The Global Citizen’s Network is a really interesting organization that takes normal people out of their very normal lives and gets them immersed in indigenous cultures all around the world. Folks travel to Africa, Asia, and Latin America and help on grassroots projects that local people are running to meet their communities needs. Teams of 6-12 people live and work in the community for around three weeks.

From their site

GCN Coordinates Community-Driven Development Projects
Global Citizens Network sponsors teams of volunteers wishing to learn from and work with people in other cultures. Each team visits a developing community where local people are involved in grassroots efforts to meet their human and community needs while preserving their culture and traditions.

Participants have the opportunity to experience life in another culture by living with local people, eating local foods, and experiencing local hardships and triumphs. Volunteers are instructed in language, social structure and issues, agriculture, industry, and arts. Many partner communities offer insight into specific issues or trends such as environmental protection, women in development, and traditional medicine.

Website:http://www.globalcitizens.org