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

Megan reports that the language barrier was challenging, but the rewards were immense.

What did you enjoy most about your Quest in Japan?

The time spent with my host family and the time spent with the children at the school was what I enjoyed most about my Quest.

What was most challenging about your Quest experience?

The language barrier, if anything, was the most challenging.

Describe your volunteer work experience.

I helped at the local kindergarten at first with the small children and towards the end I worked with the 4, 5, and 6 year olds. I read to all the children in both English and Japanese, served lunch, and taught English songs. Everyday I played with the children.

Please provide a testimonial of your experience with as much detail as possible.

I could not have imagined a more perfect first visit to Japan, all thanks to United Planet. It was the most organized, fulfilling organization I have ever been apart of.

The experience surpassed my expectations: from the host family, to the volunteer work, the visits around Japan, to the everyday cultural involvement - the people of United Planet and Japan made me feel like I was a family.

I went to Japan to volunteer and in turn I learned more than I could have dreamed of in such a short quest time period. I will absolutely be using United Planet again and would recommend this amazing organization to anyone that asked with flying colors.

One of the adorable kids at the orphanage

For several years, United Planet has been proud to partner with a wonderful orphanage in Romania. We have sent hundreds of volunteers, and they report about the generosity, dedication, and joy of the people who work there.

Megan, a volunteer who traveled to Romania this summer, summed up her one month experience in Romania, remarking:

“I have never felt so attached to a single community I have been involved in my life. The people were so welcoming and kind. It is a beautiful country. ”

We’re sad to report that on December 12, 2011, the orphanage suffered a devastating fire, which damaged several buildings.

Fortunately no one was hurt during the fire, which blazed until late hours of the night/early morning.  Melanie, the United Planet Program Director of Romania, reports that everyone is safe, and the living quarters were not damaged.

Local people and staff at the orphanage evacuated everyone immediately. Due to dense fog and bad roads it took the fire truck 1 hour to reach the orphanage.  The community is busy cleaning up and assessing the full extent of the damage.

The fire at the orphanage, around 3am in Romania

They lost a lot of valuable items, and several rooms need to be reconstructed — including the kitchen.

This community provides vital services to many children. They all need our help now more than ever.  We’re happy to be sending several volunteers to the orphanage this winter, and we hope they can be part of a quick and effective clean-up to help the community move on from this difficult time.

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.*

We’ll leave you with a heartfelt message we received from another volunteer, Katalina, who traveled to Romania this summer:

Some of the kids in class at the orphanage

“The children there are amazing and so precious and they taught me so much about caring for one another and love. The adults there are extremely kind and they were so hospitable. I, along with other volunteers really enjoyed our stay and it was a wonderful way to emerge cultures and help out the people. They are all amazing they made the stay very comfortable for me and the other volunteers. We always had a lot to do and we always felt needed. I’ll be going back next year and hopefully stay for longer!”

You can see more photos of the fire on this Romanian newspaper site.

Thanks for being part of United Planet! We’ll keep you updated on the progress of rebuilding efforts at the orphanage in Romania.

*$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

Describe your volunteer work experience.

I played with the children and assisted in feeding, changing, and daily hygiene.

In the outpatient area I was able to triage the patients; taking heights, weight, BP, pulse, temp and giving injections.

Tell us how you feel overall about your experience.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. I was a little unsure whether or not I was making the right decision before going, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat, in fact when it was time to come home I didn’t want to leave.

I lived with a host family for the entire 3 months that I was in Peru. They were so welcoming. They had a daughter the same age as me and we became fast friends. They showed me around the city and were very friendly and were always around to talk to and hang out with. They made the trip what it was for me. My “mom” also cooked 3 meals a day for us of traditional Peruvian food which was delicious. I am still in contact with them and am already trying to figure out when I can go back to visit.

The cultural activities were also amazing. Included in the Peru quest is a trip to Machu Picchu, which is an overnight trip. You take the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night there and then head up to Machu Picchu in the morning where you have a guided tour and then time to explore on your own.

Also included in this trip was a tour of the Sacred Valley, a Cusco City Tour, and a Quechua (The Incan Language) lesson.

I also received Spanish lessons twice a week for the entire duration of my trip. The teachers were amazing. They really knew what they were doing and were so friendly and around just to chat if you wanted to as well.

The Spanish school also organized an event each week so you could meet other volunteers or travelers and hang out. Sometimes it was a movie night, or learning to make traditional drinks, salsa lessons, cooking lessons, or parties for the different holidays.

I also loved my volunteer work. I am a nurse and worked in a clinic for my entire stay. There is an inpatient part of this clinic which houses about 50 children with mental and/or physical disabilities whose parents couldn’t care for them. In this area I helped with the daily care of the children such as bathing, dressing, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and feeding as well as played with the children. In the outpatient part of the clinic I was able to do more nursing tasks such as take blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height and weight to triage the patients and give injections. I also helped with preparing supplies and filing.

Overall this was an amazing experience. I am so happy that I did it and would love to go back someday. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.

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.

I will never forget my first morning in Indonesia...

Sarah posing with some of the teachers at the boarding school.

Just as the sun was about to peek over the horizon, I was jolted awake by a strange sound. In a matter of seconds, the dark and silent city was hit by waves of high pitched cries, enveloping the sleeping houses and hills beyond.

It took a few heart-pounding moments for me to remember I was in Semarang, Central Java, and recognize that these loud, eery voices echoing out of the darkness were the Islamic calls to prayer.

Closing my eyes and listening to these rhythmic, haunting sounds gave me goosebumps.

