with the participants as well as the kids. Seeing and playing with the kids
day after day really motivated me to work harder and harder, and the support I
got from the participants as well as local volunteers had the same effect. I'm sure
that I won't forget the wonderful relationships that I created with the kids,
participants and citizens of the Dominican Republic. We will hopefully meet again
in the DR in the near future.”