Robert has always had a passion for volunteering and travel. Since graduating college, he has wanted to volunteer with the Peace Corps, but needing some financial stability he began working for Microsoft as a program manager with internal applications. He worked there for ten years and his knowledge of computers was put the test in Nepal!

He was quickly immersed in the diverse Nepali culture, from different kinds of food to different kinds of religions. Robert had planned to teach the students how to use the computers but when he got there they were experiencing a power outage that lasted for a few weeks and the computers they had were in need up updating.

The server was fried on the main computer and none of the others had been activated. He ran into a few issues with lack on Internet and power but he was able to overcome these challenges and got the lab up and running. He essentially created a functioning computer lab where there was none before. This new computer lab had eleven computer stations, one administration computer and one shell which he redid on his own. Some of the computers were ones that Robert donated. This was an unbelievable help for the community.

When power was eventually restored, it continued to be shut down in certain sections of the village in order to preserve energy. They use hydro-power from the dams to create energy so when there is less rainfall they need to preserve power. Robert was challenged get creative while teaching classes in case the power went out and the computers wouldn’t work.

The area Robert worked and lived was very rural so they rarely backed up power sources. Robert put together a proposal for power consumption to request backup power for the school so the computer lab would have power more consistently.

Robert’s main task while in Nepal was teaching computer lectures. He installed Rosetta Stone onto the computers to help the kids improve their English. Many of the students needed assistance with spoken English and this program provided them with a fun and engaging way to learn.

In Nepal, school funding is based on their standardized testing, so the more successful they were on the tests, the more money their school would receive. Robert incorporated this into his teaching to help prepare the students for these tests.

Another method Richard used to help teach the students was with visual aids. Teaching kids how to use computers and other electronic devices can be tricky if they are only able to hear how to do it and not see it.

The students age and skill level ranged from anywhere to nursery school to level 10 and they came from all over. Some students traveled up to two hours to get to school and it was not always an easy journey. He remembers one trip on a damaged road, filled with potholes and destruction left from landslides. Education is a privilege in Nepal, so students will do whatever it takes to have the opportunity to learn.

The school is mainly kept afloat by the support of the parents and the community. They pay the teachers and help out the school as much as they can. Some teachers work in local farms so they can make enough. Since the parents and teachers put in so much effort, any extra help they get is greatly appreciated. Robert exceeded their expectations with all the hard work and effort he put into the school and the students. At the end of his trip, his project gave him a plaque to honor how much he impacted the school and community.

Robert’s trip to Nepal was a great prep for his future work with the Peace Corps. “I’m still optimistic I’ll be able to use my business consulting type work from my quest as a great intro into the type of work I’ll be doing.” Robert will be working with NGO’s in Kyrgyz to help people develop small businesses and he’s confident that United Planet will have been a great introduction and preparation for that type of work.

To learn more about Nepal or United Planet, contact us today!

Over the years United Planet has received volunteers from many countries such us Switzerland, Costa Rica, Austria, South Korea, Mexico, and Brazil.

Usually Volunteers arrive in the US in August or January and stay for six months or one year. A few months ago I had the chance to meet some of the long-term volunteers who enrolled in the ICYE program with United Planet (UP). UP welcomed Patrick from Switzerland, Lena from Austria and Ileana from Costa Rica to the US. These new volunteers had the opportunity to meet Kris from Switzerland, Yu-ri and Munseok from South Korea, Paula from Mexico and Camila from Brazil who

New incoming volunteers get to know each other at our Boston orientation!

are current volunteers and have been in the USA for several months.

As a part of the United Planet team, I have the opportunity to spend some time with incoming and current volunteers during their week long orientation in Boston. I decided to interview them because I was curious to hear their stories and understand what made them choose such a unique experience that is volunteering abroad and what they are doing while they are in the US.

Upon arrival in Boston for orientation, the two groups of volunteers had the opportunity to meet and chat. They explored Boston, one of America’s oldest cities, learned more about US culture, American stereotypes and holidays, played games and went shopping! Volunteers also met and chatted with the United Planet team, gave them a presentation about their hometowns, their families and their culture, and even brought some gifts such as exquisite chocolates from Switzerland.

