Arlyn in her classroom!

While on sabbatical from teaching, Arlyn volunteered in Nepal for one week. She is thrilled she had the opportunity and tells more of her story below.

Meet Arlyn, a seasoned teaching professional who recently won a week-long quest through United Planet while attending a local neighborhood auction.  Arlyn is no stranger to traveling and has been fortunate to have visited many countries during her career.

“I’m a very service-oriented person and I’d been thinking about doing a volunteer service trip for some time. With a lifelong interest in education around the world, the opportunity to teach English in Nepal was thrilling. When this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance.”

Happy students playing outside the school

Packed and ready to go, she set off on her adventure.  Arlyn’s initial impressions of Nepal were through the plane’s window as she stared wide-eyed at the some of the highest peaks in the world.  Once on the ground, she marveled at the colorful clothing of the people she saw, was tickled to see monkeys wandering here and there, and amazed by the massive traffic congestion on the streets.

Cars, motor scooters, trucks and tractors lugging cargo all fought for space on narrow, one way roads often no wider than alleys.

The constant honking, gridlock and pollution was a shock to someone who thought she had seen chaotic roads in other countries. On her first day in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, she was eager to begin her adventure but anxiously wondered what everything would be like. Would she like her home stay? Would the food upset her stomach? What would teaching really be like? As she finally got settled into her home stay, she found she was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful moments of Nepal each day.

“Teaching for 6 days in Kathmandu was a wonderfully rewarding experience,” said Arlyn, “although it certainly had its challenges. Education is happening there; it’s just not built out to the capacity one would hope.”

The school, where Arlyn taught, was founded by a local visionary named Uttam Sanjel, who is working hard to provide a decent, affordable education to poverty-stricken children throughout Nepal. Because she arrived in Nepal as a seasoned traveler, she wasn’t as shocked by what she saw yet was still saddened by the poverty, pollution and lack of basic supplies available at the school.

The school rooms were filled with many benches on dirt floors. They were positioned in front of long, thin tables illuminated only by the light coming in through the lattice and spaces between bamboo walls. A few light bulbs hung strategically to illuminate the darkest corners. A blackboard, eraser and small pieces of chalk were all that functioned as teaching materials. Some content-area books did exist, yet they weren’t culturally relevant and often contained vocabulary that was too advanced for the students. On the narrow benches sat forty-five to sixty-seven uniform-clad students crammed so closely together there was hardly room to stand – as is customary- when called on to speak. Because of the sheer number of students in one room, it was very difficult for teachers to learn everyone’s names – thus they sometimes resorted to calling out numbers to identify them.

A typical interaction between student and teacher went something like ‘Student #42, what did you have for an answer to this homework question?’ The school was not able to supply typical items such as papers and pencils, computers or photo copiers. No gym or cafeteria, no rooms other than the school rooms themselves. There was no running water, other than a tap at the school’s entrance. Students had to bring their own pens and sometimes had to share. If one ran dry or broke, it became very stressful for the kids. Basic supplies are clearly a valued commodity and not easily replaceable.

“I thought about all the extra pens I have laying around my house and I couldn’t believe I didn’t bring a whole bag of them” she said while recalling the poverty stricken country. Despite the difficult conditions, her students were so eager to learn and happy to come to school every day. The children rejoiced as they were taught songs such as “You are my sunshine” and the “Hokey Pokey.”

They were enthusiastic and immensely grateful for everything Arlyn taught during her forty-five minute classes. When asked if they wanted to learn about American holidays, they enthusiastically shouted “Yes”! The myriad of questions they asked about America both warmed Arlyn’s heart and saddened her, knowing they have so little access to the wider world.

Students working hard in class

It did take some time for Arlyn to get used to certain aspects of life at the school.  For example, when everyone in the modest teacher’s room was finished eating lunch, they would throw their garbage in a corner on the floor, rather than use a wastebasket.

At the end of the day someone would come and clean it up, leaving a litter-free floor the next day. While this was an odd, foreign practice to Arlyn, she knew littering was very normal for the Nepalese people. She also mentioned the standard fare students ate for lunch included dry ramen noodles, and if they were among the lucky,their parents would bring them hot pails of food.

When the weather was nice, children would eat outside and then play together in the bare, open space. There were no aspects typical to a western playground such as slides or swings, just dirt and open air. Yet knowing no differently, the children still found joy in the simple art of play.

When asked what biggest teaching challenge Arlyn faced at the volunteer project site, she replied the noise level made teaching and learning incredibly difficult. Not only did she have to strain to hear individual students as they spoke, but the thin bamboo walls allowed her to hear neighboring classes loud and clear, along with children playing outside and the typical pattern of low-flying planes overhead. Trying to focus on one noise at a time proved difficult and frustrating. Speaking loudly enough for students to hear left Arlyn with a tired, raspy voice by day’s end. Needless to say, this was quite a different educational experience than in America.

