Global Humanitarian Discussions

Volunteer Adventures with Common Hope in Guatemala

2010-06-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

It was really refreshing as I spoke with Shari Blindt, Executive Director of Common Hope, an organization partnering with communities in Guatemala, through several development initiatives. I had come to learn that Shari’s deep commitment to the people of Guatemala had stemmed early on when she started volunteering with Common Hope at their office in MN, eventually leading on to incredible opportunities within the organization. We all hear of the constant stories of the devastation which the recent storms have caused in so many regions of Guatemala, but we don’t hear enough stories of the heroes who go out of their way to improve the lives of so many desolate communities. Allow us to share some of these stories from Guatemala with you…take a look Common Hope

Also, see http://www.commonhope.org/index.htm

Learn how you could win an International Volunteer Card, a program offering great flight discounts for international volunteer trips

2010-05-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you planning volunteer trips abroad in the coming months, we have an exciting contest coming up. Fly for Good is partnering with Global Humanitarian Discussions in offering four lucky winners the chance of winning one out of four International Volunteer cards. If you’re not familiar with the program, International Volunteer cards offer flight discounts for volunteer trips abroad, 24/7 travel assistance, and many other benefits for charitable volunteers. To enter in the contest to win one of these prizes, write a few paragraphs to us at Global Humanitarian Discussions, about your upcoming volunteer trip abroad and describe how you would benefit from using your International Volunteer Card, and send it to meganschiebe@travelvolunteersearch.com by June 20th. We will announce the winners the week of June 27th, as well as feature you and your organization as one of our guests on our radio show. For more information about the International Volunteer Card, visit Fly for Good at Fly for Good

Chatting with Scott Byington, Founding member of the Elias Fund

2010-05-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

When we think about modern day Zimbabwe, it is usually a thought of catastrophic existence of men, women and children crossing the border into neighboring South Africa as a means of escape from a tragic reality, well, at least that was my thought in early 2008 when I met hundreds of Zimbabwean refugees fleeing into South Africa, agonizing over where their next meal would be coming from. My heart poured out that day. Over the next few months that followed, I had spent a considerable amount of time connecting with refugee services globally, in trying to understand how to improve the situation for Zimbabwean refugees, who were really, quite honestly, in a very real and desolate situation. Fortunately, the situation has improved somewhat, but not by much.

I was intrigued when I came across the website for The Elias Fund. They understood some of what I had experienced, having met with refugees from

Zimbabwe

. Scott Byington, a very courageous embodiment of an individual drawn to the sufferings of the Zimbabwean people, is who opened up my eyes to a world of how we really can make a positive difference in

Zimbabwe

. The idea of The Elias Fund initially started as a fundraiser for Elias Sithole, a gardener in

Zimbabwe

who dreamed that his three children may one day go to university. His dream traversed the Atlantic and impassioned brothers Scott and Eric Byington to bring more awareness to the situation, as well develop integral educational programs, including starting the Albert Street School in South Africa for Zimbabwean refugees. Take a look at my interview with Scott in the below link: The Elias Fund Radio Interview
For more information on The Elias Fund, see The Elias Fund

Amanda Koster, Internationally acclaimed Photojournalist and her thoughts on Citizen Journalism

2010-05-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking about the concept of empathy and what does that really mean to different people…is it the ability to completely immerse one self in someone else’s life and begin to comprehend what their daily apprehensions are like…or is it the ability to engulf compassion in such a way that there is no turning back to a world you’ve been pre-conditioned to know?

Amanda Koster, internationally acclaimed photojournalist and founder of SalaamGarage, has come to show me empathy within completely new parameters. One of the most selfless women I’ve had the privilege of sharing a beer with, her enthusiasm for the Biko family in South Africa and their struggle towards freedom illuminates as she excitedly discusses her preparation for her TEDxSeattle presentation. Her infinite humility consolidates an expressive representation as she and I discuss the issues of landmines in Vietnam, as well as her dedication to working with entrepreneurial social technology ventures alleviating some of the horrific conditions facing the people of Vietnam. Amanda and I have a chance to talk about some of her upcoming trips taking volunteers to Guatemala, take a look SalaamGarage

Worthy Fashion: A Worthy Cause

2010-04-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

How does one combine purchasing an accessory which just looks really great together with being able to donate to one of several microfinance credit institutions simultaneously? Sean McCloskey, Founder of Worthy Fashion shows us how. Worthy Fashion is pioneering several social responsible practices with the goal of representing a spectrum of global crisis and social issues such as disaster relief, education, the environment, substance abuse, social injustice, the arts and health and medical research. Therefore, with every purchase made through their website, a certain percentage of the sales are donated to organizations such as Kiva, ACCION USA, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, The Cancer Research Institute and several more organizations. Sean and I got a chance to talk about how he was able to cut some of his operating costs to incorporate a more present philanthropic campaign with his business initiatives. Take a look at our show below Show with Worthy Fashion

Worthy Fashion can also be found at http://worthyfashion.com

Anthony Thomas @socialresponse

2010-04-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are looking for some inspiration on how to balance your work life with online and global volunteering, definitely take a look at our show with Anthony Thomas. Anthony’s great sense of humor combined with his eagerness and dedication to bring more exposure to events surrounding global poverty, individual as well as corporate responsibility initiatives has led him to start Tweeting @socialresponse on Twitter about several phenomenal people and organizations pioneering innovative social responsible programs. He and I also got a chance to talk about his experience attending TEDxTeen in NYC and some very motivating young people introducing some very new development campaigns…take a look at our show Radio show with Anthony Thomas

Building houses with Ryan Iafigliola at the Fuller Center

2010-04-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ryan Iafigliola, Director of International Field Operations for the Fuller Center and I had a fascinating discussion on how the Fuller Center is currently collaborating with several global organizations in building and providing shelter for much needed communities world wide, one brick at a time. Ryan’s passion for the work he is currently involved with in regions around the world has lead to his spearheading the Fuller Center Bike Adventure – a bike race starting from Niagara Falls all the way through to New Orleans. I was really inspired by Ryan’s drive to pursue this project, not only because they have a goal of raising $250, 000 in order to build much needed houses globally for underprivileged communities, but because of the excitement in his voice as he talks about the life-enriching opportunities The Fuller Center is providing for so many who are voiceless. Take a look at my show with Ryan Radio show

The Fuller Center can be found at http://www.fullercenter.org as well as on Twitter at @TheFullerCenter

