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

When the sunrise over the snow-capped Andes welcomed me to Chile, I knew I was in for a truly humbling and life-changing experience. I was not disappointed.

The following post is a interview with United Planet volunteer Carrie Schramm, who has just returned from a Volunteer Abroad Quest to Nepal. What was most surprising to you about Nepal or your time there? I went to Nepal not knowing what to expect.  I wanted to experience something different and I actually knew very [...]

The following post was written by United Planet volunteer Clarke Hung who is currently working in Bolivia. “What’s the biggest animal in the world?” asked Mr. Roly. “The whale or the elephant?” “The monkey!” shouted a little indigenous student. “It’s the whale,” smiled Mr. Roly amidst the ingenuous laughter of her classmates. “And where do [...]

The following post was written by United Planet volunteer Olivia McMaster, who is currently working in Ecuador. One of the most recognizable peaks on the Panamerican highway, Cotopaxi, has been calling to me ever since I arrived in Ecuador. Literally meaning “neck of the moon”, it is the world’s highest active volcano and stands at [...]