UNITED PLANET EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES AND HOPE FOR MYANMAR AND CHENGDU DISASTER VICTIMS
Boston, MA, May 14, 2008 --- David Santulli, president and CEO of United Planet (UP) said today that the tragedies of the dual disasters of the Myanmar cyclone and the China earthquake have not only reminded the international community of the fragility that every day life can bring upon us, but should also serve as an important reminder that we all are interconnected as a world community.
"What happened in Myanmar and China over the past week can, and has happened, here in the United States," said Santulli. "We, at United Planet, would like to express our deepest condolences to those families who have lost loved ones in these countries, especially those in our UP family."
As part of its international volunteer abroad service program, United Planet has sent volunteers to work in Chengdu, the city closest to the epicenter of the China earthquake. "We know that the organizations and people we have worked closely with in Chengdu are resourceful," said Theresa Higgs, Director of International Programs for United Planet. "We pray for their safety and resolve during this very, very difficult time."
"Our volunteers, as well as all of those who work for humanitarian organizations, are very brave, smart, and resilient people," added Santulli. "I am confident that they will weather this terrible tragedy and in turn, help those who have been affected by the widespread devastation. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those who are helping with international disaster relief efforts," said Santulli.
Celebrate United Planet (UP) Day 2008
The Fall Equinox is the only day of the year when the middle of the Sun is positioned above and below the horizon - - shining on every location on Earth for an equal amount of time. This once a year occurrence represents United Planet's mission of fostering mutual understanding, improving the quality of life for everyone, and creating harmony amongst the people of the world. United Planet created UP Day to celebrate this special occasion. With this in mind, please help us celebrate UP Day 2008 by taking part in our UP Day Writing and Photography/Video contest!
Writing/Photo/Video Contest Criteria
This year UP will select two writing winners and two photography/video winners. Contestants should submit written pieces or photos/videos that demonstrate the promotion of cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and support for one another in their own community or abroad.
Submissions for the contest can include:
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- Personal photos
- Documentary/raw footage video
- Any other piece inspired by past UP volunteer Quests, community service, travel experiences, or other personal interactions that deal with the subject of intercultural communication and friendship
Prizes
The two Grand Prize winners of the Writing and Photo/Video contest will each receive one FREE two-week volunteer Quest to any of our short-term locations around the world. The two individuals who win Honorable Mention will receive 50% off one two-week Quest to any of our Short-Term locations as well. Grand Prize and Honorable Mention submissions will be published on the UP website, eNewsletter, and YouTube page.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2008. Winners will be announced on UP Day - - September 22, 2008. United Planet reserves the right to use any submitted materials for promotional purposes. Originals will not be returned.
For submissions and more information about the UP Day contest, please email marketing@unitedplanet.org.
Theresa's visit to Ecuador
I am a lucky woman! My role as Director of International Programs at United Planet allows me to travel to amazing places around the world. A month ago, I 
spent a week in Ecuador's capital, Quito, learning more about United Planet's volunteer program in the country. I visited the projects where our volunteers work, stayed with a kind and welcoming host family and saw some of the incredible sights in and around Quito.
There is such great volunteer work happening in the communities of Quito. UP volunteers have the opportunity to work with children in low income communities, assist physical therapy patients, and help out in a health clinic in the historic center of Quito. Volunteers can also work on environmental initiatives in a rural area outside the city. Working together with a local organization provides a great forum for cultural exchange - the local people learn from exposure to the volunteers. In exchange, the volunteers gain intimate knowledge of another culture and way of life from the people they help.
One of my most memorable moments was visiting children at a day care center in a poor neighborhood just outside of Quito. There are over 300 children ages 6 months to 12 years at this center all-day, every day. 
The Director struggles to find the funds to support these children as the government subsidies are not enough and many parents can not pay the small monthly fee the center asks of families. Many of the parents are single moms or grandparents trying to support children. This is because many husbands and fathers have immigrated to other countries to find jobs so that they can send money back to their children. For many children who attend the center, the meals they are fed there are the only food they will eat all day.