The Ihangane Project in Rwanda with Founder, Dr. Wendy Leonard

2010-03-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

I was so completely mesmerized having spoken with Dr. Wendy Leonard this afternoon. When she spoke about the pilot project her team is spearheading in Rwanda with formula for infants born to women with HIV, it really made me think about the fact that I hadn’t really thought about what happens to very young babies who possibly face the challenge of being malnourished when they are no longer able to be nursed by their mothers. In fact, the more I think about a young baby not having access to desperately needed nourishment, it motivates me even more than ever to get the word across about the exceptional work Dr. Leonard and her organization, The Ihangane Project is implementing. Take a look at our show below: Ihangane Project Radio interview

The Ihangane Project can be found at http://www.theihanganeproject.com as well as on Twitter @ihanganeproject

NABUUR pioneers online volunteering

2010-03-09T04:05:00.000-08:00

I had an incredible time speaking with Pelle Ardema of NABUUR, an online networking forum for volunteers who are looking at connecting with global development projects around the world. The concept of a “global virtual neighbor” is an idea which is really starting to resonate with me as it is very clear and evident how much we can give advice, support, as well as advocate for our global neighbors abroad who are eagerly seeking at bringing more momentum and exposure to their ongoing development projects. We have this immense capacity to do this, and our interview with Pelle, looks at the numerous ways we can exercise this capacity – take a look at our show at NABUUR

NABUUR at http://www.nabuur.com as well as @NABUUR on Twitter

Elissa Beckett, one of the founding members of Better The World

2010-03-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

I was incredibly energized by our conversation with Elissa on raising funds for your cause by surfing the web – yes, that simple! If I think about all those hours I spend online daily, by the hour, no by the second...what better way to invest that time than to surf the web for a good cause – and Better The World provides a great medium to do just that. Elissa and I got into this really enlightening conversation on how traditional advertising media is changing, how Cause Marketing initiatives are paving the way for brand positioning for companies focusing on social responsibility campaigns and various innovations in non-profit fundraising. This was a great show for NGO’s out there looking at diversifying their current sponsorship campaigns. Take a look Better The World

Action for Children in Conflict in Kenya: Eleanor Harrison

2010-02-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

Today’s show was definitely interesting. Once you speak and get to know Eleanor, she is just such an incredibly interesting person. Serving as the Director for Action for Children in Conflict in Kenya as well as currently based in Thika, Kenya, Eleanor and her team provide a wealth of community based programs allowing for an incredible source of alleviation for street children living in Thika. Eleanor was able to share some really compelling stories on our show of just how her team is working with vulnerable children as well as some of the current conditions and challenges they are overcoming as they move forward. Take a look at our show: Action for Children in Conflict in Kenya

Bicycles Against Poverty

2010-02-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on this Valentines weekend of all the events which have occurred over the last year, from the growth of our blog to the initiation of our radio show, it seems like there have been so many changes with me, people I have connected with, mojitos I have concocted with international friends alike. Yet, we’re still facing the same battles, women are still subjected to horrific and catastrophic conditions, infants are still malnourished and the concept of war conflict continues to scratch its nails down our visible chalkboards. Despite all of this, I have found courage and hope and motivation in my guests on my show, many whom I have developed and fostered great friendships.

One such individual goes by Muyambi. Having grown up in Uganda, he had been exposed to some of the harsh realities most of us reading this piece would not be able to conceive. He was one of the lucky students - Muyambi was able to gain a scholarship from Norway before coming to the US and brought his dream and vision with him. He identified a very clear niche in local Ugandan communities where having access to a bike could literally mean that a villager could take their young baby to the medical clinic, have access to a basic need such as water. I am always encouraged when I meet people like Muyambi – take a look at our show below: Bicycles Against Poverty

Tim Humble of Foto Fugitive

2010-02-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Take a look at my show speaking live with Tim Humble of Foto Fugitive and Metamorphic International from out of Australia as we discuss their campaigns of the Water 4 Water project, Operation Break Poverty, Operation Help a child and Operation Break Free: Tim Humble discussing projects in Kenya and Cambodia

Looking into the face of catastrophe - How Merlin is saving lives with mobile medical clinics

2010-02-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

To get a glimpse of what it must it must have felt like to witness the catastrophic and desolate situation within 48 hours of the earthquake in Haiti, is what I experienced today. Alex Cottin, Regional Director Merlin USA, brought light to this urgent and devastating situation. From befriending a local Haitian reiterating his story of how his own father had to amputate the leg of his mother caught in the debris in the calamitous face of the earthquake, to being at the forefront of implementing and ensuring life-saving medical equipment reached local communities is what Alex and I got a chance to talk about. I have come to learn over the last week that Merlin, an international aid agency, not only specializes in improving health care in countries devastated by conflict, disease and disaster, but are also actualizing ground breaking mobile medical teams in and around various regions of Haiti…take a look at our show below Merlin in Haiti

Rob Cipriano, CEO The All Humanity Group on all things humanitarianism

2010-01-31T15:54:00.000-08:00

Exciting stuff! I always enjoy chatting with Rob as he goes into great detail with his current global projects. Rob is pioneering a new concept of “All Humanitarianism”. His consortium of philanthropic initiatives within the All Humanity Group ranges from hosting large-scaled music event fundraising campaigns such as the 101010 event with the capacity to hold up to 350 000 event goers, All Humanity TV which broadcasts an array of Humanitarian programming as well as connecting individuals and NGO’s with projects globally by facilitating community discussions. Take a look at our show: Rob Cipriano: All Things Humanitarianism

Twitter for Food

2010-01-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

I got into a really interesting discussion with Tim Blair of Twitter For Food today www.twitterfordood.com about how his campaign is making huge strides in bringing more exposure to the plight of hunger relief. We all hear about the atrocious stories of how thousands of children die daily due to hunger, but can we actually fathom and really digest these numbers? Tim’s campaign is showing us by skipping just one meal, we have the ability and immense capacity to utilize these funds in funding hunger relief. Listen to our show - Twitter For Food

How Kenya 1010 is making waves

2010-01-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

Staring at my super grande vanilla chai latte, my thoughts somersault from the 17 inch screen in front of me to the whisper of the leaves as they run amok clawing at my attention. For most of us, most average of us, I gaze and wonder how we would be able to work day in and day out, one odd job to the next, just for the opportunity to be able to able to volunteer at those places most treasured to us and see this as an overwhelming privilege. How many of us could just quit our jobs and jump on a plane to Nairobi, Kenya, for a year to be able to work with local Kenyans in empowering these communities in delivering revenue-generating business initiatives. Let me introduce you to Keith Ives and his commitment to the 1010 project in