Hindu temple in Kathmandu

It wasn’t all hard work though. During her time in Nepal, Arlyn was able to take advantage of several cultural excursions and time off. She saw Mount Everest, visited an organic farm, explored local shops, and enjoyed walks through neighborhoods, observing Nepalese people in their daily life.

One highlight was her visit to the biggest Hindu temple in Kathmandu.  She felt deeply moved when she had the opportunity to observe the sacred ritual of cremation over funeral pyres at the Ganges River.  “I was breathless, struck by the life that was over and the ritual that has sustained itself for millennia” she said.

Arlyn felt lucky that she was able to return to a nice family in a comfortable home each evening. Her home stay family lived in a house with running water and western toilets, for which she was grateful. She found the family very accommodating and they even offered Arlyn the first floor where they slept, so she wouldn’t have to travel up and down the stairs to her guest room.

She was also able to get to know the family’s children and extended family. Typical to many Nepalese households, the extended family lived together, separated by different floors. Brothers, sisters and grandparents all shared the house, living peacefully among bells, prayer and the thick smell of incense. There were some adjustments however.

“I never had a hot shower while I was there, and the electricity was frequently cut off for hours at a time, but I adapted” said Arlyn. Overall, she was very happy with her home-stay placement and understood the reality that her daily life in Nepal would look very different than in America.

Young Nepalese child

Arlyn’s biggest accomplishment while in Nepal? Because the tiny, under-stocked library at the school wasn’t open to students, she suggested that the teacher assign each child a trip to the local library at least once per month.

“I hope the teacher follows through – a library can open the world to them.”

Arlyn only spent 6 days teaching, but feels she gained just as much as she gave. The trip of a lifetime she called it, that everyone should have the opportunity to take.

Here is a note from our country coordinator in Romania, Melanie:

I would like to thank eveyone who has helped over the last few weeks.  It has been an especially difficult time for us and the support and messages have really helped to keep the spirits up.  We have been touched by the kindness of our volunteers and thank you so much for your help.

We are going to use the funds raise to rebuild as soon as the weather allows.  We are awaiting structural engineering results to see whether we can rebuild on what was left or whether we need to demolish and start again. We will keep you posted.

Best wishes to all and once again many thanks

Melanie

Multumesc-Thank You from the adorable children at the Romanian orphanage

Please consider making a donation of any size through our donation site set up specifically to raise money toward helping the orphanage.

Or, text ROMANIA to 85639 on your mobile device.*

Thank you for all your support, for your dedication to our programs, and for your well wishes!

*$10.00 donation to United Planet Romania Fund. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 85639 to STOP. Text HELP to 85639 for HELP. Full Terms: www.mGive.org/T.  Privacy Policy

Lilyanne, posing for a recent post on her well-known fashion blog, "Bleed For Fashion"

Meet Lilyanne, a fashion blogger from Vancouver with an edgy style and a passion for life.  I had the chance to catch up with Lilyanne about her recent Quest to Nepal.

It was great to hear about her trip—the people she met, the places she saw, the independence she gained—the list goes on.  Here are some of the highlights as well as a few pictures from her 4 week long journey.

According to the “about me” section of her incredibly popular blog, “Bleed For Fashion,” Lilyanne describes herself as, “Vancouver-based, Calgary-raised. Dreamer. Inspiration seeker. A wall that so few can hurdle across.”

She certainly took a trip outside her comfort zone while traveling to Nepal, and the “dreamer and inspiration seeker” portion of her personality was put to the test.

Considering this was her first time traveling independently to a foreign country, there were obviously aspects that took some getting used to, but all in all her trip was a success.

She remarked, “Overall it was really great.  There was a lot to get used to, but given the chance to stay longer I would’ve, and I’m determined to go back.”

Lilyanne’s first major adjustment was to the capital city of Kathmandu where she spent the majority of her 4 week trip.

A View of Prayer Flags in Kathmandu

She said the traffic and congestion was overwhelming at first; not surprising as it is the largest metropolitan in the country, and has nearly one million inhabitants.

After a week or so she was able to embrace the intensity of the city, and by the end of the four weeks she said, “I was able to see quite a bit–nothing really shocked me anymore.”

Another adjustment Lilyanne faced head-on was at the orphanage where she volunteered.  She quickly realized that the approach to schedules and following a routine is a bit different in Nepal than what she’s used to back home.

“It was up to me to schedule how much time I wanted to spend at the orphanage. It’s a very different structure; you have to be creative and think on the spot.  My priority was at the children’s home, and I tried to give everyone equal attention.”

One of adorable orphan children, Rajeshwori

There were 28 children at the orphanage she worked at and about 4 other volunteers who overlapped with her time there.  She made the most of her time by splitting the children into smaller groups so no one was left out.

