Volunteer Abroad Online Application

Application For Global Impact Corps

Application Process and Important Instructions

Unite For Sight accepts applications on a rolling application deadline. The first qualified applicants are accepted, so we advise that you apply as soon as you decide that you would like to participate. Be sure to first read complete details about the Unite For Sight programs at Program Requirements & FAQ, and you can see all available programs at Dates & Locations. If you have further questions, please contact ELin@uniteforsight.org

This application allows you to share your interests and motivation with Unite For Sight, and you will have an opportunity to watch several videos and films so that you can learn more about Unite For Sight's programs.

A decision on your application will be made within 3 days of receipt of your application and recommendations. Successful applicants to Unite For Sight submit thoughtful short essays that demonstrate dedication and commitment to the volunteer opportunity. Good letters of recommendation are also necessary for acceptance. Accepted Global Impact Fellows demonstrate intellectual curiosity, an interest in global health, cultural competency, integrity, humility, respect for supervisors, cooperative disposition, dedication, and commitment.

Application Steps

Review Program Requirements & FAQ and Dates & Locations.
Submit this online application.
Submit the $55 application fee (the fee and additional donations fund sight-restoring eye care in developing countries).
Two professional or academic recommendations must be sent directly from recommenders using our online form. Recommenders will receive a link to the online form automatically upon your submission of this application. The recommendations cannot be submitted on the form until your application is received.

Unite For Sight does not share nor sell personal information.

Application

Be sure to save your essay responses in a document on your computer to avoid losing your work.

Section I:

What Application Type Best Describes You?
First Name, Middle Initial, and Last Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Country:
Telephone:
Email:
Birth Date:
Age:
Sex:
Title:
Current University Affiliation (if any):

Degrees Held (please list all):

Please list universities that you have attended as well as dates of enrollment:

Please specify how you heard about Unite For Sight. Be specific if possible.

Languages spoken and level of fluency (English essential):

Please list any existing medical or health conditions, physical or mental.

Do you have any special eating restrictions? If you have food allergies, please discuss the severity.

Please list the program date(s) for which you are applying. For how many weeks would you like to participate?

To which program location(s) are you applying? Hold CTRL button to select as many as apply.

Why have you chosen the specific program location(s) for which you are applying? What is your first choice program location?

What are/were your major fields of study during undergraduate and/or graduate school? Select as many as apply.

What is your primary reason for wanting to participate as a Unite For Sight volunteer?

Resume/CV filename to attach (Must Be Word Document/.Doc File):

Section II: Short Answer

Have you ever been to a developing country before? If yes, please list all locations. What was the goal of your time there? (i.e. travel, development work, etc.) If you volunteered or were employed abroad, please provide a complete list of the organizations or employers with which you worked.

Section III: Short Essays

(please be thorough, but succinct. Recommended range of 2-4 paragraphs for each question)

1. Why would you like to be a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow?

2. Please watch the Unite For Sight films listed and discuss how each film has influenced your interest in becoming a Global Impact Fellow.

a) Unite For Sight Program Film

Eye Care Outreach Programs in Accra and Kumasi Region, Ghana Program (Run Time: 9 Minutes)

b) Unite For Sight Global Impact Corps and The Role and Impact of Global Impact Fellows

i) Dr. Rose Speaks About Volunteering Abroad (Run Time: 10 Minutes)
ii) Please select at least one:
- Global Impact Corps in Accra Region, Ghana (Run Time: 8 Minutes)
- Global Impact Corps in Patna, Bihar, India (Run Time: 8 Minutes)
- Global Impact Corps in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Run Time: 5 Minutes)

c) Unite For Sight Partner Eye Clinics Discuss Unite For Sight Programs and Volunteers

Discussion With Unite For Sight's Partner Indian and Ghanaian Ophthalmologists (Run Time: 20 Minutes)

3. Unite For Sight is the world's leader in socially responsible, effective volunteering abroad. The Global Impact Corps provides Fellows with an immersive, structured global health training experience while they work with local eye doctors to eliminate patient barriers to care.

