Frequently Asked Questions - Going Overseas
- Can I defer my loan payments?
- How does the funding and fundraising work? Do GoCorps volunteers raise support?
- What does a typical day look like for a GoCorps Goer?
- What are the benefits of serving with GoCorps?
- Is there an age requirement?
- What skills do I need to have?
- Will I get training before I start?
- Who is eligible to apply for GoCorps?
- What about opportunities in Spanish speaking countries?
- Do I have to be a college or university graduate to be eligible for a GoCorps placement?
- Are goers allowed to host family or friends for visits while they are serving overseas?
- Is dating allowed for GoCorps Goers?
- Is there internet and skype access at GoCorps placement locations?
Going Overseas
There are two potential ways to take care of your student loan payments while you are serving overseas:
- You may qualify to postpone (defer) your loan payments until you return from your two years service
OR - You can raise additional funds to cover your loan payments while you are serving
You may qualify for deferment (postponement) or forbearance during your service. Since educational loans come from hundreds of different banks and institutions (providers), arranging to get your school loan payments deferred or for forbearance should be done directly with your loan provider(s).
In most cases, simply adding your loan payments to your living expenses is how volunteers cover their loan payments while serving overseas. This process usually involves applying with your loan provider to qualify for an 'income based payement schedule.' This will make your loan payments to be no more than $200/mo while your are serving overseas. GoCorps partnering organizations will then help you set your budget to include sufficient funds to cover your loan payments while you are serving overseas.
In addition, learn more about the $5000 loan forgiveness scholarships available for this years' GoCorps goers.
Yes. GoCorps volunteers raise their own financial support. GoCorps volunteers receive professional training on how to raise support during the GoCorps Orientation week and coaching throughout the summer as they are raising the funds for their placement overseas. By following the GoCorps fundraising process, most volunteers have their full funding within ten weeks.
While each GoCorps placement is very different, there are also some very common elements to each GoCorps placement. In each place of service, language learning and developing relationships are two of your core activities. All work and ministry is based off of making friends and developing relationships with locals in the area where volunteers are placed.
Other activities of a typical day for a Goer include:
- Personal devotions
- Team meetings and planning sessions
- Work on the specific project of your two year assignment
- Going to the market to buy some food for dinner
- Hanging out one on one with a new friend to do a Bible exploration study
- Prayer and worship time with co-workers
You will have the opportunity to serve in some of the least reached places of the world, learn skill sets that include language acquisition, cultural sensitivity, and Biblical living among the unreached. Further benefits of GoCorps service include:
>> An expedited process to go from application to overseas in less than seven months (versus the average of 12-18)
>> A single application form that works for all partnering organizations
>> Student loan forgiveness of up to $5000
You must be in your final year of university or a recent university graduate to apply. Most of our applicants are between the ages of 21-30 years old.
For each of the GoCorps tracks of service, your motivation, commitment to service, passion for Christ and a posture of humility are the primary requirements. Previous missions and cross cultural experience or Christian service is helpful. Teamwork, flexibility, and a positive attitude are all important for success overseas. The GoCorps provides eight different tracks through which you could use your gifts and abilities to serve globally:
- Business
- Compassion/Justice
- Engineering
- Media/Arts
- Sports
- Storying
- Teaching
- Universities
Absolutely. All members will participate in GoCorps Orientation (GO) Week as their first step toward going overseas after they've received their overseas placement assignment. This is where you will receive training in raising your funds and your sending team. You willalso receive additional location and track specific training through your sending organization. Once on the field, each GoCorps volunteer will receive ongoing training throughout their two years of service.
In order to apply for a GoCorps placement, you must:
1. Be between the ages of 21-30
2. Have either:
A. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university OR
B. Work and/or education experience that equip you for the track of service you area applying for
3. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
GoCorps accepts applicants from all academic majors, programs, and professional backgrounds and experiences.
There are not any two year service placements listed on the GoCorps website that are in Spanish speaking areas because GoCorps' focus is on the least reached peoples. Although there are great needs among Spanish speaking countries and in Europe, the greatest need is in areas where there is little or no access to the knowing Jesus Christ. Some of the partnering organizations still send people into these areas, but our united focus with GoCorps is the unreached.
Below are a few organizations that have mid and long term ways to serve among Spanish speaking peoples:
- CAM International - http://www.caminternational.org/
- CrossWorld - http://www.crossworld.org/home.html
- SIM - http://www.sim.org/
No, you do not need to have a university degree to be eligible for a GoCorps placement. If you don not have a university degree, you must be at least 21 years old and have work and/or education experience that equip you for the track of service you area applying for.
In most cases, it is possible for GoCorps volunteers to host visitors (family and/or friends) while they are serving.
Yes, dating is allowed. In general, Goers are allowed to date while they are on the field. Because each partnering organization has slightly different policies on dating and other items that affect serving within a team context, the specifics should be discussed with the person who is doing your interview.
The level and quality of internet access is dependent upon each location and track of service. In general, however, most of our locations have consistent internet access for emailing and skyping with friends and family. Part of the ministry that you will be doing in your location will be to keep your friends, family and ministry partnership team informed and praying for you, and this will be done primarily through emails, facebook, blogging and when possible, skype and phone calls.