Lilyanne was constantly impressed by the incredible children at the orphanage, explaining, “they’re amazing children! So smart– and they all have their own personalities.”

She recounted one of her most memorable experiences in Nepal, an experience that happened to combine her love for shoes with the joy and beauty of volunteering. During her days at the shelter, she couldn’t help but notice that many of the children didn’t have proper footwear—and some didn’t have shoes at all.

She and another amazing volunteer at the shelter decided to take the 28 children to a shoe store downtown and bought them each a new pair of shoes.

Shoe shopping!

As you can imagine, it meant the world to each of the young kids.  Lilyanne recalled happily, “to see their faces light up for something we so easily take for granted really warmed my heart.  For the first time in my life I really felt like I was doing something right.”

Another major adjustment she faced during her Quest was being without a set support system of family and friends.

“In a foreign country you can only rely on yourself.  I learned a lot about myself, and definitely became a more independent person.”

Throughout her time she also learned to lean on the staff and friends she made at the orphanage, remarking, “by the end I was so sad to leave; I made relationships with people that now feel like family.”

Her host family was incredible and had a huge impact on her trip. They made the transition into foreign life comfortable, loving, and exciting.

I could almost hear her beaming through the phone as she gushed, “I couldn’t have been happier with the family I was placed with.  I clicked with my host mother immediately—she spoke almost perfect English.” Laughing, she continued, “I’m also Vietnamese, and my host mother and I actually looked alike!  I was often mistaken as a local.”

Lilyanne also easily bonded with her host sister, and they were even able to spend time together at the orphanage during a holiday while her host-sister was on vacation from school.

Lilyanne and her host-sister on the last day at the orphanage

Though most of her time and energy was spent at the orphanage, she was also able to enjoy the culture and beauty of Nepal.

She got to go to some of the main Buddhist and Hindu temples around Kathmandu, and even witness an eye-opening live cremation at a Hindu temple.

She said it was fascinating to explore the beautiful temples, especially since religion is such a major part of the culture and heritage of Nepal in general.

During Dashain, “the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar,” she found time to travel to Pokhara, the third largest city in Nepal.

Beautiful Pokhara

She shared with her many followers in one recent post,

“I had the chance to be rid of the crowds, noise and pollution of Kathmandu and leave for higher ground for a couple of days. Located 200 km west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is the third largest city in Nepal.

Surrounded by beautiful peaks of the Himalayas, luscious green forests and the magnificent Phewa Tal lake, Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty and for some R&R.”

Her trip only raised her spirits further as she found more and more to love about the country of Nepal.

Lilyanne had an amazing trip and made a deep and meaningful impression on the people she met.  Here’s some advice she had to share—what a great approach to life she has!

“Go in with open heart and mind. In the beginning I struggled. I needed to remind myself this was my decision—I made it on my own—I had to just tell myself what I’m doing is for a purpose and I need to embrace it and live in the moment.  Remember: Stay humble and give back. You never know when you’re changing someone’s life, or saving it.”

A mother and daughter in Thimi

Thanks, Lilyanne, from all of us at United Planet. You made a meaningful impact on the lives of so many deserving children, and you’ll surely be remembered every time they look down at their feet!

If you’re interested in volunteering abroad in Nepal, here’s some more information about United Planet Quests, and how you can get involved in over 40 countries around the world! For more highlights from Lilyanne’s trip, including pictures and videos, be sure to check out her blog!

This is a warm-hearted couple from the U.S. who just finished a volunteering tour in Chile. They enjoyed home stays, mining tours, sharing with students, and so much more.  We love our volunteers!

Mary with homestay Maggie Diaz, at their apartment entrance

United Planet volunteers, Craig and Mary Noke, a retired couple from California, flew into Santiago after four days of sightseeing in Peru, including  Machu Picchu.  Their three week teaching assistant/CAP quest in Chile included two weeks in Santiago and their final week in Viña del Mar.

In Santiago they quickly felt “at home” in the large, comfortable apartment of Maggie Diaz, a gregarious, warm-hearted widow.

In Viña del Mar they were welcomed into the home of a couple of engaging journalists, Karen and Marcelo, and their three young children.   The fact that Karen is Maggie’s niece made their homestay transition easy.

The logistics were also easy as UP’s coordinator took them to the Santiago bus station and two hours later Karen was waiting for them at the  Viña del Mar bus station.

Speaking to Guillermo Fernandez, 4th grade students at boys school

During  their first week, Craig and Mary made CAP talks to engineering students in  business English classes at Universidad de los Andes, as well as, to a group of seniors at a community center.

Their second week was spent helping Chilean English teachers at a girls school (grades one to twelve) in a populous section of Santiago known as La Florida.

One day they developed a special presentation on different kinds of music which was very well received by their students.

Another day they were invited to make CAP talks at one of Chile’s top private schools, and finished that day by giving a presentation before the school’s 90 teachers.