Incoming volunteers explore the city of Boston for the first time!

United Planet has many projects across the United States where our incoming volunteers are placed. Some volunteers I met were located in the beautiful New Hampshire in a home for the disabled. Usually volunteers live with the residents, assisting them with life-enhancing activities, including fitness activities, arts and crafts, cooking, and singing.

I learned that the homes host parties for some holidays or big events like birthdays, Halloween (where everyone dresses up), and the Superbowl and many more to try and have fun every day with the residents!

One of the volunteers was placed in a project that focuses on agriculture and sustainability. At this project, volunteers assist with the maintenance of the lands, the animals, and the “live off of the land” mission of the project.

Another volunteer was placed in a project in New York shelter, homes for abused or disadvantaged women, families, and children. Here, volunteers assist in supporting the residents and the general upkeep of the homes.

If you are interested in volunteering abroad and you want to know more about a real life experience you can visit the United Planet Youtube channel! Here you can watch and listen to the stories of our volunteer in 2012. Click here to learn more about United Planet‘s other short term and long term programs.

Last December a fire hit the orphanage, thankfully no one was hurt, but it took one building completely. This building is where the kitchen and dinning room was so they have been forced to find new ways to cook and serve food. They have built one stove where they cook every meal and instead of everyone coming to the dining room to eat, they prepare the food and deliver it to each house.  After observing how they have adapted, Theresa said, “they have a system, and it works, but it’s not ideal.”

Homemade stove!

With only one stove, they are very limited in what they can cook and eat. While Theresa was there, they were fasting for Lent and not eating any dairy or meat so almost every meal was soup.

There is still some debris left over from the fire but they do have plans to rebuild the lost building as well as two new houses that are in progress now. Many of the rooms are very crowded at the moment and having two more houses would give them the space they need. There are two more UP groups going to Romania and hopefully a few volunteers that will be able to help in this effort!

Spending time at the project, Theresa was able to see all that they do for the community and she describes it as “really amazing work”. Even though they have limited space, they don’t turn anyone away. They have a spot for anyone who may need it. They have houses for the elderly, orphans, pregnant teens, teen mothers, battered women and children, ect. Many of the children are orphans and live at the project full time and some that have families still spend the majority of the week there because their family cannot support them.

Some kids in the orphanage!

The weather while Theresa was there was in the 60’s and the kids were running around in shorts. Even though the weather was warm, they were hit with a rough winter and there was still snow on the ground. Thankfully, the snow has started to melt and given the land the water it needs to help with farming.

Although Theresa was only there for a short amount of time, she was able to visit Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. This is one opportunity that our volunteers in Romania have as well!

Dracula's Castle!

To learn more about Romania, or United Planet, contact us today!

United Planet continues to strive to make a difference in Japan and in many other areas around the world.  Together, we truly can unite the world one relationship at a time.

“The children were incredible. So inspiring and welcoming. I felt my trip was a vacation for my soul.”

Kathleen, a New York professional in communications was apprehensive about her upcoming volunteer trip to work at an orphanage in Romania.  Her trip was scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday season, a time typically enjoyed with family and old friends.

Beautiful Scenery in Romania

Yet, in pursuit of helping children and families in need, Kathleen took the risk and ventured across the globe to a new culture and a new language with an open mind and heart.

Kathleen never expected to find herself so welcomed and integrated into the extended and tight-knit community in Romania.

“It really is like a big family; such a community-minded group of people,” Kathleen explains.

Kathleen’s main responsibilities during her time there included caring for the 8-12 children in day care ages two to three years old while their mothers worked in the kitchens and fields. When the teenage girls returned from school, Kathleen would help them with their English homework.

Kathleen spent most of her time playing with the kids!

Kathleen found the language barrier a challenge, but started to pick up words and phrases after a few days in Romania. While her interactions were demanding, the locals were always patient with her.

Kathleen left Romania incredibly touched by the orphanage’s teamwork and unique bond. The orphanage functions like one massive family, sharing all responsibilities, from feeding a hungry baby to disciplining a fresh teenager.

Looking back, Kathleen’s time in Romania brought her tranquility and wisdom. “Far removed from my day to day life in New York City,” Kathleen shares, “I could focus on others and leave every worry behind.”