Please read Unite For Sight's Philosophy of International Eye Care, Unite For Sight's Volunteering Ethics and Volunteer Best Practices, and Ethics, Quality, and Equality: Unite For Sight.

a) Required For All Applicants: How have your past experiences in health, teaching, leadership, or travel impacted your interest in Unite For Sight's Global Impact Corps? What does being involved in ethical, high quality and high impact volunteering mean to you? How do you anticipate that participating in the Global Impact Corps will impact your interests and engagement in global health?

b) Optional: If you have an interest in pursuing research or an entrepreneurial project, please briefly discuss your interests.

c) Special Additional Question For Ophthalmologists Only: If you are an ophthalmologist applying to participate in Ghana, please discuss your experience and capabilities with Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS).

Section IV

Have you ever received disciplinary action from an academic institution or employer, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in your probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution or employer?
Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? Are you now under charges for any offenses?

Instructions for Letter of Recommendation

When you submit your application, your recommenders will receive an automatic e-mail from Unite For Sight requesting them to complete their letter of recommendation through our online form.

Acceptable professional references include college instructors, academic advisers, former or current employers, work supervisors, and volunteer supervisors. Personal references (friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, clergymen, fellow students, and student leaders of a student organization) are not acceptable references, will be disregarded, and will result in automatic rejection of the application. College students should not submit a letter from a high school teacher or from a supervisor during high school.

You must submit a professional university-issued, corporation-issued, or organization-issued email address for your letter of recommendation writer, and the email address must match their professional affiliation. Recommendations submitted from anonymous services (i.e. GMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Comcast, AOL, and others) cannot be accepted for the recommenders. Any recommendations submitted from anonymous email services will be scrutinized for authenticity. If authenticity cannot be confirmed, the recommendation will be denied and the application will be rejected.

Recommender Name #1:
Recommender #1 Email:
Professional Title and Affiliation (Recommender #1):
Your Relationship to Recommender #1:
Recommender Name #2:
Recommender #2 Email:
Professional Title and Affiliation (Recommender #2):
Your Relationship to Recommender #2:

Special Section For Yale University and University of Pennsylvania Students

Unite For Sight welcomes volunteers from all countries and universities worldwide. This is a special section for Yale University undergraduate students and University of Pennsylvania medical students.

Are you a student at Yale University?

Are you a student at University of Pennsylvania?

Declaration

Application Process

By typing my name below, I certify that all information in my application is complete, factually true, honestly presented, and my own work. I understand and agree that an offer of admission may be rescinded at any time should Unite For Sight determine that I misrepresented or omitted material information from my application.
I hereby waive my right of access to the letters of recommendation.
I confirm that my recommenders are professional references, not personal references, as defined in the "Instructions for Letters of Recommendation".
I certify that all information submitted by my recommenders is authentic.
I understand that I will pay a $55 application fee that will help to fund eye care in developing countries. When I click submit, I will be directed to a payment page where I will submit the application fee.
I understand that I will be notified about the decision on my application within 3 days of receipt of my application and letters of recommendation.
Upon submission of my application, I will immediately receive an email confirming receipt. The email will also have a copy of my application responses.
When I submit my application, my letter of recommendation writers will immediately receive an automatic email from Unite For Sight requesting them to complete their letter of recommendation through our online form.

Volunteer Process

I have read the Program Requirements & Details section of this website.
I have reviewed and accept all pre-travel and volunteer requirements discussed on the Program Requirements & Details section of this website.
I understand that Unite For Sight provides an easy-to-use personal login page so that I can keep track of my pre-departure requirements, and access all relevant program-specific details and materials, program manuals, my personalized fundraising webpage, program phone numbers, important links, as well as the email addresses of fellow volunteers and of alumni volunteers.
I know that it is obligatory to purchase security and medical assistance insurance coverage through International SOS.
I know that I am responsible for all travel arrangements, visa, and vaccine requirements.
I understand that I will be responsible for lodging, airfare, food, and any additional expenses. I have reviewed the estimated living, lodging, and food expenses for the program site(s). I understand that the lodging and food expenses are established by third parties who are not under contract with Unite For Sight, and Unite For Sight cannot control changes.
I understand that smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed at the program site.

I have read and accept the above declarations.

Type Name (Signature):
Type Date:

If you would like to qualify for the UCS Unite For Sight-Yale internship, Yale requires that you volunteer for at least 8 weeks during the summer. If you select the 8 week option, you will be eligible for Yale's ISA funding. If you are a Yale student and prefer not to volunteer for 8 weeks, you can apply to be a standard Unite For Sight volunteer for 7 days or more.
Select volunteer type?