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Internet latest forum for volunteer work

When it comes to volunteering, Caitrin Murphy finds satisfaction in spending 10 months helping Tijuana orphans or a Saturday building low-income homes outside Washington, D.C.

But onsite projects aren’t always feasible, so Murphy instead turned to the Internet and, with two co-workers, remotely created a Web site for an organization that helps farmers in the West African country of Cameroon.

"It’s an adequate alternative," Murphy said. "I would prefer a hands-on, physical experience at the site. At the same time, … by doing a project virtually we could affect the lives of people we would never think of meeting."

Online volunteering is growing as Internet access improves worldwide, particularly among African and Latin American organizations needing assistance.

VolunteerMatch, a San Francisco group that helps volunteers learn about onsite and online projects, said 14 percent of its volunteer opportunities last year were virtual, compared with 1 percent in 1998.

Instead of building homes, volunteers like Murphy can build Web sites.

Or translate documents. Or prepare training manuals. Or mentor teens.

All from a computer hundreds or thousands of miles away.

By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press

Full Story: http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_4242977

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