The World Computer Exchange (WCE) is currently recruiting for two volunteer service trips to Africa: Tanzania and Kenya. Both trips are scheduled to start on July 10 and return July 26. Volunteers need one or more of these skills: using the Internet in education, network troubleshooting, computer repair training, website development and Linux LTSP thin-client lab installation. WCE also seeks help researching and developing plans for appropriate computer disposal in these countries.
Volunteers need to speak English. In most cases, volunteers need to be at least 21 years old. The WCE sites for these trips have more information about application procedures.
Volunteers must pay for all travel, accommodation, administrative and volunteer-support costs themselves. Costs range from $2,615 to just over $3000, depending on which countries to which the volunteer is traveling. Accepted volunteers for the trip are welcomed to encourage donations from friends, family and colleagues to WCE to cover the costs of his or her trip.
For those who think it's wrong to have to pay to volunteer overseas: it is much more beneficial to local communities to use funds to hire local people than to use those resources to bring in an outside volunteer. Volunteers from outside of a community are often needed to fill gaps in local skills and experience, as is the case with WCE's project sites, but it's not cost-effective for most organizations to pay for someone to come only for a few weeks or months. If you want a short-term volunteering assignment, be prepared to pay for at least your travel and accommodations, so that no funds are taken away from the local community.
More information about volunteering abroad with other organizations.