Many experience a sense of frustration and futility when confronted with the horrors that take place around the world, feeling isolated and unable to help. It's hard to know what you can do to change these seemingly distant and awful situations.

Last year, my friend expressed this frustration when we were on our way to a conference on NATO intervention in Kosovo. She suggested that she and a group of other unarmed Americans head to Kosovo to "get in the way." This outrageous, suicidal plan seemed like one of the worst ideas I'd heard in a long time.

But getting in the way is a fundamental to the method used by international organizations committed to nonviolence, like Peace Brigades International (PBI), Witness for Peace (WFP) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Although what these organizations do is far more complicated than simply getting in the way, the core of their work rests on the belief that the presence of unarmed, uninvolved people can be a deterrent.

If you are fed up with merely reading the papers and are ready to launch an international career dedicated to the principles of nonviolence, volunteering for one of these organizations could be an important first step.

Peace Brigades International
PBI sends teams of volunteers into areas of the world afflicted with oppressive and violent conditions, primarily Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia/East Timor and the Balkans. The volunteers live in the communities and escort local activists so they can safely continue their work.

You must be at least 25 years old to volunteer for PBI. You need to be fluent in Spanish for placement in Latin America, English and Bahasa for placement in Indonesia/East Timor, and English for placement in the Balkans. PBI team members share a house that serves as living quarters and office. Food and housing are paid for by PBI. Volunteers also receive monthly stipends that range from $50 to $200, as well as repatriation bonuses upon completing the project. To request more information, fill out the online form.

Witness for Peace
WFP is an organization committed to peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its international work is concentrated in Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia and Mexico. WFP volunteers design educational programs for groups of visitors from the US, in addition to conducting research on US policies and local living conditions and providing thorough journalistic documentation.

In order to volunteer for a two-year term, you must be at least 21 years old and fluent in Spanish. Volunteers receive a monthly stipend of $170, as well as vacation pay, health insurance, dental care, room and board and all work-related transportation costs. At the end of the term, volunteers receive a repatriation stipend of $1,200. You can download a copy of the application, which involves a whopping 12 essays and 3 recommendations.

American Friends Service Committee
AFSC is a Quaker organization, though it is bound less by concrete religious values than by a profound optimism, basing its work on the value of each person and the faith of love overcoming violence and injustice. The organization has projects throughout the world and only maintains about 30 positions for Americans overseas, none of which are entry-level. The bulk of their international positions are held by locals, however, the AFSC Web site is a valuable resource for those embarking on international careers dedicated to nonviolence. The Quaker Information Center, contains 16 lists that encompass hundreds of international opportunities.

Safety Risks
You could safely assume that the act of getting in harm's way might involve some danger. It's true -- this sort of international volunteer work can be risky. The PBI Web site lists a couple of serious incidents. In 1989, three PBI volunteers were stabbed in their arms and chests in Guatemala. In El Salvador, five volunteers were arrested, and one was badly beaten. These incidents are rare, but possible. Anyone considering this sort of work should consider the risk involved.

Don't Just Get in the Way...
Peace Brigades International, Witness for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee are just three of many organizations that could provide a springboard into international careers committed to nonviolence. But before starting such a career, you must research your destination thoroughly.

To attempt to better a situation that you know little about would be a grave mistake. Before you set off with a sword -- even if it is the healing sword of nonviolence -- make sure you are an expert on your destination. As Martin Luther King Jr., said in a letter from a Birmingham jail in 1963, "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."