Kenya : Kenya 1010 Project - listen to our show

Taking Philanthropy to new dimensions: The Daily Tell

2010-01-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

It’s not often you find a publication which really just encapsulates those stories which keep you galvanized and completely absorbed with some very captivating philanthropic content. This is my perception of The Daily Tell. I had a chance to interview with Roberto Azula, editor in chief of this online publication, and we had a great time chatting about some of the new developments within online media streams incorporating philanthropic initiatives, as well as discussing how these streams are being utilized in bringing more exposure to small-medium sized NGO’s. Take a look below: The Daily Telll

How two phenomenal women are pioneering opportunities for Refugee women: CLOTH

2010-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun chatting with Oona Mitchell of CLOTH on our show today. Oona Mitchell and her business partner, Candance, best friends for almost ten years, decided they wanted to take more of an involved approach in their passion for fashion (no pun intended) by providing employment opportunities for refugee women who are in the midst of their resettling process in the US. Oona and Candance's story is really compelling in that their empathy for these refugee women is providing groundbreaking opportunities for women to not only empower themselves, but to be able to sustain a source of income, stability and well being knowing that they have a chance to be able to take care of their families. No matter who we are and which part of the world we find ourselves, we all want to be able to take care of our loved ones...take a look at our radio show below Empowering Refugee Women

Mixing design with Philanthropy

2009-12-30T13:46:00.000-08:00

NYC actor and writer, Alexis Fedor, and founder of Love and Water International, joined me as we discussed her upcoming campaign of combining T-shirt designs with Philanthropy. Contestants are encouraged to submit their designs, while the winners will be able to donate 50% of proceeds to various charity organizations. This is a great opportunity for those of you looking at promoting your upcoming designs www.loveandwaterinternational.com Our show can be viewed at Mixing design with Philanthropy

Securing Grants and Sponsorship Opportunities with the Grant Hunter

2009-12-29T15:21:00.000-08:00

Lisa Garcia-Ruiz and I had an opportunity to discuss various opportunities for NGO's looking at securing grants with organizations globally as well as highlighting the organizations which are currently sponsoring NGO's. Lisa's background encompasses seventeen years working within philanthropy in various capacities and she and I got to talk about how NGO's can better prepare when putting together their sponsorship campaigns. To listen to our show, see the link below:
Securing grants and Sponsorships

For more information on the Grant Hunter with Lisa Garcia-Ruiz, see The Grant Hunter

Childfund International

2009-12-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

I had a great opportunity to speak with Anne Scott, VP Global Programs of ChildFund International. Anne and I got a chance to talk about several partnership opportunities available for NGO's globally who are looking at partnering with ChildFund International in further developing their programs goals and objectives. This is really a unique opportunity for NGO's to further build momentum for their current projects. Take a look at our show: ChildFund International joins us on Global Humanitarian Discussions

My interview with Jason Cone, Communications Director for Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

2009-12-18T05:29:00.000-08:00

View my interview with Jason Cone discussing the documentary, Living in EmergencyLiving in Emergency documentary

Six Blue Data: Providing innovative solutions in communicating medical-related data from remote areas

2009-11-24T16:29:00.000-08:00

David Issak of Six Blue Data was featured on our radio show earlier this week. Six Blue Data does incredible work in very remote areas in countries such as El Salvador, Bangladesh and Sudan in steamlining and capturing pre-recorded data, such as medical-related data into innovative mobile technology devices such as PDA's. These devices are being used in place of paper-based surveys allowing for more accurate data to be produced and assimilated as well as saving local communities a tremendous amount of time standing in lines waiting to submit their required data. Take a look at our radio feature below http://www.blogtalkradio.com/megan-schiebe/2009/11/22/interview-with-six-blue-data-field-based-mobile-technology

Six Blue Data www.sixbluedata.com

Ballet Rwanda

2009-11-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

See our radio show in the below link as we chat with Caroline Peixoto, a classically trained ballerina who founded the organization, Ballet Rwanda. Their mission is to invest in the talent and development of dance through arts with children living in Rwanda by providing these opportunities to local communities in Kigali. Caroline has surpassed phenomenal steps in actualizing this idea as part of her ambitions to encourage students to express their creativity through dance http://www.blogtalkradio.com/megan-schiebe/2009/11/15/interview-with-ballet-rwanda

African Well Fund

2009-11-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

African Well Fund is an organization committed to raising funds for the building and maintaining of wells throughout various regions in Africa in countries such as Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Mali and Ghana. See the link below to my radio show featuring Rob Trigalet, Chairman of the Board of Directors, as we discuss the ongoing projects being implemented through African Well Fund in assisting rural communities in acquiring better access to clean water and sanitation http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Megan-Schiebe/2009/11/08/Interview-with-African-Well-Fund

Marmalade Sunsets: Josh Nesbit of Mobiles for Malawi gives me a wake up call

2009-09-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

It happened within a fraction of a second. I had put my bag down to chat with some friends at a local bar one night and it felt as if my phone literally climbed out of my handbag and sprinted towards the other side of the room…stolen…and just like that, I was now completely disconnected from my email, text messaging, phone calls, voice mail, the internet, my calendar, GPS navigation, my news blogs, Facebook, Twitter and even my alarm clock! I felt completely vulnerable and stripped of my communication arteries...how in this world was I going to reach everyone! Fortunately, my phone through a miraculous act of the universe found its way back to me, but the ordeal of complete isolation from the global community left me pondering how most of the world perseveres with unquestionable limited communication streams. How is a young mother living in a remote rural village getting crucial medical advice on critical vaccinations for her newborn son…how is this young mother’s elderly and ill father able to manage his current Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis condition with medical staff hundreds of miles from his community…how does the community health care worker know when to make the 100 mile walk from the clinic to the village to ensure that their patient is receiving vital medication…until an individual like Josh Nesbit makes a decision that he will no longer see thousands of rural villagers desolate and marooned, and pioneers a text messaging program called FrontlineSMS to assist rural Malawians seeking urgent medical needs.

Josh’s colorful story is very much riveting. His compelling personality met with local villagers in Namitete, Malawi in the summer of 2007 where he grew impassioned with the delightful culture of local Malawians while volunteering at a local hospital. His fixation for wanting to understand the sufferings of the people of Namitete, his adoration for the selfless health care professionals who are dedicated to walking end-of-the-rainbow distances to see patients, his desire to give something back to these soft-spoken people whom he had come to love so much, ignited him, as they allowed him to know himself from an enriching and completely different perspective. Josh realized fairly early that he had the ability to initiate a communication system which would equip local villages with the relevant tools to communicate their current medical needs with central clinics and was not shy when adventuring into potential solutions.

