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The YCI-YMCA Mentorship Program is expanding and we need a team of great volunteers to help pilot the program in KUMASI! This 4 week project will hit the ground running on July 30th with the mandate of starting the Mentorship Program in this new location.
Kumasi is the capital of the Central Region in Ghana. Home to one of the largest markets in West Africa, it is also where YCI’s next pilot program will be!
The YCI-YMCA Mentorship Program started in 2009 as a joint venture between YCI and the YMCA- Ghana to provide Ghanaian youth with mentorship, training and support. The goal of the YCI-YMCA Mentorship Program has been to build the capacity of young people in Ghana to improve their livelihoods and become ambassadors of change in their community.
It has grown in the past two years and during 2011, YCI volunteers worked with YMCA peer mentors to conduct 28 trainings and outreach events engaging almost 3,000 community members. The program went through a redesign in 2012 to become a formal 2- year program. Due to the success of the Mentorship Program and its impact on mentors, YCI and the YMCA -Ghana would like to replicate the Mentorship Program in Kumasi. To find out more about the project , click HERE!
The ancient capital of the Ashanti kingdom, Kumasi is still the heart of Ashanti country and the site of West Africa’s largest cultural center, the palace of the Ashanti king. To add to the appeal, it’s surrounded by rolling green hills and has a vast central market as vibrant as any in Africa. You could spend days wandering through the market stalls and still not see it all. As a hub for travel throughout the country it is the perfect place to experience all Ghana has to offer.
The deadline to apply to be part of this team is June 15th, but we will be doing interviews on a rolling basis. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting pilot project, visit our website to complete an online application.
Kaileigh French had a passion for helping others and had plans to volunteer on an 8-week project in Guyana with Youth Challenge International (YCI). Shortly, after she began fundraising for her mission, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to postpone mission. Kaileigh lost her battle in June 2007. The Kaileigh French Reaching Out Globally Society (KFROGS) group was formed in memory of Kaileigh in August of 2007.
KFROGS’ vision is to see more young Nova Scotians volunteering and learning in countries around the world. Their mission is to host an annual community event to raise funds to help sponsor young people in Nova Scotia who dream of reaching out globally, and helping others by volunteering on a mission. Each year recipients from Nova Scotia who have applied with a registered, recognized organization for a volunteer mission and have been accepted, may apply for the “Kaileigh’s Kindred Spirit Award”, which is an ongoing financial award.
Past participants in the KFROGS Day for Global Change!
On June 10th, 2012, I will take part in the annual KFROGS Day for Global Change Event. One of the highlights of this event is the 5 & 10k Legacy Run, where I will take on the 5k. I have paid my registration fee and have been collecting pledges to help raise funds for the Kaileigh’s Kindred Spirit Award, as all participants are encouraged to do. All proceeds from this event go directly to local youth on a volunteer mission.
In September 2011, I embarked on a 3-month journey to Ghana with YCI to acquire field placement experience for my graduate studies in International Project Management. While I was in Ghana I worked closely with the YMCA Vocational Institute and Youth Empowerment Synergy building capacity within the two organizations, and organizing and implementing education campaigns and events. Traveling across the globe to help others and lend a hand was always a dream of mine, and with the support of KFROG I was able to make that dream a reality.
To learn more about KFROGS, their events and initiatives, and whether you are eligible for KFROG funding, check out their www.kfrogs.ca
-Melissa Spencer, Youth Ambassador, Ghana 2011, Recipient of funding from KFROGS.
If you would like to support KFROGS and their efforts to provide young Nova Scotians the opportunity to volunteer overseas, click HERE to donate!
Our CIDA International Youth Interns (IYIPs) have recently deployed to their field placements. These 8 young Canadians will be working with YCI’s field partners for the next 7 months. Last week we introduced the first four and here are short bios on the remaining four.
Elena Togias
Elena stepping carefully.
