Frequently Asked Questions

Fellows must commit to a minimum of nine months of service with their NGO. If the NGO is interested, fellows will be able to extend their volunteer placement beyond nine months. AJWS will cover stipends for up to a total of one year of volunteer service. In some cases, fellows may be able to transition to AJWS Volunteer Corps and continue work with their NGOs after completing the fellowship.

Stipends will cover basic cost of living. Should fellows spend modestly, they will be able to live on the stipend provided to them.

AJWS expects all fellows to attempt to reach the $1,000 fundraising goal. World Partners staff are happy to speak with anyone concerned about reaching this goal.

While there are no minimum or maximum age requirements, applicants need to have an undergraduate degree and should self-identify as recent college graduates and young professionals. Programming will be geared toward those in the initial stages of their career (i.e. early-mid 20s).

Fellows will be able to request housing with private kitchens so that they can cook their own food. It is difficult to obtain food products that are certified kosher in most locations, but vegetarian ingredients can be obtained easily in most locations.

Yes. AJWS informs NGOs that volunteers are not required to work on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. During group programs, AJWS will ensure that programming addresses the religious needs of those in the group.

AJWS provides a number of avenues of support for fellows: AJWS Field Officers and AJWS Country Representatives are in constant contact with fellows throughout their assignments. AJWS staff in New York also support fellows from a distance. Fellows are responsible for locating social support networks through colleagues at their NGOs and other people they meet in their area of service. Depending on location, volunteers can also serve as a support network for one another.

Yes, you will be able to coordinate your travel plans directly with the AJWS travel agent. If you are traveling after your volunteer placement, you must return to the U.S. for the closing domestic conference.

If you cannot attend the closing conference because you are still volunteering with your NGO, you can attend the closing domestic conference the following year.

You should apply for World Partners if you are interested in long-term volunteer service combined with study and reflection. You should apply for Volunteer Corps if you can provide skills training and technical consultancy, or if you can provide support services to an NGO for a minimum of two months. This generally means that recent college graduates do not qualify for the Volunteer Corps. Some applicants may qualify for both programs and should consider current program locations of World Partners, length of commitment and level of interest in the educational component to help them decide in which program they would most like to participate.