He half jokes as he tells me how he and Ken Banks, a software specialist, literally sat under a tree one afternoon as they developed the concept of assimilating a software program which would allow community health workers in remote villages to send a text message regarding patients' medical conditions to an SMS hub at a central clinic, letting clinicians respond via the software (FrontlineSMS); therein, saving the remote health worker a possible 100 mile walk or bike ride to report a patient’s status. This life-saving technology is not only alleviating unfathomable conditions from being undiagnosed in remote areas, but is also empowering local health care volunteers with the capacity to contribute something of themselves back to the communities they have lived in throughout their lives.

The eminence of this technology has spread to clinics and hospitals throughout Central and East Africa, and is currently been adopted in countries such as Malawi, Bangladesh, Honduras, India, Rwanda and Cameroon. Future projects are in the process of being implemented in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Guatemala, Mali, Burundi and several others. Without a doubt, this technology would not have prospered into the success it is today were it not for the devoted and warmhearted health care workers who volunteer their time in streamlining communication links between patients and central clinics. Their monumental achievements have drawn much media attention as more NGO’s and organizations are utilizing this technology in administering communication systems in very inaccessible areas.

Right now, Josh and his team are currently seeking any cell phone donations for those of you who are interested in recycling your cell phones. If so, you could reach Josh at josh.nesbit@jopsa.org or go into their website at http://www.jopsa.org

If I think about it, not having my cell phone for one night was not entirely delirious. It has at least given me a new appreciation for my pocket sized companion.

To watch our video interview, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com
This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: Ashraya Initiative for Children orphanage, Pune, India

2009-08-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

As my eye-lashes converge at the pictures below of cheerful little smiles in the kitchen, mixing flour while consuming exorbitant amounts of cookie dough as the milk jubilates in a speed frenzy to reach the floor at maximum impact, I wonder what they must have endured in their early years of growing up. These kids are now each others' family…once abandoned, sleeping between abhorrent railway tracks, four-year-old's sniffing glue or anything to get high, seven-year-old's prostituting the streets because there is no other alternative. I cannot even begin to think what would have happened to these orphaned children had it not been for Julia Neubauer and her team in Pune, India.

At the tender age of fifteen, Julia decides to relinquish the conveniences and amenities of Austrian high school life and is adamant that she will graduate from high school in India. There is just no other way for her. From sharing a two bed-roomed shack with forty children who were suffering from Tuberculosis, to living in the slums of Mumbai over a period of three months, Julia has seen some things very few of us would be able to swallow. This incredible journey led her and a group of close friends to start the Ashraya Initiative, an orphanage supporting more than 120 children in the slums in India.

The orphanage currently operates a Residential program, housing orphaned children from the slums; an Education Outreach program, proving educational materials to children from ages four to thirteen years, who, in most cases have never seen a classroom, and a Health Outreach program, providing medical treatment to sometimes life-threatening situations.

Right now, Ashraya Initiative is seeking assistance in the following areas:

• C.P.A - in need of C.P.A., preferably someone with knowledge of Non-Profit and/or Charity law.
• Graphic Designer - fundraising/website materials and assistance in designing.
• Global volunteers interested in volunteering at the orphanage in Pune, India

For those of you who may be interested in getting involved, please contact Julia Neubauer at julia@ashrayainitiative.org or visit their website at http://www.ashrayainitiative.org

To view our video interview, please see www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com
This blog is subject to the Terms of Use www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: Volunteer with Orphan Care Foundation, South Africa

2009-07-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

From the succulent and luscious cuisines, to the mouth watering beaches of Cape Town, South Africa, this city is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities to visit. The city’s amalgamation of eclectic Cape Tonians characterizing the food, culture, art and hospitality, has entitled this town nothing less than the accolade, “The Mother City”. Even among the most beautiful places, a dichotomy prevails, and this is the reality of the many street children who seek refuge in a city, adorned by so many. What struck me most about Martin is that he was very much an ordinary man, 9-5, ate his broccoli and carrots, picked up the kids after soccer practice and drank his vanilla frappuccinos while reading his Sunday newspaper. In fact, most of us reading this piece could perhaps identify with this accustomed lifestyle; until, one morning, you come across a little girl shivering along a murky and sinister sidewalk, and your complacent way of life changes slightly…

This is exactly what happened to Martin Oosthuizen, Director and Founder of Orphan Care Foundation, in Cape Town, South Africa. As our Skype conversation wrestled in and out virtual dialogue, Martin disclosed that he had never really been engaged with social causes previously. His affinity for wanting to advocate children’s rights was always present but he never quite knew WHAT to do and HOW to share his competencies. He had always wanted to be more involved, contribute more, galvanize more, but with so many numerous causes and injustices within our spiraling planet, how is one to decide which cause to centralize your empathies, your eagerness, your aspirations for wanting to improve one single life? He had no idea just how much of a metamorphosis his life would reveal as he cultivated a new freedom for so many neglected children. Martin re-iterates this below:

“On a cold and rainy winter’s day a friend of ours picked up a child, on her way to school. When my wife and I saw our friend later that morning she told us about the soaking wet girl who stood beside the road in her school clothes, trying to get a lift to school. Every day she hitchhiked 15 km to school over a mountain pass and 15 km back. She lost both her parents to a sickness and is cared for by her sister, together with two other children. An overwhelming compassion for this orphaned child stirred inside me and my wife. We both asked what we could do to help. A process then followed to locate the girl in the school of whom we only had a name. We started with one child and later grew to 8 children.”

Martin’s family now takes care of 60 children and regularly commutes in and out of the city’s townships nourishing many desperate little souls wandering the streets at night. Right now, they are currently looking at expanding their home, employing more social workers and implementing educational projects so that their group of orphans can empower and equip themselves to go back into the townships and re-invest back into these communities through instructional campaigns.

A few days ago, I attended this seminar discussing various workbook notes from Leonardo DaVinci’s collection and one statement in particular made me really stop and think, “The earth is moved from its position by the weight of a tiny bird resting upon it”. It all made complete sense to me. When one person is affected by an injustice, an inhumane event, oppression, why do we think that this does not affect us? Why is that we think we have no involvement in this event if we cannot feel the effects directly? From within my comprehension, we are all connected. When one of us is affected or “inhumaned”, or mistreated, or oppressed, we are all affected. Now, how do we collectively address this in moving forward?

