The Fall Equinox is the only time of the year when the middle of the sun is positioned above and below horizon—shining on every location on Earth for an equal amount of time. This represents United Planet's mission of fostering mutual understanding, improving the quality of life for everyone, and creating harmony among the people of the world. 

United Planet Day Contest Winners

Grand Prize Winner- Andi Enns, Uganda

Read Andi's story about Uganda!

Photography Winner- Justin Lebron, India

Video Winner- Kathryn Murphy, Peru

Honorable Mention- Sarah Daniel, Nepal

United Planet Distinguished Alumni Awards

The United Planet Annual Distinguished Alumnus Community Engagement Award is given to returned volunteers who have contriuted to their communities through service and/or leadership. The winners will receive a gift card valued at $100, and a year's subscription to the lovely Afar magazine!

2011 Alumni Awards

Congratulations to Keri Dennison, who garnered the most votes for our 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award! 

Keri is a final year nursing student at Mesa State University. She organized the itinerary, student meetings, and many donations for the nursing student group trip to Ecuador. The group brought 18 boxes of medical supplies as donations to the clinics, as well as clothing and toys for the orphanage. Keri has traveled to many different countries and tries her best to foster cultural awareness. She is always eager to use her nursing skills to help others and keeps close relationships with people from all over the world.

And our favorite photo of a United Planet t-shirt in action

We asked our Alumni to send us their best picture with their UP T-shirt, we are glad to show you this year’s winning picture, Sergio took it during his quest to Tibet!Congratulations Sergio, you win a $75 gift card!

Winners in 2010

Amy McNair

Quest to Tanzania in 2007 and Quest to Ghana in 2008

Amy spent her first year after school as an inaugural Faiths Act Fellow with Tony Blair's Faith Foundation and Interfaith Youth Core. In this program, she was one of 30 religiously diverse young people from around the world chosen to work inter-religiously on the Millennium Development Goals. Amy currently lives in Seattle, Washington, working for a non-profit that does leadership development on college campuses across the state. She is planning to go on a speaking tour of India to represent the U.S. Department of Defense and the American Embassy in Delhi.

Shannon De Atley-Johnson

Quest to Tanzania in 2010

Upon Shannon’s return from Tanzania, she spent all of her time, energy and resources on creating The MOOSE Foundation (More Opportunity and Outreach for Superior Education). The MOOSE Foundation provides cross cultural education in which Shannon goes into schools or after-school programs on her days off and provides a workshop for the children that teaches them about the Tanzanian culture and people. The MOOSE Foundation runs scholarship programs, cultural exchange and pen pal programs along with various fundraising events. The funds raised are used to provide scholarships for Tanzanian children to attend secondary school or to financially assist those needing financial help in the primary schools.

United Planet Day Contest: Writing, Photo, and Video

Submit to the 2011 United Planet Day Contest.

Winners in 2010

United Planet was delighted to received many worthy submissions in 2010. After much deliberation, we chose the winners.

• Teijna Pickrell of British Coumbia won the writing contest for her piece Breaking the Wall.
• The grand prize went to Sourav Karmakar, of Calcutta, India, with his photograph 'Give Me Red.'

• The honorable mention in the photography and video category went to Melissa Malfavon, of Wisconsin.

• And one of our favorites:

Previous Contest Winners

2009 Winners:

Grand Prize Winner: Antonine Cassar
Honorable Mention Photography Winner: Alex Budak, Joni Lohr
Honorable Mention Writing Winner: Jess Noble

Other UP Day 2010 Events / Activities

Boston

The UP Team engaged in a variety of activities to celebrate UP Day. One afternoon, several of us went over to Room to Grow here in Boston, and helped inventory and pack up teeny tiny baby clothes that they make available to mothers and children in need.

One day we enjoyed a presentation about public art in Boston; and headed over to the Boston Garden for a scavenger hunt. Another day, we pitched in for an international potluck lunch.

And finally, we hit the Boston Common with our table full of information and fun, and spread the word about the joy of volunteering to passers by. All in all, a great time!

International

Our Ambassador Clubs and short-term volunteers did CAP presentations in their communities. Our long-term volunteers organized special projects in their host countries.