Volunteer Adventures with Common Hope in Guatemala

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

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

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