On the weekend, they took an all-day bus tour high up into the Andes Mountains, to El Teniente, the world’s largest underground copper mine, and Sewell, an abandoned mining town.

Tour of Copper Mine. Inside the world’s largest underground copper mine

Craig later commented that, as a fan of processes, he especially enjoyed watching how a huge rock crusher operated inside the mine.

Another day the UP coordinator took them on a walking tour of historic downtown Santiago that included such landmarks as the Plaza de las Armas, the Cathedral, Santiago’s Stock Market, and the Moneda.

During their last week the Nokes gave CAP talks to English classes at a technical college of 5,000 students in Viña del Mar. They later commented that they could not believe how warmly they had been welcomed by the teachers there. They also spent an enjoyable day touring the Port of Valparaiso with its picturesque hills, and visiting the home of Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.

The day before leaving Chile, they sat down with the UP coordinator to explain why they considered their Chile quest such a fantastic experience. They loved both their homestay families.  They had received a warm welcome by the Chilean English teachers at all the schools they visited.

They enjoyed their classes with both high school and university students, especially the interest shown by students in their CAP presentations.  They liked answering the student’s sometimes unexpected questions.

Mary teaching a classroom of students

Their advice to future volunteers was simple and along those same lines.  They say you have to learn to expect the unexpected. They are also convinced that sharing their life experiences, as they did for three weeks with Chilean students and the new Chilean friends they made, was valuable for everyone.

From 9/16/2011: “Relax. Be patient. You have more time.”

Ghana Bound!!

If you ever find yourself venturing around Ghana, those are the three things you will need to remember. But I’ll get to that a little later.

I want to write everything, tell you all of my experiences so far, but I have to accept that it would be impossible to do that. I think this post will have to be separated into short blurbs.

-I arrived in Accra Tuesday afternoon, was picked up by Sheila, an ICYE worker, and with some apprehension, jumped in a taxi to wherever I was being taken. Accra traffic is scary, to say the least.

-I’m staying in a hostel with 21 other volunteers as we go through a week of orientation. Being the only American, it’s been quite a cultural experience so far. The others are from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden.

I definitely have it easiest when it comes to the Ghanaian English accent. The others know English, some better than the rest, but they have a very hard time understanding. Not in a mean way, but it’s interesting to watch them struggle.

Hostel for orientation week

They switch back and forth between their own languages and English to help each other understand. I don’t remember what it’s like to sit in the same room with everyone speaking English anymore.

-White people are ‘Oburoni’. Oburoni means white. White means rich (to them).

The men on the street come up, put their arm around you, attempt to make friends (sometimes more than friends), and will then try to sell you something.

-All my stressful preparation is paying off. Other volunteers are coming to me for things they need (good thing I brought a little extra of everything). I brought out UNO one night as well. Each country had some different rules, so we had fun making it up as we went.

-We started our intensive Twi language courses today. It’s…intense.

Drinking water in a bag

-I’m actually never too hot. I think good ol’ psychotic Minnesota weather is to thank for that.

-Now back to the title of this blog. We volunteers have been told numerous times that the hardest part of this adventure is already done.

We made the decision to move to Ghana.

William (the head guy here) says, “If you make it to Ghana, there is nothing you can’t do”.

He says that everything will come in its own time. I’m here for 6 months, there’s no rush to figure it all out. Just “relax” and “be patient”.

-Girl Worth Fighting For, from Mulan, has been stuck in my head for 3 days.

“When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don’t even understand the language the people speak….You begin to be more accessible to others, because they may be able to help you in difficult situations.”

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From 9/18/2011: “Naa Adwoa Shika”

Naming ceremony

That ^ is my Ghanaian name. Yesterday, we held a semi-traditional naming ceremony for all the volunteers.

Traditionally, after a Ghanaian woman gives birth, they keep the baby inside the house for 7 days.

On the 8th day, they perform an “outdooring”, and officially name the baby. The libation process is kinda complex, it involves dipping fingers into spirit alcohol and water, and placing symbolic drops in the baby’s mouth.

All the while, an elder wishes good morals and truth upon the baby. In the Akan culture, the first name is based on the day the baby was born (mine being Adwoa-monday).

Documenting all the new names

The second name is sometimes after an important family member/friend or it can be a name that means something good. Sampson, our Twi teacher who performed this whole ceremony, gave me Shika.

It means I bring wealth to wherever I go, I have a beautiful spirit, and I should have many many children. “2 children in 3 months” as Sampson joked. He’s a funny guy.

Our ceremony was minus the drops of liquid. Instead, we drank out of glasses. And let me tell you, 43% alcohol content was not my cup of tea…

Jean Charles, a seventeen-year-old senior at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science in Roxbury, doesn’t remember his first trip on a plane — as a baby traveling from Haiti. He will never forget his second. In July, Jean flew over 30 hours to Mongolia via Washington D.C. and Beijing.  “I got very used to being in a plane,” he says. Many more unfamiliar experiences, however, were ahead for Jean.

