We just went and extended the deadline to enroll in a Volunteer Abroad program for 6 or 12 months starting this AUGUST. You can enroll with no price surcharge by May 20 (after that you have a few days, but the price goes up; not all countries, though…).

If I were you — without the kids, the dog, the house, the lawn, the Grandma — I’d jump at the chance to spend 6 or 12 months doing something like teaching in someplace like New Zealand. Bolivia. Uganda. With some org like United Planet.

You get to know some great people; do some great things; and so much more! Learn a language; ride a donkey; eat a goat head; … What are you waiting for?

As always, please get in touch for more info!! longterm@unitedplanet.org

“My trip to Tibet was like a gift from God. It was magical, beautiful, raw, full of journey and discovery. I experienced the people’s love for life, simplicity, and their unjaded curiosities for things beyond their experience and understanding. I experienced true human kindness and everyday I strove to be a better person because of it. I am forever grateful to United Planet for this opportunity and to the Tibet in-country hosts for their love and acceptance.”

–Vita Generalova, Short-term Quest Volunteer, Tibet

Enroll today here: www.unitedplanet.org/volunteer-abroad/long-term/application

Warren-Prescott, a public elementary school in Charlestown, MA is blazing trails with a new program in cooperation with The Quintiliano Sanchez School in Quito, Ecuador. In July, a group of teachers will be traveling to Quito to volunteer and tour; they’re excited about their trip, and we can’t wait to be a part of the experience!

Warren-Prescott received funds through the Boston Public School system to send 4 teachers to lead a 5-day English immersion program for elementary students at Quintiliano Sanchez, a school in Quito, Ecuador.  This is the foundation of a sister school relationship between Warren-Prescott and Quintiliano Sanchez which they hope to build upon for years to come.

The teachers are extremely excited about this opportunity, as one of the team of four explained, “this is an experience we’ll talk about for a long time and we’ll certainly share it with our colleagues.  I’m excited now.  I can only imagine the stories I’ll be sharing with the students, the staff and the parents when I get back.”

The idea behind this sister-school exchange program came after Dr. Amara, the principal of Warren-Prescott school, visited Ecuador last summer.  While he was there he discussed the idea of the exchange with members of Quintiliano Sanchez.

Dr. Amara, principal of Warren-Prescott School, during his trip to Ecuador

Upon returning to the States, he proposed that teachers from his school travel to Ecuador to learn as much as possible about the culture, history, and language of Ecuador in order to share with other faculty members and students.

He explained that the school teachers in Quito “wanted to explore ways to share the voices and ideas of staff and students of different cultures. They wanted to have native English speaking teachers teach their students in English.” Through the process of the exchange, each party hopes to share the voices and ideas of staff and students of different cultures.

The teachers from Warren-Prescott will share with their own students some of the photographs, videos, and artifacts from their trip; offering a glimpse into the foreign culture of Ecuador.  One of the teachers remarked, “I’m looking forward to visiting the areas outside the city and the historic areas in the city…My kids will love the pictures of the places we visit. I’ll also wager that the kids in Quito would have an interest in learning about our history and culture.” What a great way to engage students and spark their curiosity about the world.

The well-rounded team of four teachers from Warren-Prescott includes a fourth grade teacher, a kindergarten teacher, an elementary science teacher, as well as a k-8 physical education/ health teacher. 

Some of the staff from Quintiliano Sanchez in Quito, Ecuador

Their goal is to foster a personal, face-to-face relationship with the other teachers and the students at the school in Ecuador. They also feel that by providing instruction in the English language as native English speakers, they will greatly advance the English language program for the teachers and the staff of Quintiliano Sanchez.

In addition to the primary purpose of the trip, the four teachers also have individual goals related to their own backgrounds and passions.  For example, the physical education/health teacher says he is interested in finding out what types of games kids play in Ecuador; he’s also excited to share some of the typical games played in America with the Ecuadorian students. As he put it, “I can’t think of a better way to communicate with kids and adults alike than with some friendly challenging game.”

The science teacher in the group is interested in the rich natural science that Ecuador has to offer, explaining, “I’m passionate about everything that has to do with science and I look for every way I can make my students learn it and love it the way I do.  I hope they allow me to bring back a little bit of a volcano, a little bit of the rain forest, a little bit of the Galapagos. Hey, I can dream can’t I?” Each of the teacher’s unique backgrounds will undoubtedly make this a well-rounded and multi-faceted experience.

All of the teachers and staff involved are excited about the opportunities which this exchange will bring to both communities.

Another photo of the staff at Quintiliano Sanchez

The teachers at Warren-Prescott school are motivated and excited about the chance to share their own culture, language, and knowledge with the people of Quintiliano Sanchez, and in return, to gain a wealth of information about a different culture, another language, and the joy of community service. We wish both schools the best of luck throughout this unique experience!

