KOICA

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) provides round-trip airfares, moving expenses and funds for adaptation and returning (equivalent to their one-month living allowance).

In addition, KOICA provides volunteers with a living allowance and housing fees. Those amounts vary according to living costs of the country where they are volunteering.

KOICA also provides transition funds at the end of the service to assist returned volunteers’ transition in their home country. During their service, the money accumulates by USD 350 per month. Therefore, if a volunteer completes the two-year service, he/she can receive USD 8,400.

Volunteers receive comprehensive medical benefits from vaccinations and hospitalization to medical evaluations. Also, volunteers can receive medical consultations 24/7 through International SOS.

KOICA provides volunteers with security training before and during the service period so as to prevent potential risks.
KOICA also checks local areas where the volunteers live and work in advance for the volunteers’ safety.

KOICA provides all of the necessary items for the security, such as self-protection equipment, so that they can be prepared in case of possible challenges.

Once a year, KOICA checks the overall degree of safety of the countries to which volunteers are dispatched.
According to the results, KOICA applies to provide security service for the necessary countries.
With this service, volunteers would evacuate to either neighboring countries or to Korea if a natural disaster occurs or the security situation is not secure in that country.

KOICA operates KOV Security Information Center at its headquarters in Korea 24/7.
If there are any emergency situations, but the volunteers cannot get in touch with the regional office or International SOS, with which KOICA has a contract for the security service, volunteers can call the center directly.

KOICA provides up to USD 2,000 during their service to support their activities. Volunteers can purchase items necessary for their activities, such as books, office supplies, etc.

In addition, KOICA presents volunteers with a box of Korean items (e.g., canned food, etc.) to encourage them twice a year for New Year’s Day and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day).

Volunteers can implement a small-scale project costing up to USD 50,000 to support the sustainable development of a local organization, and the project would be financially supported by KOICA.