Nearly 65 organizations will meet today for the 25th annual Study, Work and Volunteer Abroad Fair to highlight numerous volunteer, work, travel and study abroad opportunities for students.
Organizations from all over the world will be present, ranging from Semester at Sea in which students hit the seas traveling the world while taking classes, to the Peace Corps, which offers students the chance to volunteer abroad.
\We try to bring in as many organizations for students to interact with international organizations to look at the wide variety of opportunities abroad,"" said Melissa Kaletenbach, director of the Wisconsin Union Travel Center.
The fair also provides limited opportunities for students who are graduating and interested in working abroad. Information is available for students interested in teaching abroad through programs such as English as a second language.
""The fair is an excellent opportunity for students to connect with groups that probably aren't on campus at all during the rest of the school year,"" said UW-Madison senior Aquene Freechild, Director of the Global Connections Committee for Wisconsin Union Directorate.
When considering studying abroad, Freechild looked for a program that would incorporate environmental issues in a French-speaking country but ""nothing like that was around,"" she said. Through the fair, she was able to find a program in Madagascar through the School for International Training that fit her needs.
The Wisconsin Union Travel Center will also have a booth in order to help students with any questions they might have on programs offered by UW-Madison.
Funding for programs depends solely on the organization the student will be dealing with. Study abroad programs often offer students grants and scholarships, while volunteer programs are usually funded by the student, although there are exceptions.
""Sometimes volunteer programs have an application fee the student is responsible for, but the room and board are provided for the student while they are abroad. All programs are different from each other,"" said Katie Carlson, travel adviser at Wisconsin Union Travel Center.
Students who attend the fair may also enter to win a free trip on Lufthansa to anywhere it flies, courtesy of STA Travel, or a free first class Eurail pass courtesy of Rail Europe.
The fair, which is part of UW-Madison's celebration of International Opportunities Month, will be held from 2 to 6 p.m.