Working and traveling together as a group is a great way to forge new friendships and create lasting memories.  In March 2011, 18 students from Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, spent 2 weeks in Ecuador. Matt Rakhit, 16, has this to say about the trip.

Matt from a Canadian high school went on a group trip to an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. How cute are they?

What made you want to take part in the Appleby College service trip to Ecuador?

I am really involved in community service at home in Canada, but had never done an international service trip.  I had travelled to Europe as a tourist, but had never been to South America.  Going with the group from my school seemed like a great way to do something meaningful as well as learn about another culture.

What kind of work did your group do?

We participated in 2 different volunteer experiences.  In the Cloud Forest in Santa Lucia we worked on carving out a walking path and did reforestation work. One day we went into the forest, found saplings and took them to the lodge to put them in bags with good soil.  On our last day in the Cloud Forest we collected sugar cane, squeezed the juice and actually made sugar—all by hand with no electronics involved.

In Quito we worked with children in an orphanage. We played with the children and also visited the homes of parents who send their children to the orphanage for care.

Tell us about some of the experiences that were memorable for you?

My favorite part of being in the Cloud Forest was waking up in the morning and looking out, as our window looked out at the whole cloud forest. One day we got up at 4 am and took a 3-hour hike to see the “Cock of the Rock”.  We saw the cotinga bird, which is bright red.  It was mating season and we saw hundreds of them.

The most memorable experience in Quito was playing with the children and seeing how happy they are.  I spent a lot of time with Josh, a 2-year old whose mother left him there when he was just a few months old.  When I arrived he wasn’t walking, but by the time I left I was helping him walk around.  It felt good to be able to help with that.

What surprised you about your visit?

The weather in Ecuador was the first surprise.  I was expecting it to be warmer, and it rained every day.

It was very meaningful to visit the homes of the parents in Quito.  It is amazing to see how happy these people are even though they have so little.

What was the biggest challenge?

Several members of our group struggled having no electricity and being without the electronics we have become so used to.

What have done since your return?

Everyone in the group has been telling our friends about all the fun things we did and the experiences we had.  We gave a formal presentation to the school.

The group really didn’t know each other that well before we left.  When you spend a lot of time together on an international trip, you become close very quickly. We are keeping in touch, and having a group reunion on a weekend.

What advice do you have for others who are thinking of doing a volunteer trip?

Go in there to help as much as you can and don’t complain.  Have fun with it!

With the Alumni Council getting started with their ideas and visions, we have one more person for you to get acquainted with! The wonderful and eager Abbie has taken on the challenge of being the first Secretary for the United Planet Alumni Council.

Her UP story started with a decision in 2008 and in mid 2009 Abbie was on her way to Cambodia for a 10 day Quest with United Planet to teach English and play games with children. Today Abbie shares with us her stories from her great volunteering experience and her vision for the future of United Planet’s Alumni.

Abbie with some of the kids she met at the foundation in Angkor

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” is Abbie’s favorite quote by Ghandi, and by going to Cambodia she was trying to do exactly that – be a change.

Her journey started with some challenges:  having to cope with a huge language barrier and trying to communicate in a language the local people didn’t understand and who spoke back in a language she didn’t understand.  Despite this, Abbie’s attitude and experience was positive.

“The people were so friendly and welcoming; it was easy to get comfortable halfway across the world from my home!”

Abbie felt the people were an enormous help to her when she first arrived and made the transition easier for her. Being in Cambodia and surrounded by these amazing people, Abbie found an unexplainable inspiration and motivation.

Even though her visit was short, it was powerful; and Abbie is positive that she will never forget the things she learned and experienced during her 10 days in Cambodia. She truly enjoyed her experience and had a wonderful time interacting with the amazing Khmer people, and being at the school and orphanage.

“Talking with Phally, who runs the English school out of his house, and hearing about his commitment to the children in his community and what he faced during the Khmer Rouge was very inspiring.”

This was amongst her most cherished memories from her time spent in this beautiful country.  Even after returning home, the experience left a mark on Abbie.

“I felt inspired and motivated, and am still planning when I am going to be able to go back.”

Beautiful Angkor

When she was offered the position of Secretary for the Alumni Council she knew this would be her way of giving back to United Planet. Her goal is to connect volunteers with both the projects and countries that they were involved in, and she hopes they will be as involved and motivated to spread the word about United Planet.

Abbie hopes that volunteers will stay involved by signing up for the newsletters, checking the website and Facebook page every so often and asking how they can help.  She explained, “we can come up with something!” She believes there is a solution to everything, if someone is willing to pitch in.   In this case, it’s all about the Alumni!

We wish Abbie good luck on her journey with the Alumni Council! With her motivation, eagerness and inspirational mind we are sure she will be an amazing contributor to the Alumni Council and to the mission of United Planet!