Some of the group, ready to explore

Jean was one of 11 Boston Public School students and three teachers selected to join a three-week expedition to Mongolia as participants in the U.S. Department of State’s U.S.-Mongolia Emerging Youth Leaders Program. This October, Mongolian teenagers will travel to Boston to learn about journalism and the role of free expression in democratic society.

The program is supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and coordinated by United Planet, a Boston-based nonprofit that offers volunteer abroad programs; and iEARN, the world’s largest educational network for project-based learning.

Enrolled at Boston Latin, Quincy Upper, and Snowden School, as well as O’Bryant, the students represent the diversity and talent in Boston’s public schools.

They were each selected, says Caitlin Ferrarini, International Programs Manager at United Planet, because they were “involved in extracurricular activities, had an interest in journalism and free expression, were mature and independent, and were good students. We also tried to select kids who hadn’t had many opportunities to travel, especially internationally. A few kids were flying for the first time ever – it was really eye-opening!”

When they arrived in Mongolia, the students met their host families and visited schools, media outlets, an orphanage, historic sites, and nomadic herders in their ger tents (or yurts) in the desert.

It isn't every day one can "plank" in the Gobi Desert

They wrote newspaper articles and explored the meaning of free speech with their Mongolian peers. They learned to play games with goat anklebones and taught their hosts the latest Hip Hop dance moves. They heard harmonic throat singing, rode camels, and drank fermented mare’s milk. The American fad of planking – in which players compete to “plank” or lie like a board on top of unusual locations – may have found its champions when the Boston students planked on sand dunes in the Gobi desert.

Jean brought home a new sense that “the world is a lot smaller than I thought it would be.” He was struck that “as far away as they live, a lot of Mongolians we met spoke English really well – along with Russian and Mongolian – when Americans struggle to speak a second, or even one. Now I want to learn more languages myself.”

As a member of the Boston Student Advisory Council, Jean was impressed with the schools in Mongolia. “All the parents, teachers and students there are involved in the schools. I hope I can emphasize the importance of being involved in your school through my work on the Council.”

A boy and his goat

The American and Mongolian students are now staying in touch through Facebook, and can’t wait to see each other again when the Mongolians visit Boston this fall. “I’m saving up to take my host brother to the Galleria and shop for sneakers,” says Jean. “I’d love it if he could go to a Red Sox or a Patriots game.”

The Mongolian students will spend two weeks in Boston, visiting and learning; they will tour the Emerson College radio station, visit the BU Center for Investigative Journalism, interview homeless people, drop by the MIT Center for Future Civic Media, and more. The third week, they will be in Washington, DC, where they will tour Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court, visit the Smithsonian, and more.

About Mongolia

The whole happy group of travelers!

Mongolia, a landlocked country in East and Central Asia, is bordered by Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Mongolia’s political system is now a parliamentary republic; during the last century, its politics were similar to those in the USSR, until a democratic revolution in 1990 led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and transition to a market economy. Since 2006, the media environment has been improving with the government debating a new Freedom of Information Act, and the removal of any affiliation of media outlets with the government. Market reforms have led to an increasing number of people working in the media, along with students at journalism schools.

The project is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is being managed and implemented by United Planet (based in Boston, MA) and iEARN (International Education and Resource Network).

About iEARN

iEARN was launched in 1988 as a pilot project between the US and former USSR to demonstrate that students could use emerging new technologies to work together on meaningful educational projects that enhance the quality of life on the planet. It is iEARN’s vision that if students start working together globally from the earliest ages (5-19), they will learn better through experiential interaction with peers in other countries and learn that the world’s issues can be resolved by collaborative solutions. iEARN has grown to become the world’s largest educational network for project-based learning, with programs in more than 130 countries.

iEARN-USA was awarded the 2003 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education and is a 2004 Tech Museum Laureate winner for “technology benefiting humanity.” Please visit www.iearn.org andwww.us.iearn.org or e-mail: iearn@us.iearn.org iEARN-USA is based in New York City.

About MEA

The Mongolian Education Alliance is an independent non-governmental organization established in July 2004 as a successor to the education program or the former Mongolian Foundation for Open Society. Th mission of MEA is to strengthen and sustain the network of local and international partners that contribute to open society values such as transparency, accountability, participation, equal access in the Mongolian education sector; identify underserved areas of educational reform; and initiate projects supporting reform in teacher development, student center learning, and community involvement. MEA is the officially designated iEARN representative for Mongolia

About ECA

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, and peaceful relations, as mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.