For those of you who would like to learn more about Martin’s orphanage, you could see http://www.all-inspirational.com/orphan-care-foundation.html as several volunteer opportunities working with the children are available.

To watch our video interview, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com
This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: How Mike Skuja got me hooked on Conservation

2009-07-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

What is it about spending the night on the beach, looking up at a scintillating sky gazing back upon the shrimp, giggling, as they delight in their charming fluorescence? What is it about the warm ocean tickling at your toes as the startle of baby sea turtles singing melodies, rushing towards the open sea, entertain in a night of swimming frenzy? When Mike Skuja contacted me one afternoon to discuss his conservation programs, he pretty much had me not at “Hello” but at “We have a Guyanese led sea turtle conservation program at Guyana’s Shell Beach…would you like to hear more?”

The inspiration behind the Center for Rural Empowerment and the Environment (CREE) evolved through one very devoted and one very determined human geographer, Mike Skuja, and his desire to empower scientists from the developing world to realize their dreams. His influential resume features escapades with National Geographic, the UN Environment Programme and Nature Conservancy while his adventures extend from the regions of Tanzania, Panama and Sri Lanka during the Tsunami crisis. In fact, I was drawn to this organization based on the very diverse personality of CREE. Their accomplished team of project leaders from within local communities constituting doctors, conservationists and biologists understand the endemic needs of their communities; of a mother’s yearning to teach her son innovative farming techniques, therein, eliminating the risk of running into an angry hippo; a father’s desire to protect his wife and children from human-lion conflict by having access to a simple fence to defend his family and livelihood; a little girl’s dream to be able to hatch sea turtles as opposed to hunting sea turtles for meat to sustain her family’s basic needs.

Mike’s ambitions to deliver sustainable and purposeful conservation programs illuminates from his earnestness in listening to and collaboratively implementing the solutions proposed by local community leaders as they inherently live and breathe these biologically diverse lands…and no one understands this better than Mike. His self-sacrificing attitude towards realizing these advancements, whether it be through numerous fundraising drives, endless grant submissions or continual strive to better assist his team’s concerns, his compassion towards elevating the impoverished lures one to these projects.

All projects at CREE have a dual positive impact on poverty and the environment and are currently active in the following regions:

• Sea Turtles – Guyana
• Humpback whale ecotourism - Babuyan Islands, Philippines
• Snail Farming – Mount Cameroon
• Dunga Wetlands project, addressing human-hippopotamus conflict – Kenya
• Tarangire Lion project, creating innovative solutions to human-lion conflict –
Tanzania

CREE is currently looking at more collaborative fundraising initiatives for those of you who may be interested in getting involved. If so, you can reach Mike mike.skuja@conservationforpeople.org or visit http://www.conservationforpeople.org

What I love most about what I do – connecting and meeting with these phenomenal individuals contributing towards life-changing events. I can’t think of anything more gratifying.

To watch our video interview, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com
This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: From Bond Girl to Refugee Advocate?

2009-06-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

I am convinced my fight against "evil" probably started around the 90's as I'd attentively sit glued to the telly, exhaustively fascinated by the all encompassing powers of a one particular Bond...James Bond. In fact, Bond's relentless plight to save the universe propelled my own curiosity as I desperately tried to evaluate and calculate how one tall Englishman had the capacity to save complete countries in just under 90 minutes! I thought about how Bond and I would meet at one of those extravagant Monaco yacht parties. I'd walk straight up to him, surprise him with a kiss on the cheek as I glide his sacred keys from his clutched hands, jump into his Aston Martin, and go forth to save the world (I may occasionally allow Bond to accompany me on some of my pursuits..007 sitting in the passenger seat of course!).

As my Bond Girl career hadn't panned out quite as anticipated, I've decided to explore other skill sets, which fortunately, is still very much aligned with my eagerness in wanting to explore the sensations of the world around me. One such story belongs to two refugees from Liberia, Johnson Doe and Paul Tiah, who, through their distressing experience of living in refugee camps for almost fifteen years throughout West Africa, mobilized their aspirations to form an organization called the Multicultural Refugee Coalition (MRC), so as to provide a voice and platform for newly arrived refugees who are acclimatizing to the resettling process.

As Paul and Johnson reflect on daily life in refugee camps, I cannot even begin to imagine how two people who have been through so much are still able to stop in their tracks and re-live these emotions in their empathy for other refugees. Their endurance to concentrate their efforts on alleviating a lot of the trepidation many newly arrived refugees face as they resettle in their new residences, galvanizes me to want to share their story. MRC, through their inception, not only strives to teach refugees innovative skills in their job development training, they also mentor computer literacy classes, English language instruction, cultural orientation as well as provide housing resources. One aspect which really engaged me is their demonstration of their Peace Education and Conflict Management program as an integral aspect of the Reconciliation process once refugees are resettled.

Meg Goodman, Executive Director of MRC, with an incredible and feisty laughter, smiles as she re-iterates how she became involved with the formation of the organization. Her background working as a Conservation Biologist compelled her to want to be more involved with the raw issues affecting indigenous communities, and the hypnotic allure of assisting refugees was one she could not ignore as she transitioned into her new role at MRC.

I am always enamored when I meet the Paul, Johnson and Meg's of the world. I think it's part of my insatiable appetite to want to be more present in a community of so many voiceless, so many mistreated and so many oppressed.

So, the Bond Girl deliberates as she looks at the road ahead.."I'll still have it shaken, not stirred".

For information regarding volunteer opportunities with MRC, please contact Meg Goodman http://www.blogger.com/info@mrcaustin.orgor see http://mrcaustin.org/

To watch our video interview, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

Keep a look out for my next interview coming up with Center for Rural Empowerment and the Environment focussing on conservation projects in Cameroon, Kenya and Guyana.

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

Marmalade Sunsets: My interview with Mark Lovett, Founder, Global Patriot

2009-05-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

At first glance of the website titled Patriotism without Borders, I was somewhat captivated as I speculated what the author, Mark Lovett, is striving to achieve with this concept of a Global Patriot. Mark has a unique passion in his orchestration and assimilation of this thought – his completely calm demeanor entices you to want to see into his vision of actualizing a world unrestricted of the biases we have been preconditioned to accept as we assume our “roles” in society. Could it be possible to traverse a world where all impediments around religion, nationality, race, gender and ideology could be defeated, and we could actually prevail as patriots of a global community? A world where we could embrace each others’ differences as opposed to encaging ourselves in square boxes with a neat white label, titled, “Classification”, a place where we could appreciate each others’ variances by developing our own characters, a world where we could discern opinions from a global perspective while promoting empathy?