Kathleen felt like part of the family!

Not only was she able to make a difference with the families in Romania, she made a difference in herself.

In her post-trip survey, Kathleen concludes, introspectively, “the clarity, perspective and maturity I gained over my one week stint is noticeable, by others and by most importantly me.”

As many of you may know, the orphanage in Romania is still recovering from a fire in December 2011. Our volunteers have donated over $3,000 to help re-build the orphanage. Their efforts speak to the incredible international and long-term family which this community in Romania fosters.  If you’re interested in volunteering in Romania, please contact us at United Planet.

“It doesn’t have to be just physical labor – and it shouldn’t be- to get a cultural experience.”

Gordon, a faculty member at University of Idaho, decided to volunteer his time and partake in the school’s Alternate Service Break and was given the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica for ten days with a group of 13 students. Every year the University of Idaho sends groups of students to volunteer on various projects across the globe. This year they sent groups to Georgia, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

Getting ready to work!

Although 10 days may not seem like a lot of time, after talking with Gordon about his trip to Costa Rica, they worked hard and  accomplished a lot in just over a week. Upon first arriving they had a two day orientation in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica. This orientation helped them adjust to their new environment and get acquainted with the staff in Costa Rica as well as each other. Since the students on this trip were selected at random, for some students and staff, this was an opportunity to get to know other people in the university as well.

The weather was consistently good and they were able to see Costa Rica’s natural beauty and just how diverse of a country it really is. From their orientation in the mountains to driving through the beautiful city of San Jose, Costa Rica’s landscape is unpredictable. They were even able to see a local coffee plantation!

After orientation, they went to a local community center where they stayed. The majority of their time was divided between the community center and a local elementary school.

Working on the new restroom facility.

The first few days they worked in the local elementary school on various projects. They cleaned and painted the school to help provide the students with a better environment for learning. They even built a restroom facility from the ground up. Gordon describes this as a “fantastic project.” The students did everything themselves and with a project such as this one, they know it was a big help to the community. So although it may not seem like the most glamorous job, they had fun with it because they knew the positive impact it would have on the community.

At the end of their trip they put together a carnival for the whole community. Putting this together was one of the most rewarding parts of their trip. They were able to see how their work effected the community and how much they appreciated it.

Face painting at the carnival!

The students and advisers put together everything themselves. Including all of the activities for the kids, which consisted mostly of games like a wheel barrel race, a water balloon toss and a piñata . Most of these games were games the children in Costa Rica had never played before so the students and faculty had to put their teaching skills to the test and show them how to play!

The carnival was a huge success. They had about 68 kids there at one time! “When you think of a community, you think of a neighborhood, but it wasn’t. Their community spread for miles.” Gordon remembers one family of three who traveled over three hours just to come to the carnival. This sense of community is one that is not seen too often in the States but a is part of their culture in Costa Rica. This carnival was a great way to end their trip, leaving them with memories that will last a lifetime.“We made a difference in a community far greater than expected.”

Tug-of-war!

Gordon returned from this trip with a new idea of what community service means. “When you think about community service you think more about the physical labor – but at the end of the trip, the community service was a rewarding experience with the people, community and witnessing different culture’s daily routine.”

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Book the trip of a lifetime!

Augie hanging with the monkeys!

Making the decision to live and work in Africa for the summer isn’t a typical one for most college students. Augie Bossu, a junior at Notre Dame, who recently returned from a summer in Ghana through United Planet believes more people should consider trips like these. I had the chance to chat with Augie recently about his trip. He didn’t say that it was easy, but he did say it was worth it. “The most challenging is often the most  rewarding” he said, reflecting on his 9 weeks in a small village in the Volta region of Africa.

This was Augie’s first visit to a developing country. He arrived with an open mind and heart, excited to live and learn from the locals throughout his trip. His amazing attitude is likely why he gained so much from the experience.

He arrived in Accra, Ghana’s capital city,  in late June, 2011. As he stepped off the plane, high heat and humidity were the first to greet him, but he found Accra a good place to make the transition to Africa.  The city was more developed and filled with places and things somewhat familiar.

