WHAT?
A few months ago, before I started my first year at college, the names of a few different places were engrained in my mind.
Africa and
Indonesia were both on the list that I wrote down. I knew that these places, (among the few others listed), would come to play a large role in my life, but I did not know when or how.
For the longest time in college I had thought that I knew what I wanted. However, I know that this is no longer true. At 18, it is often difficult to know exactly what one wishes to do with the rest of their life. I agree that college is a time for exploration of the self, yet I feel that my case is different from the average person.
I have come to a point in my life where the urge to volunteer abroad has fervently placed itself above all other things. As stated in my first post, I am a Global Citizen. I do not belong to one country or the other; I belong to the entire planet.
I want to make the biggest impact that I can possibly make on this planet during this one life that I live. In order to get into this global environment, I need to make this giant leap NOW into the world. I must install myself into other cultures in order to gain and apply a truly global perspective. After spending 9 months abroad in three different countries, I believe it will give me the clarity I will need in order to make the next big step to fulfill my dream of positively impacting the world.
WHERE?
UBUD - BALI - INDONESIA
(Child care, Teaching English, Education)
NOSY BE - MADAGASCAR - AFRICA
(Forest Conservation, Teaching English)
NAIROBI - KENYA - AFRICA
(Women's Education, Teaching)
WHY?
I am lucky to have been born in the United States, where free, public education is easily accessible, where we have enough food to cause obesity, where the opportunities to work are abundant, and where we have almost anything we could possibly ever need and MORE at the tips of our fingers. I am GRATEFUL. But we do not get to choose where we are born, and there are many people in many countries who struggle to eat a meal a day and who dream of having an education. I dream of a world where everyone has access to what they need, where people no longer have to struggle for a comfortable life, where people are able to get an education as their natural right, and where love is the main currency exchanged between people. (that last point might take some time). All it takes is one person to make a difference, and I am going to be the difference that I want to create in this world.
HOW?
I am going to these three countries by using an organization called
International Volunteer Head Quarters (IVHQ). This organization is the most affordable organization I have found with the most diverse and valuable programs. You can find out more about this organization
HERE.
I will need to buy a whopping
4 plane tickets, each one of them averaging around
$600-$900.
And I will need to earn/fund/raise
$5,801 for the programs alone.
If the average of each plane ticket is
$750, I will be spending around
$9,000 for this entire trip.
WHAT STEPS AM I TAKING?
- I have a gofundme.com, and you can make the difference! DONATE SOME LOVE
- I am currently working two jobs
- I am selling things that I do not need
- I am in search of jobs around my community (ie. dog walking, tutoring, babysitting, housesitting)