Hi my name is Elena! I grew up in Toronto and did most of my studies at U of T (an undergrad degree in Human Biology and French, and a Bachelor of Education for teaching Biology and French at the Intermediate/Senior level). I spent my third year at Université Laval in Quebec City and decided to go back there to do an M.A. in Linguistics and Language Teaching. If you suspect that I may have some teaching experience, you’re right! I’ve taught in Toronto, Quebec City (UL and Cégep), Trois-Pistoles, QC, Nice, France, and Hyderabad, India. I have many hours as a Teaching Assistant under my belt as well, and that’s given me some great teacher training experience – teaching future ESL and FSL teachers at the university level. I’ve also designed and facilitated a few pre-departure training sessions for AIESEC Laval. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, but enough about me – let’s get to the business side of things. Here at The Umoja Centre, a small education NGO in Njiro (a suburb of Arusha, Tanzania), I’ve got many roles. Our main challenge right now (for both staff and students) is implementing and maintaining an English Immersion learning environment throughout the school. Since I have knowledge and experience in this very area, I am delivering workshops for the teachers to share various immersion teaching strategies and to encourage them in this difficult task. My workshops will extend to numerous other professional development topics for teachers, and I will soon be doing one-on-one mentoring. Oh, I almost forgot – I’m doing a little bit of teaching, too. Until the YCI Ambassadors get here, I’m covering the “Key Skills” class for the Intermediate students (we just finished reproduction and will be learning about diseases for the next month), as well as the “Spoken English” class for both Intermediates and Beginners. As you can see, my plate is full, but I love being busy. And, now that I’m settled, I can focus my efforts on learning to speak more fluent Swahili – it’s the only way to show everyone that I am not a tourist – mimi sio mtali!
Kendra Borutski
Kendra is not the one in the pink lipstick.
I’m Kendra! I was born and raised in Paris Ontario, and recently graduated from Niagara College’s Bachelor of Applied Business in International Business and Global Development. Through my studies at Niagara College, I had the incredible opportunity to assist in Women’s Economic Development in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2010. I was working alongside the Instituton Federal De Educaco, Ciencia E Technolgia and NGO EMAUS developing capacity building framework and gender empowerment workshops for the Mulheres Mil Project. Most recently, I worked for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, a part of the Rural Economic Development Branch where I worked on Ontario Economic Stimulus projects, which help with the development of rural communities across Ontario. Through my studies I fell in love with all aspects of economic development and capacity building especially regarding international, rural and gender empowerment. I am passionate, outgoing, adventurous and excited to represent Youth Challenge International as the new Women’s Entrepreneurship Program Officer in Guyana.
Sana Malik
Hey, what's that over there?!?!
I’m Sana and I’ll be spending the next seven months in Morogoro, Tanzania working as a Health Outreach Officer on HIV and Gender Based Violence education in schools with Faraja Trust Fund. Faraja is one of the oldest community-led and community-driven HIV/AIDS and Health NGOs in the region. I’ll be working on integrating gender into more of Faraja’s programming and making links with other Sexual and Reproductive Health organisations in the area, focusing on creating a bigger network for youth outreach and education. Previously, I was at the International Planned Parenthood Federation in London working on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights advocacy and mobilization. I have an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and an undergraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Toronto. My interest to connect community-based responses to health challenges has led me to work in various health outreach capacities with marginalized communities in the UK, Lebanon and West Africa. In 2007, I participated in the WUSC International Research Seminar in Burkina Faso working on a HIV and Gender Project using popular theatre as an education tool and I`m looking forward to working once again on HIV and Gender issues through creative and innovative approaches in community health outreach and education. Although I miss my inner urban side, I’m loving being near the spectacular Uluguru mountains in Morogoro and having the chance to reconnect with nature. I’m hopeful that by the time I head home in November, I`ll not only have perfected my bartering skills in Swahili, but I’ll have some serious mountain-climbing and biking abilities across Morogoro’s muddy hills as well.
Mariah Griffin-Angus
Mariah getting her art on at the Louvre.
My name is Mariah Griffin-Angus and I am working for Uganda Youth Network as part of an internship program with Youth Challenge International. I will be in Kampala for seven months working on governance and human rights projects geared towards youth. My work focuses on the human rights issues in the Karamoja region in northern Uganda. I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2012 with a LLM in Human Rights Law (Bristol, UK). In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelors of Public Affairs and Policy Management, with a specialization in human rights from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada). I have previous human rights research experience in Europe, Africa and with Canada’s indigenous communities. I have travelled to East Africa before but this will be my longest stay here. I am very excited to live in Kampala and to learn more about this country. In my spare time, I like baking and exploring.
Our CIDA International Youth Interns (IYIPs) have recently deployed to their field placements. These 8 young Canadians will be working with YCI’s field partners for the next 7 months. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce the first four!
Devin Woods
This will be the photo on the dust cover of Devin's first published book.
My name is Devin Woods. I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Guelph in Political Science and a post-graduate program from Humber College in International Development Program Management (IPMP). Having volunteered and worked with a number of development organizations over the years I am very passionate about facilitating opportunities for people to learn and build skills. I will be working in Accra, Ghana as the Communications and Mobilization Officer with Youth Challenge International (YCI). My position will entail supporting YCI’s partner Youth Empowerment Synergy Ghana (YES Ghana). Specifically, this will be an opportunity for YES Ghana and I to share our different skills and build the success of their new programs surrounding Ghana’s 2012 election. Creating new media to communicate and engage with youth, this will be an exciting time for YES Ghana. As my first time travelling to Ghana I am thrilled that I will be able to take part in YES Ghana’s efforts and I am excited to take on all of the new challenges that I will face.