As I read through Mark’s blog posts ranging from themes around Human Rights, the Environment, Health issues, Social Justice, etc, I am enamored by his ability to coalesce like-minded people around one table and strategize avenues in developing an international community of Global Patriots with very clear alternatives to ongoing challenges. His ability to educate and expose to the world, that as citizens of a global arena, we have an obligation to contribute our global skills to a community which is acutely lacking of some very basic needs.

I wonder, that if we had an opportunity to look a refugee child in the eyes, of a boy who just walked for four days across a desert and near virtual collapse from heat exhaustion, could we become more tolerant people; if we could gaze upon the smile of a young orphan girl who has just read her first book and can go to sleep at ease as she knows she will likely have a meal to greet her as she rises in the morning, could we become more compassionate; if we could sing and dance around a beach-fire with a group of backpackers, beer in one hand and English/Spanish dictionary in the other, could we become more receptive people? Imagine just how much we could achieve…

When I am out in the field, and I am interviewing a family of six people who all live in a one-bed roomed house, one hammock to sleep in because they can’ afford a bed and no air conditioning with a humidity factor of 80%, it’s almost impossible for me to think about the next coffee shop I’ll be buying my super grande vanilla chai latte. When this family is compassionately grateful for the fact that they actually have a one-bed roomed house with a cement floor, as opposed to a dust floor, leading to all kinds of respiratory diseases with their children, when they invite me into their house and offer me their last cup of water to drink as they sense my antipathy to the humidity, I am unconditionally humbled, and I realize that I can learn so much from these people, who, despite their inevitable poverty-stricken existence, can push through these aversions and still paint a smile on their creased, yet angelic faces, as they have one less child struggling with yet another respiratory disease. Imagine just how much we could achieve…

For more information on Mark Lovett’s Global Patriot community, you can view www.globalpatriot.com, as well as Global Patriot on Facebook. Mark can also be reached at converse@globalpatriot.com

To see our video introduction, see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

This post is subject to the Terms of Use at http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: My interview with Averill Strasser, COO of Water Charity

2009-05-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to the regions of Mesoamerica in Mexico, I was utterly adrenalized and fascinated by the wealth of history surrounding Mesoamerica civilization. As a dedicated Wynberg Girl (school one’s parents sends daughters so as to produce “fine girls”), I remember being drawn to the precocious innovations of the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs and Teotihuacan. One of my very good friends, enticed by the piquancy of the ancient Mayan customs, was unquestionably compelled to write a book about his intimate experiences and diagnosis of ancient Mayan inscriptions as he journeyed through Mesoamerica Guatemala. As captivating as these accounts are, these are areas, just like many regions in the world, that are facing unique challenges, including the challenge of safe drinking water, effective sanitation and adequate health education.

I met Averill Strasser on Twitter and was intrigued to hear more of how his organization, Water Charity, is able to deliver safe water and sanitation through their model of “slim organization”. I was extremely impressed by how their groups of volunteers are able to build several hundred latrines over a 2-3 week period, within a very limited budget as part of their sanitation initiative in various regions of Mexico, Central America, and South America. These revolutionary techniques are alleviating the persistent challenges of malaria, diarrhea-related illnesses as well as promoting public education.

I wonder how someone, having practiced law for twenty years in Beverly Hills, as well as worked as an Engineer, had transitioned into the role of COO of Water Charity. Averill gives me a clue and takes me back to Bolivia to 1966 where he worked on various Peace Corps projects. Undoubtedly, he did not have much choice when he left Bolivia at the time, and started traveling throughout Central and South America where he realized the impact his current expertise would have on innumerable communities if he volunteered, one small project at a time. One small project at a time…now saving thousands of lives...

Several volunteer opportunities exist if you’re interested in getting involved with their safe water initiatives as well as finding solutions to effective sanitation projects. For more information, you can reach Averill at mail@watercharity.org
To see our video introduction, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

This post is subject to the Terms of Use of http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

Marmalade Sunsets: My interview with Rob Cipriano, Founder & Chairman, IllumAlliance International Humanitarian Group, Beyond Borders Internet TV

2009-05-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Rob, my discussions with you have left me pondering how someone who has endured, witnessed and experienced as much as you have; and yet, still able to push through every livid encumbrance catapulted at you from elongated orbital trajectories. You’re someone I have come to know with an abundance of respect for your attitude towards human development and understanding.

Beyond Borders Internet TV (BBiTV) is the brainchild of Rob Cipriano, an innovative and prodigious TV network committed to broadcasting documentaries and videos with an emphasis on humanitarian advancement. This extraordinary and extensive network of programming serves to highlight and educate its audience surrounding issues of global poverty and includes absorbing content with channels such as the UNICEF, Save the Children and Point Hope Foundation programming – and the best part: it’s all online! Not only is one able to open up your browser at any airport/coffee shop/ boyfriend’s couch/fundraiser meeting to view BBiTV, but the progressive content delivered by this network has consummated dynamic avenues in humanitarian initiatives.

As I recount Rob and my discussions, of him as an orphaned boy, who, through his abominable experiences of living in an orphanage, of a boy who faced constant loneliness, immeasurable fear of punishment for doing anything to upset the orphanage caretakers and a longing of a child wanting nothing more than affection, he has recognized the commitment for advocating children’s rights, having withstood the life of a child who had none.

Sometimes, I wonder what it takes for us to open our eyes to the world around us. I think of my trip to the Isle of Skye a while ago where I had been cross examined by a local fisherman in a local Highland bar, about how I spent my (then) time. When I explained to him that I probably spent around 60 hours a week behind my laptop, he was completely and utterly shocked, invited me to his office (beautiful Highland pier) and pointed out to all 20 houses in the village, reciting the names of every single inhabitant in the village of 100. He gets up every morning, spends a few hours fishing, comes back and hangs out at his office (the other local bar-his words). “What are you running to Megan and why are you running so fast” he kept on asking me. It took a $1000 plane ticket, 10 hour flight there and back and constantly being rained on for me to realize the answer to his question.

