Greenheart Club for Career Advancement Program Participants
As a CCI Intern/Trainee you have the opportunity to be a part of the Greenheart Club. The Greenheart Club allows you to take your exchange experience a step further by getting involved in community service and the volunteer movement in the United States. When you track your volunteer or project hours in the CCI database, you can earn rewards.
Here's what you need to know about the Greenheart Club:
- How does the Greenheart Club work?
- What are the Greenheart Grants and Awards for the Greenheart Club?
- How do you earn hours for the Greenheart Club?
- How do you log volunteer hours in the database?
- Questions?
1. Sign up for the Greenheart Club in your online CCI account: www.cci-exchange.org/online
2. Get connected with Greenheart through the Greenheart Club Facebook Group and by sending an email to Greenheart at greenheart@cci-exchange.org for help finding volunteer opportunities.
3. Volunteer or do a Greenheart project. Get involved in your new community and make a difference.
4. After you volunteer or do a project, enter your hours in your CCI online account to receive Greenheart Grants and prizes.
5. Earn Rewards. The more you hours you log the better the prize.
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| Program shorter than 6 months |
Program longer than 6 months |
Award |
| 10 hours |
10 hours |
Receive a Greenheart Certificate + letter of recommendation and be featured on the blog. |
| 20 hours |
50 hours |
Eligible to apply for $200* grant to do a Greenheart project in their home country or host community. |
| 40 hours |
100 hours |
Eligible to apply for $400* grant to do a Greenheart project in their home country or host community. |
* Students must submit a project proposal for approval before receiving grant funding. Project needs to be completed within 3 months of receiving project funding.
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Volunteer in Your Community
Volunteering is unpaid work that you can do outside of your intern/trainee placement which can either help the environment, or help individuals in your community. Some examples of possible volunteer activities include helping to keep a local park clean, helping to build homes for families who need them, or working with a local soup kitchen to help feed those in the community who are hungry.
How to Find a Volunteer Opportunity: Finding a volunteer opportunity with a community organization in your host community can be a challenging task, but it can be done. The best way to find an organization is to:
- Ask your local community contacts including friends, your host organization or anyone you know in the community if they have recommendations on a nonprofit or other type of organization that is doing good in your community. Tell them your interests whether they are working with kids, the environment or another cause. Once they give you ideas, call or email the organizations to set up a meeting to start volunteering. It is important that you explain who you are and your special exchange experience to the organization.
- If you do not receive any recommendations, you can also do Google searches with your host community name + "volunteer". You will likely find some organizations that you can contact by researching online.
- If you cannot find a place through your community contacts or online, we can also do research to help you. Email greenheart@cci-exchange.org and we will help you locate a volunteer opportunity.
What happens if you cannot find a volunteer organization? You can organize a volunteer activity on your own! Some ideas for individual volunteer activities include: picking up trash around city hall, doing a river or stream clean-up, planting trees in your community, or developing a community garden. You have the freedom to choose any activity you see needed in your host community.
How many hours: Dependent on the number of volunteer hours you complete.
Type of skill: The CCI participants who are not afraid to take initiative and contact local organizations to find volunteer opportunities will be the most successful.
Greenheart Project: Plan an Environmental or Socially Conscious Event in your Host Community
Plan it at your business, a local organization, or outdoors in nature. Invite one local environmental or social expert to speak about an issue facing your community. Examples can include pollution, homelessness, and other social issues. Send a two page summary about your project, along with five photos of the event to Greenheart.
How many hours: Worth 10 volunteer hours.
Type of skill: If you are in an area where it is difficult to find a volunteer opportunity or you just want to plan your own event, this is the option for you. You can contact local organizations to find a speaker, talk to your friends and get them to come to the event, and you can raise awareness about a cause in your community.
Greenheart Project: Essay, Photo or Painting Theme
You can write an essay, submit a photo collage, or create a painting project. You must send in the final project to Greenheart (greenheart@cci-exchange.org). In each project, be sure to write or illustrate three things you have learned during your time in the United States. Here are some ideas: What surprised you? What interested you? Who did you meet? This can include anything you learned while volunteering, or just throughout your Work and Travel experience in general.
How many hours: Worth 5 volunteer hours.
Type of skill: This project is ideal for creative minds. If you are an artist or a writer, take advantage of these skills to earn some volunteer hours!
CCI Video Contest
Create a video that captures the essence of your Intern/Trainee experience in the U.S.! How did CCI's intern/trainee experience affect you? Show us the people and places that made your program unforgettable! The video should be no longer than 3 minutes. The winning entry will be entered in the WYSE Work Abroad "Expand Your Horizons" Video Contest and have a chance to receive US$ 2,000 as a prize! Learn more at www.wyseworkabroad.org.
How many hours: Worth 5 volunteer hours.
Type of skill: Do you like working with computers, taking photos, and capturing video? If so, enter this contest to win prizes and show off your talents. Remember, be artistic. Use music, photos and videos to tell us about your experience in the U.S.
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Step 1: Enter your Username and Password in your CCI online account.
Step 2: Click on "Volunteer Hours" under the Greenheart Club icon (you must first join the Greenheart Club before you can log hours).
Step 3: Fill out the information on the screen and click "save".
- If you are volunteering with an organization: fill out all the information as it appears on the screen.
- If you are volunteering on your own, that is, for every volunteer activity that you complete which does not involve an organization, you still must fill out every section in the box where you log your hours. Instead of writing the organization, input the location your volunteered at, and for the supervisor information, input a friend or co-work that can verify you did the volunteer hours on your own (you will need to include their name, phone and email).
- If you are doing a project, email us the report or photos, as requested by each Greenheart Project (see details above) and we will input the hours for you.
Email greenheart@cci-exchange.org.