It hit me for the first time that I was thousands of miles and worlds away from everything I knew.

Teacher Sarah!

I couldn’t wait to start my journey.

For six incredible months I lived and assisted teaching English at a Pondok Pesantren, an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia led by an expert of Islam called a Kyai.

It was a bumpy 15 minute drive from the nearest main road through steamy forest and scattered villages.

Eventually, a large sign welcomes you to the school, a collection of small buildings.

In the centre of the clearing, surrounded by natural mango trees and flowering bushes, was the home I shared with the family of the Kyai, my host family.

Some students and Sarah in the home where she stayed.

To the left were the student dormitories housing approximately 1,000 students and to the right, the classrooms.

A typical day for the students starts at 4:00 am when they arise to pray and read the Koran.

Standard curriculum classes, such as math, history, and English, start promptly at 7:00 am and last until 3:00 pm. After that, school activities are focused around religious studies and reading the Koran. Sometimes they continue until 10:00 or 11:00 at night!

I was always amazed at how everyone could get through the day with so little sleep. They liked to tease me by saying, “selamat siang” (good afternoon) if I woke up at 6:00 am!

My favourite time was late at night when the students finished their activities and I would relax and chat with them in their dormitory. Mixing English and Indonesian, we talked about everything.

Sarah with some of her happy students.

It was amazing living at a boarding school because I was was not only a teacher, but became a close friend to many of the students as well.

On my teaching days, I would walk from my home to the classrooms wearing my long, batik patterned skirt and brightly coloured hijab covering my hair, which I wore out of respect for the culture.

“Assalamu alaikum!” I would greet my class in Arabic and they would enthusiastically reply in unison, “Wa alaikum salam!”

The classrooms were often very crowded and I had little more than a whiteboard and marker to teach with, but we always had a great time.

Some more students at her school.

The children were so full of energy and every day we would practice our English through songs, acting or games.

Whatever we did, I was usually exhausted by the end of class but always walked out smiling. It was fulfilling to see the students respond so energetically to the lesson plans I worked hard to make for them.

I think the most important thing I took home from my journey was the cross-cultural experiences and exchanging of ideas and knowledge.

It’s now clearer to me than ever that to create a better world we need to foster respect, understanding and acceptance between people of different cultures, different ethnicities and different backgrounds.

I find it troubling how easily western societies associate Islam with terrorism. I can say from first hand experience that generalizing about a group of people like this is completely unjustified and wrong.

Beautiful view from the balcony at Sarah's project.

For the people I lived and worked with in my Islamic school, as well as those I met traveling around this predominately Islamic country, the primary values in life were taking care of family, helping those less fortunate and keeping their religious and cultural traditions alive. These people are some of the kindest and gentlest people I have ever known.

I feel extremely lucky to have experienced a Quest with United Planet in Indonesia. It allowed me to   immerse myself in life in another part of our world.

When I arrived I found a culture that at times left me feeling bewildered and confused. By the time I left six months later I had learned so much that Indonesia felt like my second home.

Sarah loved staying at the boarding school where she met some amazing students and teachers.

My mind has been opened more than I imagined it could be and the way I see the world, myself, and those I know will be forever changed.

I would like to continue working with people from all walks of life and continue fostering relationships and building cross-cultural b

ridges that are essential to make our world a better place for everyone.

This certainly will not be my last Quest!

Click here for more information about becoming a United Planet Volunteer in Indonesia!

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

The group from BPS at an orientation

In Mongolia, they will learn all about the people, culture, and local media organizations of the country.

Then in October, a group of students and teachers from 10 different Mongolian high schools will travel to the USA where they will spend time in Washington DC and Boston learning about the government and media practices in America.

Caitlin Ferrarini, the United Planet Group Coordinator who will be accompanying the BPS group, explained that she’s most excited about the traditions and cultural wonders they will get to see. As she said, “Mongolia seems like it is a place that is still very full of traditions, and I am very interested to learn about these and get to know the people in Mongolia.”

The group will have the unique opportunity to spend time in both the capital city, Ulan Batar, as well as the Gobi Desert. The contrasting traditions, lifestyles, and cultures between the many Mongolians who still practice nomadic herding, and those who live in the city, are sure to be eye-opening for the students and teachers alike.

Here in Boston, the BPS group has had the opportunity to get to know each other and learn some introductory information about Mongolia.  Everyone has been getting along really well and both the kids and adults are incredibly excited!  As Caitlin says, “Meeting all of the students in the group has been great so far, they are all such amazing people whom I am excited to get to know better on our adventure to Mongolia!”

United Planet's Theresa dressed in Mongolian Princess regalia

United Planet Vice President Theresa Higgs, herself a returned Peace Corps volunteer and veteran traveler, traveled to Mongolia this past November to help set up the program details, prepare and facilitate the exchange program and choose the Mongolian students.

Check out this video, (posted by iEARN USA who is administering the exchange program), where Theresa shows us an up close tour of a traditional ger (yurt), as well as a couple friendly welcomes from the Mongolian students who are participating in the exchange.

Theresa was so excited and impressed by the people she met during her trip.  As she wrote in her journal, “The participating students and teachers from 10 schools from around the country are so motivated and focused on learning more about journalism and community action. They have truly inspired me!”

This trip promises to be a wonderful experience; one that we hope will have a positive effect on each individual involved as well as their families, friends, and communities!

Keep looking out for more updates as the time draws nearer.  Hopefully we’ll have some live reports from the nomadic travelers while they’re abroad!