The University of Idaho recently sent a group of 13 students and two professors to build houses in Chile. The decision was a response to Chile’s devastating 8.8 earthquake in February 2010, the fifth strongest in recorded history, which had left thousands of Chileans homeless.

Osee Romeo of Cameroon brought a flood of light to a classroom full of 6th graders in Boston, MA on Friday as he presented about his country, culture, and challenges. The kids were captivated, and responded with questions about dance, fishing, and child labor in the African country.

Here, then, my list of the big things that make life a pleasure, and a possibility – and which everyone should have… While all of us humans have so many of the things that make us lucky and happy – shared meals, family and friends, sunsets and animals – so few of us have the things that make life easier and more possible.

United Planet Vice President Theresa Higgs had a wonderful time in Mongolia this month. She was traveling and training and making connections in the capitol and the countryside, along with Anindita Dutta Roy of iEARN.

The wonderful exchange between public schools in Mongolia and Boston will take place in 2011. Fifteen students and teachers from each country will have their minds and hearts opened by traveling to the other country, living with families, touring historical sites, and exchanging information about media in a civil society. These folks will travel free of charge, thanks to a grant from the U.S. State Department Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs – surely giving them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

United Planet is honored to be the organization chosen to implement this program on the ground in Mongolia and in Boston, MA. But what a task! We have to train teachers, interview students, locate host families, consider translation challenges – and learn loads and loads!