Yet after only 2 days of orientation in Accra, it was time to leave for Sokode-Etoe;  the small village where he would spend the following 9 weeks teaching, learning and adjusting to the African lifestyle. It was upon his arrival to Sokode-Etoe that he discovered the real meaning of culture shock. It was a very small, poor village with little resembling anywhere he had ever been. “Two months suddenly felt like a very long time and I wasn’t sure how I would handle living here for so long…everything was so different and it really scared me,” said Augie. He described his simple living quarters as a private room in a building similar to a motel. There was an outdoor bathroom with semi-reliable plumbing, yet Augie spent a lot of time down the road at a classmate’s house, also where he ate his meals.  He did a lot of journaling as a way to process his thoughts and feelings, especially at first. He found it to be therapeutic as he worked through the culture shock. The people of the village welcomed Augie and were tremendously helpful to him during his transition period. A woman by the name of Vice (pronounced “Vee-say”), served as his host mother. She cooked his meals and watched over him and other volunteers. She was a warm and welcoming woman who Augie felt very grateful for during his time in Ghana.

Augie and his students

Many volunteers work at the same placement throughout their trip, yet Augie had the opportunity to work in 2 different volunteer placements. He spent the first 5 weeks teaching English at a school and then 4 more weeks working with a local NGO. Working  at the school each day helped to keep him busy and become acclimated with the culture. He enjoyed getting to know the children and found it funny how much they loved America music, culture and President Obama. Many of them had posters and paraphernalia of the President as if he were a celebrity. One thing Augie noted from his teaching experience was how similar humans are, no matter which corner of the globe they’re from. Ghanaian children giggled, played, laughed and even joked with each other just like American children. “Kids aren’t all that different” said Augie “I learned that people are just people all over the world.”

His experience teaching was positive overall yet some aspects were extremely frustrating. He was surprised that even though English was the official language, mostly everyone spoke Ewe (pronounced “Ay-way”) and the language barrier was more difficult than he expected. He also found himself shocked and even angry at the gap between the English level expected by the government and what was attainable by the students. He did his best to teach them his language but when it came time to take the state mandated exams, he saw how difficult the test was and knew it would be impossible for students to pass. It was fairly common for students to repeat grades but a fair amount of students did pass and Augie realized it was often up to the discretion of the teacher whether or not they moved on to the next grade. Teaching was a wonderfully rewarding, eye opening experience. Augie was sad to say goodbye at the end of his placement, but excited for his next opportunity working for an NGO in Ho, a nearby city.

Working with the cassava crop at the NGO

The Volta region of Ghana where Augie lived and worked depends heavily on the farming industry.  Augie worked with an NGO that assisted local farmers to sell more crops and taught them better business practices. His role was mostly observational, yet he found it fascinating how an organization could help these farmers to learn so much about their daily practices. He would often accompany the NGO leader, Susan, to area bakeries and restaurants in attempts to have them buy the local Cassava crop for use in flour. In addition, Susan would teach the farmers better farming techniques and basic economics to help them make more profitable decisions. Augie had never cared much for economics prior to his trip, but seeing the impact first hand really opened his eyes to the importance.

Augie loved his placement with the NGO, yet he found one aspect very difficult. He quickly realized many people in Ghana were on what he termed “Ghana time.”  Life in Ghana operated far slower than life in America and people rarely arrived on time for appointments or kept a consistent schedule. If Augie was told to arrive somewhere at a certain time, he would often wait for at least an hour, sometimes 2 before anyone else would arrive. This frustrated Augie tremendously at first, but he adapted and brought books with him everywhere, in case he would have to wait for someone. “In the US, I was very used to filling up my schedule and moving quickly from one activity to another. This is not how things worked in Ghana. They don’t move quickly and focus on one thing at a time. It took some time to get used to, but didn’t bother me after a while. I found ways to adapt” said Augie.

Beautiful Ghana sunset

When reflecting on his 9 weeks in Ghana, Augie feels he gained a tremendous amount of confidence and knowledge about the world. He says his biggest accomplishment was the realization that tough experiences help you to know that you can accomplish anything. “Life really is meant to be lived outside your comfort zone” he said. He now takes more risks and lives life to the fullest because he knows that no matter what happens, he can get through it.