Clare Esler
Clare, though born in Oakville, is a Torontonian with a deep love of the city.
Hi! My name is Clare Esler and I am currently working as an Environment Project Officer at ANIDES (The Nicaraguan Association for Sustainable Development) in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where I will be for the next seven months. Inherent in the design of all of ANIDES’ projects is sustainability; community members participate in hands on workshops and are shown step by step how to maintain the project themselves. I will be developing and implementing a variety of environmental projects including an organic agriculture scheme for families living in rural Matagalpa, a hygiene strategy, a dry toilet scheme and an environmental protection and awareness project. I grew up in Oakville, Ontario but currently reside permanently in Toronto, Ontario. I have a Bachelors double major in French and International Development from Dalhousie University. Two years following graduation, I completed a one-year post-graduate program in International Project Management from Humber College. Last year, I worked to develop an organic agriculture scheme as part of a six month internship in La Concepcion, Nicaragua for La Mariposa Eco-Hotel. My passion is the environment and education, specifically in organic agriculture and promoting environmental awareness. Outside of work I dance salsa, bachata, cook delicious vegan food and practice yoga!
Camaro West
Camaro was named after the classic car. That is why she is so cool.
My name is Camaro West and I am spending my IYIP working with the YMCA of Ghana as a Gender Advisor for the next seven months. My role includes working with branches of the YMCA to implement a Gender Equality policy, designing specific gender equality programming targeted at men and women; and increasing the number of women and girls who benefit from YMCA programming. I am so excited that my job will give me the opportunity to travel to different parts of Ghana and work with regional YMCAs, while experiencing the country’s diversity. I am originally from the Island of St. Kitts, but have grown up in and around Toronto. I recently completed my Master’s degree in International Development Studies and am particularly interested in development issues pertaining to women and girls. I had the opportunity to visit The Gambia in 2009, so this is my second time in West Africa, but my first extended stay. Ghana has been on my list of places to visit for a long time, and I’m excited to finally be here! I’m looking forward to catching some football (soccer) games in the stadium and playing a little myself.
Ben Verboom
Ben: a contemplative fellow.
I am a graduate of the Physical Education and Health program at the University of Toronto, and will be working as a Health Policy Officer with the Zanzibar NGO Cluster for HIV/AIDS and Prevention (ZANGOC) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Having lost my father to suicide when I was a teenager, I have worked for years in mental health stigma reduction, including founding the Cycle To Help awareness campaign and cycling over 8000km across Canada in 2009. My passion for stigma reduction, combined with a long-held interest in public health and community development, took me to Namibia in 2010 to intern with local youth NGO Physically Active Youth, addressing youth development issues and HIV/AIDS using education and sport. As Health Policy Officer, my primary role will be helping ZANGOC to craft an organizational HIV/AIDS policy, formally outlining the role that the ZANGOC, and its 45 member organizations across the archipelago, play in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Zanzibar. Drawing on input from ZANGOC’s staff and administration, and ZANGOC’s member organizations, the policy will serve as the guiding document for ZANGOC’s HIV/AIDS projects and will inform the development of a long-term action plan for ZANGOC and its members. In addition to HIV/AIDS policy project, I will also be assisting with capacity-building for ZANGOC’s members and community partners in the areas of HIV stigma reduction and gender equality. I look forward to a meaningful and challenging intercultural, professional, and personal experience!
Danika meeting with Youth Housing Cooperative groups in Nakuru, Kenya.
After spending 5 weeks working in and discovering Ghana as an YCI Innovator, I am back to work in Nairobi, Kenya, completing a CIDA Internship position through Rooftops Canada. I have been here for over 6 months, developing communications material for an organization called the National Cooperative Housing Union (NACHU). This Kenyan NGO uses the cooperative model to provide decent and affordable housing for low and middle income groups throughout the country.
While in Ghana, I helped strengthen an YCI and YMCA partnership program to develop a clear strategy for building the capacity of the local youth and community. When consulting the Ghanaian youth to create a sustainable livelihood program, I became more aware of the various challenges that young Africans face. In Koforidua, meeting the YCI Mentors showed me that youth can be the leaders to initiate change in their community.
Danika working with the Mentors in Koforidua, Ghana.