UP volunteers assist the caretakers with daily chores such as feeding the children, playing with them, and helping the older children with their homework. They also give these children a chance to learn about life outside of Ecuador and experience new languages and cultures. What remains with me are the smiles of the children and their never-ending hope and laughter, no matter what their background may be.
In addition to the lasting impression the Ecuadorian people made on me, I was blown away by the sheer beauty of this country! The geography is incredibly diverse, with mountains, volcanoes, beaches and jungles. Even the busy capital city sits between beautiful looming mountains and volcanoes. Just outside of Quito is Mitad del Mundo - the Middle of the World. Visit and you'll be able to straddle the Equator! Also, no trip to Ecuador is complete without a visit to Otavalo, home of a large local market where the indgenas sell their beautiful handicrafts, produce, and other items. Otavalo also treats travelers to breathtaking views of mountains, crater lakes and volcanoes.
For the adventurous types, the Galapagos Islands, located just off the coast of Ecuador, are a sight not to be missed! Tours of the Amazon are also popular. Simply put, there is no limit to the adventure one can find in gorgeous Ecuador.
I can't wait for the opportunity to travel again and I am sure a future journey will lead me back to Ecuador!
Theresa Higgs
Director of International Programs
United Planet
Ghana Carbon Offset Program
United Planet (UP) works closely with the local community of Putubiw, a small village located a few miles inland from the town of Cape Coast and close to Kakum National Park in Ghana. UP's local volunteer projects are coordinated by the Putubiw Students' Union (PUSU) and sponsored by the village chief.
PUSU, a village organization established in Putubiw, started receiving UP volunteers to assist with their projects in early 2007. UP volunteers work on a wide range of projects - - construction, teaching, awareness campaigns focusing on HIV/AIDS, hygiene, reproductive health education and more depending on the ever-changing needs of the Students' Union.
Since the summer of 2007, UP Country Coordinator Raj Gyawali has worked closely with PUSU in developing new projects that benefit the environment as well as the local community. Gyawali, who is originally from Nepal, runs two organizations based on responsible travel in his home country - - socialtours.com and socialtreks.com. Both organizations have been working on different initiatives dedicated to environmental protection.
"I introduced the idea of a carbon offset forest program to PUSU after launching it in my private businesses. It immediately caught on. PUSU had drafted their village development plan in late 2006 and environment protection was a top priority. The chief of the village, Nana Bokyrewa 
Ekwambir III, who had visited the Kakum National Park, became deeply interested in the concept of tree plantation," said Gyawali.
Gyawali's carbon offset program is a unique initiative and has helped the village of Putubiw in many different ways. "We have calculated that over time, the carbon emissions of a long haul air flight can be eliminated by planting an average of 10 trees. Based on this research, we decided that 10 trees would be planted for each volunteer/traveler coming to Putubiw. We priced each tree at USD 1 (10 Ghanaian Cedis) which means that for each volunteer, the village receives USD 10 for planting and maintaining 10 trees," added Gyawali.
The carbon offset initiative is a demand-driven service which in turn generates income for PUSU. At the same time, the village becomes greener. "The idea is to take this forward into a full-fledged forest program, offering the carbon offset service on a mass level," explained Gyawali.
In August 2007, during the tree planting season in Ghana, the Kakum National Forest Tree Nurseries donated free seedlings to PUSU. According to Gyawali, 161 trees have been planted by members of PUSU and UP volunteers to date.
UP Volunteer Journal - Ghana
"As far back as I can remember I've wanted to experience Africa. Something about raw, wild, untouched territory and foreign culture excites me more than anything else"
After two years at DeSales University, I realized I needed to take a semester off from school to discover a new culture. With the tremendous help and support of my father, family, friends, and United Planet, a three-month Quest to Ghana this past fall became a reality.