ECA accomplishes its mission through a range of programs based on the benefits of mutual understanding, international educational and cultural exchange, and leadership development. We engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and rising leaders in many fields in the United States and more than 160 countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. Striving to reflect the diversity of the United States and global society, ECA programs, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

ECA exchange program alumni encompass over 1 million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and over 350 current and former heads of state and government.

Kimberly felt that her entire safety review before spending 3 weeks in Tanzania was over the top. She remarked, “I was warned about many things, including ‘not to look at people in the eye’ and other safety topics. I did not have an issue at all with many of the topics that were brought up. If you practice common sense in Tanzania, then you will have a good time.” We thought we should explain to our volunteers and to anyone else interested in staying safe while abroad, why we spend so much time preparing our volunteers and ensuring our host family and volunteer project placements are safe.

We love our volunteers!

We took some time to put together some information concerning ways to stay safe while abroad, and we want to reiterate the importance of being prepared; we may focus on safety too much, but hey, it’s better to be safe than to be sorry!  Plus, we’ll do the worrying for you so you can have more time to enjoy your trip…

Living and working in another culture is an unparalleled experience.

Too many travelers, however, miss out on opportunities to help communities in developing nations because of concerns about personal safety. How will you find a safe place to live? How will you ask for help if you don’t speak the language? Will you make friends who can advise you? What will you do in an emergency?

A volunteer making the most of her experience in Chile last December

Staying safe abroad is much the same as staying safe at home. It requires common sense, an understanding of local customs and lives, and supportive relationships with local residents.

Cultural immersion, rather than keeping your distance, is the key to a safe and life-changing adventure.

Becoming an accepted and engaged member of your new community will give you the awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity you need to avoid unsafe situations.

Your skills and energy are needed in many different countries. Here’s how you can make a difference without worry:

• Learn about your destination before you go. Read traveler forums, blogs, and accounts from people who know the country. Explore the streets, countryside, and transportation routes via Google Earth’s satellite maps and images.
• Arrange to live with a host family or in a hostel managed by local residents. They will be your first friends and support network in the country.
• Arrange to do meaningful work within the community. Real contributions will help you build real relationships.
• Learn the language as much as possible before your arrival.
• Be aware of cultural patterns and plan to take part in local customs. What is considered polite behavior and decent attire? What holidays, festivals, and other events will take place while you are there?
• Learn about the realities of daily life in your community. What are the challenges? What are the joys? Plan to share in both.
• Enroll in a reputable international travel program that provides pre-departure training as well as a network of in-country support.

Happy kids at a school in Tanzania

United Planet (www.unitedplanet.org) has been helping people volunteer in 40 nations for several years. Committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding to promote global peace, UP’s in-country coordinators have lived, worked, or studied in the region they manage. They provide personalized attention and planning for each volunteer as well as comprehensive pre-departure information and training.

On arrival, volunteers receive an on-site orientation by their in-country coordinator, who explains logistics, public transportation, emergency procedures, and local health and safety precautions. UP volunteers have 24/7 phone access to their coordinator, and coordinators check in regularly with all volunteers in the field. Host families, locations, and projects have been thoroughly vetted by the UP team.

By building relationships between volunteers, coordinators, and community members, United Planet ensures that their participants have all the preparation, tools and resources they need to stay safe while making a difference.

“My two children participated in a United Planet Quest to Peru last summer. They enjoyed their experience so much that this summer they are both going to Guatemala. Both of them truly loved what United Planet organized for them in Peru. Not only did they feel that they were helping underprivileged children in Peru, and making a difference in their lives, but they also bonded with their local host families, became more fluent in Spanish, and were able to travel throughout the incredible countryside of Cuzco. To feel that way is a very empowering experience for teenagers. It has opened their eyes to the world and given them more respect and understanding for other cultures.”

–Renata De Dalmas – Parent of two United Planet volunteers

United Planet is very excited to announce that Chie Goto will serve as the Country Manager in Japan for a new voluntary international exchange program between Japan, the United States, and other countries, entitled United Planet J-Initiative, J-Center Volunteer Leaders²(pronounced Volunteer Leaders squared).  Starting this week, Ms. Goto will oversee this program that expects to enroll over 650 American and Japanese volunteers within four years.

Chie gave a lecture at a school in Japan and discussed the work of United Planet

“Chie shares the same vision and mission of United Planet as exemplified by her life experiences and accomplishments. She understands how the principles of Relational Diplomacy can bring people together to enable us to surmount local and global challenges and realize our fullest global potential,” says Dave Santulli, Executive Director of United Planet.

“Chie’s life sets an example for many.  As our leader in Japan, Chie will be able to inspire and involve generations of volunteers and leaders to build understanding and work together to find global solutions. We are very proud to have Chie Goto join the United Planet team and build United Planet in Japan.”

