Welcome to the Map for Change! This community-created resource highlights volunteer opportunities at US diplomatic posts overseas, plus the DC area. Foreign Affairs employees and family members actively give back to their community and show the world the best of the American spirit of volunteerism. Supported by the Cox Foundation, the Map’s mission is to support and promote volunteerism as a form of diplomacy. AAFSW celebrates volunteerism with the annual Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA). Please explore the map, read our case studies, and submit volunteer opportunities you know about. Thank you for visiting and contributing to the Map for Change! |
AFRICA (AF) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information
American Employee and Recreation Association (AERA) - U.S. Embassy Djibouti: The AERA commissary is a true focal point for the community and the line out the door on the days it is open is a testament to its importance to us all. In addition to being a shop, the commissary is a social gathering place where people can touch base with others, interact with community members they don’t see regularly, and meet someone new. A 2022 SOSA nominee conducted an audit and discovered anomalies in anticipated shipping fees. Working with the board and personnel at the military base, they developed an accurate picture of the commissary's accounts.
Days for Girls - Ghana: 2021 SOSA Honorable Mention, Jennie Linton volunteered with this organization remotely. While posted in China, she led a volunteer group of Consulate employees and EFMs to create durable, reusable feminine hygiene kits for young women and girls. The kits were given to girls in Africa and India. **Days for Girls supports girls and partner organizations around the globe. Visit https://www.daysforgirls.org/contact-us/ or https://www.daysforgirls.org/where-we-operate/ for more locations
Corpovertice - Guinea: In 2018, family member and 2022 SOSA Honorable Mention, Sonia Carolina Lopez Torres, established a feeding program for over 80 children in a low-income neighborhood in Conakry with members of the Embassy community. Volunteers worked with host government, partnering with a local NGO and local businesses, founded a business to fund the activities, and training local employees.
Pensons A Demain (PAD) - Mali: PAD provides training and support for at-risk youth. Their core program for young, unwed new mothers provides literacy, seamstress and bogolan-making training, and arranges for jobs at the end of the program. PAD also provides food and post-natal care for the mothers and babies during the program. The young mothers start the program with no good prospects and finish with options for the future.
SCORE - Namibia: SCORE uses sport to provide children and youth with valuable skills and opportunities that they need to succeed in life and contribute to their communities.
Cat Spaying Project - Nigeria: A 2022 SOSA nominee worked with a local veterinarian, Dr. Bala Abubakar Muhammad, to create a program to capture, spay, vaccinate, and release stray cats. Reduction in the stray cat population and a reduction in rabies incidents. Veterinary colleges benefit by affording students hands-on experience conducting delicate surgery under the skilled tutelage of their professors.
Bridge2Rwanda - Rwanda: Students and Young Leaders in Rwanda and East Africa B2R runs the Bridge to Rwanda Scholars, a college transition program to help High Achieving Low Income students from Rwanda and East Africa prepare for and attend university abroad. Volunteers can participate in teaching English itself, or a variety of other classes that will help students prepare for higher education, including freshman level college courses, personal development, critical thinking, history, test prep and more.
Diplomatic Spouses Association - Tanzania: DSA partners with many charities in our community through donations and volunteering.
Women Empowering and Entrepreneurship Development Organization (WEEDO) - Tanzania: January 2021, volunteers hosted a virtual fundraising event and raised funds to purchase two sewing machines. Embassy community donated two printers for WEEDO. In June 2021, volunteers applied for, and were awarded, a J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust grant. Volunteers work with WEEDO’s Executive Director to explore options for the NGO to become sustainable.
Dar-ul-Muslimeen orphanage - Tanzania: March 2020, volunteers organized a large fundraising event with the Diplomatic Spouses Association of Dar es Salaam to supply groceries for the orphanage’s 40 children for one month and allow the orphanage to purchase additional furniture that they had urgently needed but could not afford.
Days for Girls, Uganda - Uganda: We increase access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating Social Entrepreneurs, mobilizing volunteers and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls.
Raising Up Hope Uganda - Uganda: RUHU supports street children in Kampala. They provide education and an orphanage home for children who have been living on the streets. Additional website and facebook infor: www.raisinguphopeforuganda.org and Raising Up Hope for Uganda on Facebook.
Appleseed Community Center - Zambia: A self-sufficient social enterprise offerong a safe and nurturing place off the streets of the Bauleni Township. It provides a place for children and adults to read, study, socialize, play games, learn on computers and have a free lunch 5 days a week. They also provide entrepreneurial opportunities for the young adults from the community.
Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project - Zambia: Chikumbuso is a collective of individuals forming a grassroots community project in Ng'ombe, Zambia. We are all members of the community-students, single mothers, widows, grandmothers, volunteers, and employees. There is also a school that educates 500 students in grades k-7 and they serve lunches to the students every school day.
Sisters of Charity - Uganda: Orphanage.
Chance4All - Uganda: Chance4All aims to be the facilitator between children with educational needs and sponsors, including local companies, willing to help reduce the number of children who are out of school in Lusaka.They offer educational support and mentorship to students they sponsor.
EAST ASIA (EAP) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information
Days for Girls, Australia - Australia: Days for Girls Australia is a registered Australian not for profit and is a Country Affiliate with Days for Girls International. Volunteers across Australia mobilize to increase access to menstrual products and vital health information for women and girls around the world.
Women's International Group Cambodia - Cambodia: We are an active group who bring a diversity of resources and experiences together for social, cultural and educational enhancement. We raise funds and donate these via grants to worthy community projects in Cambodia.
Days for Girls, New Zealand - New Zealand: Days for Girls New Zealand is a registered not for profit in New Zealand and is a Country Affiliate with Days for Girls International. Volunteers across New Zealand mobilize to increase access to menstrual products and vital health information for women and girls around the world.
American Club Association Board, Hanoi - Vietnam: Foreign Affairs employees and EFMs have volunteered their time to serve as board members.
Hanoi International Women's Club - Vietnam: The Hanoi International Women’s Club (HIWC) is a voluntary group whose membership is open to women and men with foreign passports living in Hanoi. In the past, US Embassy spouses have been board members of this organization. The American Embassy hosts an American table at the annual charity bazaar.
Keep Hanoi Clean - Vietnam: Through our grassroots work with local communities and hands on approach to clean up events, KHC continues to motivate, inspire and educate in the environmental protection space. Hanoi Helping Hands has partnered with KHC in the past for clean up events.
The American Center Hanoi - Vietnam: The American Center Hanoi always welcomes American employees and family members to volunteer their time to share with young Vietnamese adults things about America.
Hanoi Helping Hands - Vietnam: Hanoi Helping Hands is an umbrella organization in the American Embassy that supports multiple charities in/around Hanoi including orphanages, shelters for homeless and trafficked children and the environment.
EUROPE (EUR) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information
NEAR EAST AFRICA (NEA) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information.
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA (SCA) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information.
WESTERN HEMISPHERE (WHA) - Click here to access the full listings and contact information