BBiTV can be accessed at http://bbitv.nextcom.no/ Several volunteer opportunities exist within BBiTV. For more information, please contact Rob at robertcipriano@illumalliance.org
To view my video introduction to BBiTV, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/
This post is subject to the Term of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: A Cambodian sun rises at a Refugee Camp

2009-03-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

My socialite wingman/happy-hour advocate shoots me an email a few weeks ago and let’s me know there’s this amazing, charismatic, “internationalite” he wants me to meet. His explicit detail into the depth and magnitude of the global projects Sinoun has brought into fruition, had left me wondering how he had managed to keep this woman incognito from me for so long? Sinoun Kim is one of those fortunate women on this planet who is both exceptionally intelligent as well as dominates every man’s uninterrupted gaze as she treads slowly through a crowded room, as opposed to me, who says the most relentless inappropriate things every time I stumble across the quintessential Tall, Dark and Handsome stranger, because in my head, I think it’s the funniest thing I have concocted since Cosmos were being drunk in the 90’s..

Sinoun has a compelling story. Her mother, straight after giving birth, set out and walked from Cambodia for five days to the closest refugee camp in Thailand, as this was the only means of escape at a time when the civil war was at its height. I am drawn towards Sinoun’s thoughts as she re-iterates the reality of refugee life, of living off rice and bananas for the first five years of her life, of a father who learnt English by peeking through holes in a tent where English was being taught as he could not afford his own lessons. He then continued to learn English and work as a translator at the refugee camp he learnt to know as home, in order to alleviate his family from an almost assured poverty-stricken existence. This experience has galvanized her to go back to Cambodia and work with hundreds of indigenous, rural Cambodian young women, in developing a literacy project which empowers and exposes these young women to possibilities they would not necessarily have. This program is supported by various international libraries through the donation of books, with the objective of advancing their English skills and by providing breakthrough opportunities for these women living in rural Cambodia. Currently, Sinoun is seeking volunteers to teach English to this community in Phnom Penh within the next few months as the initiative expands. If you are interested in finding out more about the project, she can be reached at sinounkim@yahoo.com
To see our video interview, please go into http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

On this International Women’s Day, I would like to highlight many phenomenal women who are pioneering revolutionary initiatives: Leah Baxter, Rama Tiru, Vanessa Noel, Maria Noack, Chikki Venkat, Jodi Lane, Carolina De La Rosa, Emma Colombo, Carol Hayman, Carmen Canann, Meg Goodman, Michele Kim Carter, Romina Oliverio, Debra Sands, so many more…

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: Valentine Friendships

2009-02-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Marmalade Sunsets: Valentine Friendships

So yes, February 14th has just passed and we have either woken up very snug with a smile extending from one ear to the next, or we have woken up singing choruses alongside the toilet bowl, having got in from yet another Anti-Valentines social assemblage. I choose not to reveal how I woke up this morning.

Throughout my melodramatic, yet colorful relationship experiences, I have come to realize that too much focus is bestowed upon romance and not enough emphasis on real, non-complicated friendships. I think of my recent trip where two such individuals have showed me the meaning of a great philos friendship based on quintessence, sincerity and long nights of philosophical debate. Both are men, neither of which I am romantically involved with. It’s within this realm, that I am truly able to appreciate the shared experience of sleeping at random bus stations at unearthly hours throughout Mexico, the exposure first hand to the magnitude of tumultuous hardships many native villagers face day in and day out, and the acknowledgment of the potential to contribute so much more to a country, just a two-hour flight from home.

Gagsie and Julian, thank you both for making this an amazing and fun trip for me, for inspiring me to write and not hold back on my thoughts, for painting laughter in my heart and for igniting my desire to journey more inwardly as I travel outward and beyond.
To see our video interviews, go into http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

Marmalade Sunsets: A dance through the Amazon jungles in Northern Peru with Rainforest Partnership (video interview)

2009-02-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that my addictive fascination for Amazonia started in the 80’s. Yeah, I was that young girl prancing around in my delicate, pink ballet slippers, deemed only for proper girls (still mind-boggling as to how I made it into that category), convinced that I could perform the Lambada, the Forbidden Dance, and dance into the night with the indigenous peoples of Brazil as I save the rainforests with my hypnotic dance techniques. Those pink ballet shoes have since grown up (just slightly) and I am drawn back into the Amazon jungles, into a world where 60% of the population lives on less than 5 soles ($1.75) per day and malnutrition hungers every consuming thought. I met Niyanta one evening at a Peruvian art fundraiser and was enamored by her drive to work with the Chipaota community in Northern Peru. Niyanta’s project aims at identifying sustainable harvesting of the piassaba palm within this region, one of the main sources of income. I felt a connection to this project, not only because it focuses on resolving real issues of deforestation, but also because it provides an opportunity to explore the emotions of a wondrous rainforest, the exoticism of dancing with the Chipaota people, the sensation of uncovering my eagerness to examine innovative ways of developing projects.

I wonder sometimes, that throughout our journeys, we are challenged to adapt to constant impulses, blending sensations of falling in blissful love; feelings of sadness or the anguish of rejection. It’s when we are able to place ourselves in an environment where your next meal could determine whether you’ll live for the next week, we are given the opportunity to readdress our periodic perplexities and see our dilemma from a vey different perspective.

If you would like to learn more about this project, you can reach Niyanta Spelman at http://www.rainforestpartnership.org/
To view our video blog, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Marmalade Sunsets: My interview with Jodi Lane of Providence Children's Home, Ngong, Kenya

2009-01-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

If you sat next to me on a plane headed for Africa, would you like to know where I’d take you? We'd arrive in Morocco, wandering the souks of Marrakech, discovering a coffee shop within a thick haze of different flavors and aromas of grape and mint shisha as the men watch soccer and play cards. We'll then open our eyes upon the thundering sounds of the Djemebe drum beats as we inhale this Mali legacy. Dinner, sipping on one of Stellenbosch's finest wines will be served upon Table Mountain’s marmalade sunsets as we are seduced by the breathtaking panorama of Cape Town, South Africa. Then on to Kenya...

Strangely enough, I met Jodi one morning sitting in a Native American teepee in central Texas. I am not kidding. Jodi's voyage started more than 10 years ago when she sat in class next to Joram Githumbi, a Kenyan philanthropist who envisioned an orphanage operating in the Ngong region of Kenya, and who walked into her studio at the UT School of Architecture. The AIDS crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa has left millions of orphans to fend for themselves. Jodi's persistence and role in what is now established as The Providence Children's Home has attracted and allowed me to engage in her commitment to alleviate the distresses of so many orphans in Ngong, who, without the Providence Children's Home (PCH), would know nothing of receiving an education, a blanket to hold on to during lonely months, a voice to reason with when it seems like the pain of losing their parents is too great and too close rather than too far. Several volunteer projects exist within the PCH organization orphanage as Jodi and her team are actively recruiting students in the fields of Education, Planning and Business Development.

