UBELONG Campus Leaders Program Unveiled

Online, November 1, 2010 (Newswire.com) - UBELONG was founded by university professors and recent university graduates, and we work with universities in Washington, DC and throughout North America. We know firsthand the incredible mix of creativity, energy and idealism university students posses.

The UBELONG Campus Leaders program empowers students to realize their leadership potential by bringing classmates together to volunteer abroad. UBELONG Campus Leaders recruit a team of eight or more of their classmates and, with our continual support, organize a trip to volunteer together in a UBELONG Immersion location. As a reward for their leadership, UBELONG Campus Leaders do not pay the UBELONG placement and program fees.

To become a UBELONG Campus Leader, please follow these steps:
1. Make sure you meet the basic requirements:

-At least 18 years old.

-Enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate university program (students from all countries are welcome).

2. Send us an email at [email protected]. Type "UBELONG Campus Leaders" in the subject line of your email and tell us the following:

-Your first and last name.

-Your age.

-Your university, degree and expected graduation date.

-In two or three sentences, why you want to become a UBELONG Campus Leader and for what UBELONG Immersion location you would like to recruit a team of your classmates.

3. Within 72 hours, we will pair you with a UBELONG Mentor, a member of our team who will work closely with you throughout your UBELONG experience. Your Mentor will contact you to schedule an introductory meeting. If you are in DC, you can meet your Mentor in person. If not, you will talk on the phone or Skype. The conversation is informal and relaxed, and an opportunity for you to further discuss your plans to recruit a team. Your Mentor will answer any questions you may have and offer relevant advice.

4. After your introductory meeting, your UBELONG Mentor will send you a Campus Leader Briefing. The briefing goes over the nuts and bolts of being a Campus Leader, and offers you further information about the UBELONG projects and development issues that exist in the country where you would like to volunteer.

Once you have reviewed the briefing, contact your UBELONG Mentor so you can schedule a follow-up conversation. The conversation is also informal and relaxed, and together you will determine the location and project(s) for which you will recruit a team. As always, your Mentor will also be available to answer your questions and offer advice.

5. Recruit your team and, once you have recruited eight or more classmates, work with your Mentor to sign up your team and go through the pre-departure preparation process. This includes coordinating logistical aspects of your experience such as airport pickup and housing requirements, as well as going through your Preparation Briefing and conducting a group Safety Meeting with your Mentor.

6. Like any UBELONG volunteer, once you and your team begin your placement you will be fully supported by your UBELONG Mentor and the global UBELONG network. When you return home you will also have access to the myriad of contests, fundraising, networking and scholarship opportunities available to UBELONG Alumni.

Frequently asked questions:
What are the benefits of becoming a UBELONG Campus Leader?
If you successfully recruit eight or more of your classmates, we will waive your placement and program fees for the UBELONG Immersion project you select to join with your team.

What is my role as a Campus Leader?
As a Campus Leader your role is to recruit your classmates and be the leading voice of your team when communicating with us. Like any UBELONG volunteer you and your team receive all the benefits of becoming part of the UBELONG network. From working with your UBELONG Mentor to receiving the continual support of the in-country staff, a support system is already in place to make your experience a safe, enjoyable and meaningful one.

As a UBELONG Campus Leader, what are my remaining expenses?
Airfare, travel medical insurance, visas and any other miscellaneous spending like snacks, souvenirs and taxi fares.

With regards to airfare, like all UBELONG volunteers you are eligible to receive humanitarian flight discounts through our partnership with Fly for Good. To learn more, visit the FAQ section.

Can I be a UBELONG Campus Leader with another person?
For every eight members of a team there can only be one UBELONG Campus Leader. However, if you become a UBELONG Campus Leader with another person and together you recruit a team of sixteen classmates, then the two of you can be Campus Leaders and receive the Campus Leader benefits.

As a UBELONG Campus Leader, who can I recruit for my team?
The UBELONG Campus Leaders program aims to empower students to realize their leadership potential on campus, so we prefer that your team is composed of classmates from your university. However, we do make exceptions on a case by case basis (e.g. someone's boyfriend or girlfriend goes to another university; your professor; your parent; etc). Please contact us to request an exception.

Where can the team that I recruit go?
Your team can go to any of the locations where we have Immersion projects. Team members can either volunteer across different projects or volunteer together. For example, if your team goes to Quito, Ecuador then some of you can work on education projects while others work on health projects. Or, if you like, everyone can work together on the same project. The only requirement is that your team goes to the same location and for the same amount of time.

Can my team live together?
Yes, in most cases your team can live together in the same family stay or volunteer house.

What if I can't recruit a team of eight people?
It's OK! What is important is that you tried and gained the experience of doing so. You can try again in the future, and, remember, you can always volunteer on a UBELONG project alone or with a group smaller than eight people.

To learn more about UBELONG, please visit www.ubelong.org.