Ms. Goto has founded three nonprofit organizations: “Japan-Kenya Student Conference” (JKSC), “Student Conference Network,” (SCN) and “Japan-India Student Conference,” (JISC).  For the nationwide Japanese newspaper, “Mainichi shinbun,” she served as a freelance journalist and has received numerous nonfiction writing awards. In 2005 the International Soroptimist Okazai, Japan awarded Ms. Goto for contribution towards society and International exchange.

United Planet J-Initiative, J-Center Volunteer Leaders² Program will allow underserved youth within Japan and America to foster cross-cultural cooperation and civic leadership through an innovative, sustainable voluntary exchange program. Building upon the 2010 Global Volunteer Exchange Visit funded by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), United Planet will expand relationships from across various sectors, including universities, NPOs, foundations, and companies. In a decade, United Planet hopes to engage over 4,000 incoming Americans and outgoing Japanese volunteers.

Chie in the newspaper!

Chie volunteering

There’s no question that it takes a lot of nerve to drop everything for 10 weeks and travel from the comforts of your New Jersey home to Africa.

Beautiful Africa

“I love to travel, I was so unhappy at work, and I had nothing keeping me here. I decided to quit my job and take the plunge.”

All good reasons, but it still took a lot of courage to actually follow through with her decision, and it’s great that she did!  Her trip was inspirational, exciting, wonderful, and adventurous; just what she needed.

Prior to her United Planet Quest, Sara had no experience with teaching (besides some dance lessons and cheerleading camp).

Needless to say, she was a bit apprehensive about teaching two classes, each with 30 second grade African children.  She explained, “I was terrified, so nervous!  I had no idea what I was going to do or what the kids’ learning ability was.”

Her first couple days at the school were spent sitting in on lessons to get a sense of what type of skills the children had.

Sara with some of her students in Dar es Salaam

She felt fortunate that the children were taught all of their lessons in English which meant they could have basic conversations and a basic understanding of one another.

Sara was given free rein during her math and English lessons; while she taught, the teachers were able to take a break, get some work done, etc.  It freed up their day to get things done that they needed to.

One of her favorite and most memorable parts of the whole trip was when she developed a game to help the kids get excited about math. She had them split into relay teams and put math problems on the board that they had to solve as fast as possible as a team. 

Sara and her students

The kids loved the game and went from hating math to asking if they could do extra!

Sara explained, “It was exciting to see them helping each other out and working together which is something they had never been exposed to by their other teachers.”

Naturally, Sara fell in love with teaching and since returning home has had a lot to think about in terms of her future. Even though she never had considered teaching as a profession before, her experiences in Tanzania have opened her up to a multitude of ideas and possibilities.

When I asked Sara about the most difficult aspect of her trip to Africa, she remarked: “the heat! I mean I knew Africa was hot, but I was not prepared for how intense it was.”

Teaching the kids a new favorite dance; the macarana!

Beyond the initial heat shock, she also had a tough time getting used to being an outsider.

She said, “you just can’t blend in, so people stare.  Not because of malicious intent, but simply because you look different.  They see you and they mostly want to know where you come from, why you’re there, etc.”

She was able to get used to both the heat as well as the extra attention, and after her 10 week stay she became much more comfortable and confident as a traveler.

“The city can be incredibly overwhelming, so for the first 2 weeks I was so afraid of getting lost, I’d just go straight to school and then straight home.  It was really rewarding when I tried to go somewhere else for the first time and I actually made it there. It definitely gave me the confidence I needed to explore the city on my own comfortably.”

Most of United Planet’s Quest programs involve a home stay where you have the incredible opportunity to live with a family who is native to the area.  As many United Planet volunteers have done in the past, Sara expressed the utmost appreciation and affection for the family that she stayed with.  She said some of her favorite moments came from being able to go to family events with her host family; events and experiences that typical tourists would not be exposed to.

Happy students

Being able to see the little things about day to day life and see how they live really meant a lot to her.

She said she has been keeping in touch with her host family through their nephew who uses e-mail and passes along her messages.  She also decided to send them a care package and she hopes to visit them in Africa once again in the near future.

Sara had the opportunity to travel during her 10 week Quest on a weekend trip to Zanzibar and a trip to Bagimolio.  After her Quest was over she also spent 1 month on an overland trip from Nairobi to Johanesberg where she traveled with a group who camped and cooked together at each stop.

She was able to go bungee-jumping, horseback riding in Lake Malawi, swim with horses in the lake, visit the Delta in Bostswana, and more.  She saw a lot of amazing things and met some really cool people that she plans to keep in touch with.

Sara and her adorable kids

It isn’t hard to see why Sara had an amazing experience in Tanzania. 

“Coming home you feel different; it’s hard to explain, but seeing how happy simple things make the people you were spending all your time with is very humbling.”

She is incredibly grateful that she took the leap and chose to go ahead with the trip. I have no doubt that she had as much of an impact on the people she met as they had on her.