Sergio and his students

Sergio, who is originally from Chile and now lives in Bolivia, is an avid traveler and loves to photograph. This past summer, Sergio had the opportunity to travel to Tibet to teach English in a monastery for three weeks.

At first Sergio found the volunteer project very challenging and he was unable to communicate with the Monks and students at the monastery. The language barrier was difficult and he only knew phrases such as, “I’m full, I’m hungry, I want dinner.”

At the monastery, there were about 40 students and 21 Monks.  Monasteries are part of traditional Tibetan culture. Each family sends one son who is expected to stay until their 18th birthday. After that, they can decide if they want to stay and become a Monk.

During his United Planet Quest, Sergio had the unique job of teaching English to the younger students–the group of 40 or so he fondly referred to as the “little Monks.” He was the first volunteer to be sent with United Planet to this monastery, and his three week Quest experience was extremely successful.

Another great photo from Sergio's Quest

Typically Monks are very private people so it was totally unique for him to be able to observe the habits and routines at the monastery. After the first week, Monks eager to learn English themselves, were requesting language lessons from him in his free time.  He found himself conducting language lessons in his dorm room at the monastery, but he loved having the chance to help them learn.

According to his translator, “the Monks were very happy, and they could see a difference in the kids. It ended up being a great experience.”

Some of the Tibetan people he met during his travels

The monastery is located close to a small town, but there’s not much contact with the outside world besides those who travel and visit the monastery to worship at the temple.  When  he traveled into the town, he would be approached by the local people who would say anything they possibly knew from the English language; usually, Sergio told us, they screamed “I love you!”

During his trip, Sergio got to celebrate his birthday. His country coordinator brought him a cake and he was able to take some free time and travel to the top of a nearby mountain.  After hitchhiking to the top, he was overcome with emotion as he viewed the scenery and observed the nomadic people.

Sergio kept a diary during his trip and when he returned home he reread the passages and was able to fully process how powerful his trip had been.  He reflected on the people he met, the places he’d been, and the way his life been changed.

“It was amazing to see people–the way they live without material goods. It changed me. I’ve become more humble and grounded in my own life, expectations, and travel.”

Teacher Sergio in his United Planet shirt

Sergio is currently finishing his studies in psychology, which was what originally attracted him to UP programs. He explained, “it all started because I wanted to travel as more than just a tourist, I began thinking you can travel anywhere, why not travel and do something good with your time.”

When we asked him if his United Planet Quest to Tibet changed his life plans or goals, he felt that it had:   “It’s a small portion what you give, but it makes a difference. And besides, if no one goes, who’s going to do it?  I want to give back to kids who need help. After I get my degree I hope to do social work in Bolivia. There’s so much to do here.”

What a great trip!

Sergio’s trip was a unique and powerful experience; he bonded with kids and teens on their way to becoming Monks, he impacted a community and a monastery in a positive way, and he discovered the true unbridled joy of volunteering.  Thanks Sergio, for giving back to the wonderful people of Tibet, and using your love for travel to do something truly great with your time!

We also received some awesome pictures and information about the Tibetan New Year from our country coordinators, Tsaiyang, Deiji and Dechok in Tibet!

The Tibetan New Year is also known as Losar, Lo meaning year and Sar meaning new. Losar is the biggest festival in Tibet and it lasts for around two weeks!

Traditional Losar Dance

There is a lot of preparation to be done for the big festival, including cleaning and cooking and certain religious ceremonies that take place on the last day of the year.

The first day of the New Year is spent with family and is full of worshipping, chanting, and religious celebrations. The second day of the New Year is a time to visit with friends and other relatives. One of the traditions is to burn torches and incense to get rid of spirits. Other customs include traveling to local monasteries and making offerings.

One of our volunteers, Paul, shares how he was able to fit in time to volunteer with United Planet while on a hiking trip this holiday season to visit Patagonia in Chile.

“I knew I wasn’t going to change the world, kids needed an adult figure to show them they cared and make them smile. That’s what I was there to do”   - Paul, volunteer

Santiago, a metropolitan city, is the capital of Chile

Paul, a consultant in Chicago, decided that this year he wanted to do something unique with his December holiday break.