I spent two weeks in a lodge just above a village called Biakpa in Ghana's eastern region helping two other volunteers run a day camp in the village's junior secondary school. Biakpa is nestled below Ghana's second highest point, Mt. Gemi, and is surrounded by lush green jungle which made the whole time there even more beautiful.
I made great friendships, traded songs, dances, smiles, laughs, and loads of soccer moves. I also had the blessing of taking all the kids from the camp on a field trip to Wli to explore one of Ghana's largest waterfalls. The trip was one of the most special moments of the entire Quest because most of the students had never left their village before. To hear them sing and clap the entire bus ride to Wli, was one of the most satisfying moments of my life. It was clear that we gave the kids the best summer of their lives - - and it was the best summer of mine.
During the remaining two and a half months, I stayed with a family in the 
Central region of Ghana in a village called Putubiw. After meeting the Annobil family, I quickly realized how much fun I was going to have. The family was made up of five kids: three boys and two girls. There was Kofi, age 8; Adjua, age 12; Bizmark, age 14; Kodjo, age 18; and Auntie Bea, age 20.
When I wasn't at home having a ball with my family, I was helping at Putubiw's Students' Union, known as PUSU. During my stay, we completely restored and renovated PUSU's student union center which we used to teach night classes to junior secondary students. 
When school began September 9, I taught English, Science, and Physical Education until November 4 when I was set to return home.
During my stay in Ghana, I made countless friends, had amazing experiences, and achieved complete cross- cultural immersion and acceptance. I enjoyed Ghanaian food, farming, speaking the language, attending festivals, rites, and ceremonies, and was an honorary guest and made a full member of Putubiw. I recommend a United Planet Quest or any sort of cultural trip to anyone that loves and accepts all people of the world.
All the best,
Scott Cramer
United Planet Volunteer
United Planet Meetup @ District Restaurant & Lounge
United Planet (UP) hosted its monthly International Volunteering Meetup, at the District Restaurant & Lounge on April 17 in Boston.
The event brought together a great group of people from different cultures and backgrounds. The evening allowed us to connect with everyone on a very casual and personal level. It was a wonderful opportunity to answer their questions about international volunteering and share our volunteer/travel abroad adventures. At the meeting, we met Kumi Martin. Kumi recently started as the new Asia Coordinator on our Quest team. Welcome Kumi to UP!
Would you like to stay updated about UP Meetups and be added to our Meetup mailing list? Please send an email to Shannon@unitedplanet.org, or call us at the Boston office on (001) 617 7763.
United Planet (UP) Blog now online!
We are proud to announce that the official United Planet blog is now online! The UP blog can be found at http://blog.unitedplanet.org/upteam/. Make sure you check in regularly to stay up to date about UP developments. This is your opportunity to share your questions and insights with the UP community!
Search for Good with United Planet!
You can now help United Planet by just searching the web! Every time you conduct a search with Goodsearch (www.goodsearch.com), the organization receives $0.01. Simply type "United Planet" in the "Who Do You Goodsearch for" box and press Enter.
By doing so, you help us achieve our mission -- fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship and supporting communities in need to unite the world in a community beyond borders.
We invite you to join us on Facebook!
Facebook.com is one of the largest and most popular online social networking pages. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends, upload photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.
United Planet utilizes Facebook to stay in touch with members and volunteers all around the world. By joining our Facebook Group and Cause, you can connect with the UP team, as well as other volunteers and members of our community, and stay up to date about recent UP news and developments. We encourage our volunteers, members and other world travelers to post pictures and videos of their travel adventures and participate in online discussions.
To join the UP Group, go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2373514363
To join the UP Cause, go to: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/18104
Facebook is also a great way to involve your family and friends in United Planet projects. Simply invite them to join our Group to help us create a community beyond borders!
Get Involved!
Join the UP Team - Become a member of our Boston headquarters' team. Do an internship or inquire about our permanent positions. We welcome people from all over the world to join our team.
We would love your feedback! This e-newsletter is for you, so please let us know what you think. Send e-mails to: newsletter@unitedplanet.org.