Sara had some advice for any future travelers…

1. “Be open to anything and everything because it will be totally different.
2. Don’t get annoyed with cultural differences, embrace them!
3. As far as teaching kids goes; be patient, repetitive, speak slowly, and try to have fun with it!

Thank you Sara and EVERYONE who volunteers; the world is better because of what you do!

This summer, as part of an Emerging Youth Leaders Program, 11 high school students from 4 different Boston Public schools will travel to Mongolia for 3 weeks.  A group from Mongolia will then travel to Boston, MA for a similar exchange trip in October of 2011.

We had the pleasure of meeting the Boston group this week for an Orientation; here’s a report from this fun night…

The focus of the exchange trips, as set by the State Department and facilitated by iEARN USA, United Planet, and the Mongolian Education Alliance, is on democracy and free expression in civil society.  These impressive students as well as 4 teachers and one United Planet representative, will receive training and complete projects focused around freedom of expression, journalism, and the media.

The trip has been funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administered by iEARN USA.  United Planet has been chosen as the Boston subcontractor to choose and prepare Boston teachers and students and prepare program for Mongolian participants on exchange in Boston.

A group of us from United Planet had the pleasure of meeting the teachers and students on Tuesday night for an Orientation at Boston Latin School.  The students from the four Boston Public Schools (Boston Latin School, O’Bryant School of Math and Technology, Quincy Upper School, and Snowden International School at Copley), and their parents, attended the Orientation to hear about their exciting trip as well as to get to know one another.

Introducing each other to the group

Right off the bat it was easy to see these kids were a great bunch.  They were incredibly excited about their trip and had a great time getting to know one another.  A couple kids from the same school expressed how cool it was to get to know someone who went to their school that they hadn’t known before.

Sitting in a circle and enjoying some pizza, they talked about their hopes for the trips as well as their fears; all of the kids were excited to meet their host family as well as explore another new culture. One girl asked what the internet access would be like, and her mother shook her head and laughed as Theresa (Vice President of United Planet) explained it was, “a lot less than you’re used to,” suggesting, “you might consider weaning yourself off gradually this summer.”

Hello, Mongolia! We're as nice as we look.

Only one student in the group has traveled to Asia before; she said until she was 9 her family would go to China each summer.  Most of the other kids have had some travel experience, but nothing like this 3 week trip, (without their parents)!

Some of them said they were a little nervous about the language barrier they would encounter while traveling, (especially communicating with their host family), as well as the long flight (over 20 hours in the air!), but they were overwhelmingly positive, and their enthusiasm was contagious.  When asked what their friends thought of them going to Mongolia, a few kids laughed and said that their friends had asked, “Where’s Mongolia?”

Group's Statue Representation of "Finding Nemo"

Later during the Orientation, the students and chaperones were asked to separate into two groups and form a statue representation of a movie.  One group depicted a scene from “Black Swan” and the other chose “Finding Nemo.”  Both groups did a great job and looked like they had fun putting it together. We also played a Trivia Game to see how much research the students had done on Mongolia and they had fun working together to come up with answers.

It was cool to hear about Mongolia and both the students and their parents learned a lot about the fascinating history and culture.  Mongolia, part of East Central Asia, has an interesting hybrid culture of influences from its neighboring countries, Russia and China. 

It is a country 3 times the size of France, but with a population of only 2,736, 800 people, 30% of which is nomadic, it is sparsely inhabited. A majority of the population is centered in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar (UB), where the students will fly into and spend about 1.5 weeks.  In the cities, as well as throughout the country, a large portion of the population still lives in traditional yurts (tents) following the nomadic tradition.

After adapting to the time difference and the culture in UB, the students will have the chance to explore and camp in the Gobi Desert for about 5 days.  The Gobi Desert is about 500,000 square miles spanning from North east China and the southern portion of Mongolia.

It is a place of extreme temperature changes, often shifting as much as 61 degrees F in the span of 24 hours.  During their time in the Gobi, the students will interview herdsmen, explore the sand dunes, and go for nature walks to observe, document, and photograph the amazing environment.

After returning to UB, the students will have about 4 days to stay with their host families.  They’ll do some amazing exploring in the capital city; including visiting a local TV station, participating in an open Discussion forum with the President of Mongolia, and attending a Mongolian folk concert.

The whole group including chaperones

Next it’s onto Nairamdal Center for 5 days of cultural exchange programs including ceremonies, game nights, sports nights, and presentations by both the American group as well as the Mongolian group.  To top off the trip, the Boston crew will head back to UB for one final night before flying back home; on this final night of their trip, they’ll have the unique opportunity to sit down to a Farewell Dinner with the US Ambassador to Mongolia!

Needless to say, this experience will be amazing. The students and chaperones who are going are a great group of people who will definitely make the most of this incredible journey; not only learning more about the culture of the Mongolian people and the art of journalism, but also about themselves and just how much they all can achieve.  Good luck to everyone!