He wanted to hike in Patagonia, an extraordinary region of southern South America acclaimed for its impressive lakes, mountains, and glaciers. Paul set his sights on trekking with friends and guides in Chile’s spectacular and most famous National Park, Parque Torres del Paine.

Yet, along with achieving a life-time goal of trekking in beautiful Patagonia, Paul asked himself what else he could do while he was there. On top of the wonderful experience of travel, Paul also wanted to use this opportunity to help people less fortunate than himself.

That’s when he started to investigate volunteer options in Chile. He found that United Planet offered him the flexibility of a week-long program necessary to accommodate his travel plans as well as the meaningful volunteering and personal challenges he sought.

A few days before Christmas, Paul crossed hemispheres and the Andes Mountains, arriving in Santiago, Chile. He was met with hot sun and smog, a change of pace from the Windy City of Chicago. Navigating Santiago was easy and Paul felt right at home with his beloved home stay mother Maggie Diaz.

New Year's Eve in Santiago - ¡Feliz año nuevo!

Paul spent the week before his own trek to Patagonia volunteering at a women’s shelter. Paul was nervous at first; he hadn’t spoken Spanish in a few years and didn’t know what to expect. In spite of the language barrier, the children of the shelter welcomed him every day with open arms and open hearts.

Paul shares, “on the second day at the orphanage, about 28 kids came rushing to the front door to greet me. They were like little nephews and asked me if we were friends.  They also called me Tio Pablo (Uncle Paul) and clung to me wherever I went.”

The children, who before he arrived were either watching TV or staying in their mothers’ rooms all day, could not have been more thrilled to have a new

Paul took full advantage of the incredible Andes Mountains!

friend. Paul spent his week at the shelter in charge of organizing summer activities for the 28 kids, aged 2 to 12.

At the shelter, the schedule was usually 10-5 with a lunch break. He’d play with the kids all day and then usually spend the afternoon in the multi-purpose room watching a movie, reading, and relaxing.

“Especially because it was Christmas time,” Paul explains, “you realize how much you have; these kids barely have one pair of shoes, and often their families are not able to stay together. Sometimes siblings are split, one goes to the orphanage while the other stays with their parents.” The holiday season called Paul’s attention to just how great the need is for these children.

Life is not easy for the families at the shelter and Paul was happy to be able to bring a smile to their faces.  Paul remembers the children’s elation when he gave them some art supplies brought over from Chicago. For them, colored pencils were like a brand new TV.

Unfortunately, due to wide-spread fires in the Parque Torres del Paine, Paul’s trek to Patagonia was abruptly cancelled. Remaining positive and with the help of our in-country coordinator, also named Paul, he still explored the beautiful

Incredible murals in Valparaiso, a city on the coast of Chile

mountains outside of Santiago, visited vineyards, walked through the artistic city of Valparaiso, spent New Year’s Eve downtown, and had a phenomenal time!

Paul, an avid volunteer back in the States, comments that, “all the volunteering I’ve done in the past has not been as personal” when compared to his time in the shelter in Santiago.

Since Paul got sick on his last day at the shelter, he was sadly not able to take any pictures with the kids, but still remembers their time together fondly.

Paul took advantage of his planned vacation time in Chile and made it an even more unforgettable, touching experience, not just for himself, but for the children in the shelter as well.

When asked what he would say to others with an interest in volunteering abroad, he leaves us with these words, “even if it’s just your time, it goes a long way.”

Already have plans to visit Chile or another country and want to try to try to fit some time in to volunteer? Contact us at United Planet to see if you too can have the ultimate trip of a lifetime!

It has been a tough winter for this orphanage but thanks to our volunteers and all the support of donations, they have been bouncing back fast. It has been a cold winter for those in Europe, a bit colder than usual but that doesn’t stop these kids from having fun!

Check out the photos below for some winter fun!

Nice photo of Pro Vita (pre-snow)

Kids Sledding!!

Collecting wood

Sarah with the 'pre-kindy' kids

Dinner Time!

Sarah with two girls who do not want her to leave

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!

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