Jodi laughs when I ask her what her life was like before the Kenyan orphanage, she says she doesn't remember... almost as if Kenya has always been with her in some way. She lets me know she cannot imagine not going to the weddings of her children in Kenya, enriching their development and simultaneously, enriching her own development. If you are interested in learning more of the volunteer projects with Jodi Lane's team, you can go into http://www.providencekenya.org
To view our video blog, please see http://travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Diamonds in the night sky, Central Mexico

2009-01-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

After an adventurous 10-hour bus ride through immaculate mountain terrain, being mesmerized by the allure of dazzling diamonds in the night sky, Gagan and I finally got into San Miguel de Allende and couldn’t wait to get to el centro de San Miguel, the town square. As we made way through the cobbled streets, smiling upon century old Catholic monasteries, tasting the laughter of children running effortlessly after magic bubbles and feeling my eyelashes lower as I soaked in the amiable sun, Gagan asked me how many people sitting in the square I thought may trade their lives living in Central Mexico, with mine in Texas. I had no doubt that many may find this gesture quite opportunistic and very likely jump to the occasion. After spending some time in Central Mexico, singing with el Mariachis on Sunday evenings in the square, Aunties, Uncles, Moms, Dads, sitting on benches eating banderillas (corn dogs, somewhat spicy), and long strolls as we watched the clowns perform for the children, I can’t imagine why anyone in this town would want to trade my life of constant laptop powering, text messaging, international roaming and air conditioned coffee meetings in malls, when they could gaze at the magnanimous Cathedral on the square while connecting with some really eclectic personalities, discussing the dynamics of what really is essential in our pulsating lives. To view video blog, go to: http://travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

Mexico, Tekal: Bumpy ride into the jungles…from my view at Ox Watz

2008-12-30T18:39:00.000-08:00

As I sit in front of my laptop grasping my grande vanilla chai latte blowing at my wet Estee Lauder nails, my designer spectacles focus on the articles of children soldiers, children sold into slavery and how much more I could do to recycle. I swallow my latte with a thick gulp and think back to Ox Watz. Mr. Manuel, the Program Director showed me what it feels like to reinvigorate my passion for sustainable ecotourism, gaze at the archeological site of Xbaatun and experience the pulsation of Mayan life. As I closed my eyes and floated in the womb of one of the most pristine cenotes, I opened my eyes to a somewhat more exhilarating sky. The mountain bike ride to an excavated Mayan pyramid was the highlight for me. Upon reaching the top of the pyramid, the view was intoxicating and I could see why this place was so sacred to the Mayan people. In fact, most of the people involved in this project are the people of the Mayan community. If you are looking for that wholesome experience of kayaking in an untouched lake, walking barefoot along an ancient Mayan trail or just a bumpy ride into the jungles, this is a place you want to put on your map: http://www.oxwatz.com/Ubicacion.html

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Hiking the Mayan trails barefoot

2008-12-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

I originally wasn’t going to post this particular clip on my vlog, as it was a really intimate experience for me. One of my friends saw the clip and thought it might persuade others to jump on board and hike the Mayan trails barefoot with me. My experience at the Ox Watz ecotourism project has allowed me to explore avenues within myself I had not been introduced to before.

Mexico, Izamal: Day 2 of trip

2008-11-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

When my friend Patrick suggested I meet him in the Yucatan to explore the Yucatan jungles, I couldn’t say no. Both Patrick and I thrive off the thrill of immersing ourselves into completely pristine and unknown areas on the map and the Yucatan provided that exhilarating experience. Over the next few clips over the next few weeks, you will see us jumping onto cattle-carrying trucks into the heart of the jungles exploring the allure of unexcavated Mayan pyramids, breathtaking backpacking through ecotourism camps promoting sustainable tourism, interviews with Mayan families and the benefits of housing development initiatives, and of course, our constant plight driving around the peninsula to find the perfect wind conditions for kitesurfing. The trip was awesome. Next stop – Southern Patagonia, Argentina.

Mexico: Exploring Yucatan jungles, backpacking through ecotourism camps and just a whole lot of fun

2008-11-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

Patrick made this joke one night while we were hanging out on South Congress about swimming in crystal blue underground caverns, hidden treasures known as dzonot within the Mayan community or cenotes. I went home that night tantalized by thoughts of this majestic experience, of exploring a sensation of something completely natural and profound. I called him up the next day, “let’s do it”.

South African Kindergarten project - Interview with Vanessa Noel

2008-11-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am not sure how often we have a 30 minute conversation with someone we have just met and think "Wow, this person is really interesting". In my case, this usually happens at 2am on a bus/plane/train/ferry, somewhere I know I won't see this person again. I met Vanessa Noel on the first day I arrived in Austin, and knew we spoke the same language, metaphorically. Vanessa is one of those people who has a profound sense of people development, living life to the fullest and of course, drinking good vinum. I met with Vanessa recently, when she arrived back from South Africa, having spent a three month sabattical working with a kindergarten in Cape Town. Vanessa has since mobilized several more volunteers to engage in this project. To contact Vanessa Noel: http://aideabroad.wordpress.com/

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

Peru: Interview with Centro Paramadres Adolescentes

2008-11-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

My interview with Centro Paramadres Adolescentes has given me the drive to make my way to Lima over the next few months. I try to imagine what kinds of thoughts run through the minds of these young mothers, aged 11-19 years, who at such a young age, are forced to deal with the constant challenge of propelling themselves through a rigorous cycle.

What was I doing at age 19? Trying to find the next best party? Contemplating skipping an early lecture? Spending endless hours reflecting on the meaning of life? How different my life is from how most women my age live.

Centro Paramadres Adolescentes:

http://www.cedetep.org

http://www.luzverde-peru.com

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com

India NGO Network: Interview with We Flap

2008-10-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

I walked into this coffee shop one afternoon and was met with a beaming and vibrant smile from Chikki Venkat, Founding Director of We Flap, an organization aimed at matching global volunteers with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) throughout India through a very sophisticated database. I was drawn to Chikki's excitement for this project, her motivation to step outside of her comfort zone to work with thousands of NGO's who are in a real need to plant themselves on the global map, as well as the advanced technology We Flap executes in delivering their services: www.weflap.org

This blog is subject to the Terms of Use http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com