From my experiences across the continent, I have learned that youth from both East and West Africa are met with similar obstacles when trying to strengthen their livelihoods and establish decent standards of living. In Nairobi, for example, rapid urbanization has left over a million Kenyans living in the city’s slums. These insecure and unsanitary living conditions have adverse effects on physical and mental health, and are particularly harmful to the development and life opportunities of youth.
With a better understanding of the African youth perspective, I am helping NACHU develop a strategy specifically for Kenyan youth so that they can access affordable and safe housing solutions. The youth programs at NACHU work to mobilize and empower youth, providing training in areas such as entrepreneurial skills and the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness and gender equality. This package will help young people access NACHU’s financial and technical services so that they can buy land and build their own homes. With this program, youth will be able to help themselves leave the slums and live in safe and secure environments.
The youth in Ghana and Kenya have humbled me with their perseverance through struggles and their commitment to spearhead significant and sustainable change in their communities. I hope to continue having the opportunity to work with such inspiring individuals.
-Danika King, Youth Innovator, Ghana 2012
Our Ghana Alumni rave about their experience volunteering on project. We are currently recruiting for a 12-week project starting in May. Clink HERE for details on the project activities.
Daphne in Zanzibar.
Jambo! My name is Daphne, and I spent 2 wonderful and eye-opening months in Zanzibar, Tanzania with YCI in the summer of 2011. It is hard to believe that at this time last year I was frantically baking biscotti, planning fundraising parties, and getting jabbed with all kinds of immunizations in preparation for the project. Though it sounds like a lot of effort (and pain), those pre-departure tasks quickly became an after thought as I boarded the plane to Tanzania.
Those first few days in Zanzibar were a whirlwind – meeting the other volunteers, getting settled in our homestays, exploring Stonetown, and hashing out the plans and objectives for our project activities. Having the liberty to define the format and content of the programming was definitely one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. It is a very rare opportunity that a well-established and wide-reaching organization such as YCI enables participants to have a relatively free hand in the process. While at times frustrating as any job can be, our team had the ability to interact and solve problems that any young person would be hard-pressed to find in a summer job.
Stonetown, the heart of Zanzibar.
Since returning from Zanzibar, I’ve continued to engage in the youth sector as an intern at TakingITGlobal (TIG). Those of you who are participating in an upcoming YCI project will recognize this web platform as the forum through which the YCI network communicates. In addition to hosting an online community of socially engaged youth, TIG offers tools and resources for youth to start their own activism projects as well as outlets for artistic expression and education. I’ve had the honour to work on a new project of TIG called YouthMovements.org, an interactive map which aggregates youth-centred initiatives around the world and enables users and organizations to communicate across the different sectors of the youth movement. It’s a big undertaking, but it is one that makes complete sense to me as someone who both struggled to discover ways to get more involved in my community and as a project facilitator with YCI.
The practical skills I gained while working with YCI have been an invaluable asset in my new role – my ability to work with a team, set goals, monitor and evaluate progress, and communicate cross-culturally were strongly reinforced by our work in Zanzibar.
The volunteer group in Tanzania, enjoying some local favourites.
Resume-building benefits aside, Zanzibar was an incredible experience in every respect. The food, the culture, the hustle and bustle and smells of the streets – not to mention the good friends and even better memories – will stay with me for a lifetime. I can’t wait to get back!
-Daphne Edmonds, Youth Ambassador, Tanzania 2011
During the past year, YCI had an incredible amount of fantastic volunteers who contributed over 32, 000 hours worldwide to our international programs. Through their effort and hard work, YCI volunteers were able to create positive change in communities in Tanzania, Ghana, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Guyana. We are pleased to announce this year’s Volunteer of the Year and recognize our other finalists and nominees.
YCI’S Volunteer of the Year: Lonny Chen
For Lonny the most important part of his YCI experience has been building relationships and maintaining them after he leaves a place. Congratulations Lonny and Thank You!
Lonny first became engaged with YCI as a Tanzania program volunteer in 2008. As a volunteer, Lonny spent 8 weeks supporting our partners in Morogoro, the Faraja Trust Fund, in establishing Computer and Employment Skills development initiatives for unemployed youth. Lonny spent his time building relationships with community members, youth and staff and prides himself in his ability to sustain strong and meaningful relationships quickly and effectively.
Lonny’s zeal and passion for both his work and Tanzanian culture brought him back once again in 2011 as a Youth Innovator. Last year Lonny spent four weeks supporting our partners Faraja Trust Fund in Morogoro, Tanzania as a Youth Innovator. In this experience, Lonny played an integral part in contributing to the drafting and editing of Faraja Trust Funds Strategic Plan 2010-2014. Lonny was a tremendous addition to both the YCI and Faraja Trust Fund team as he was always helpful and eager to contribute to the overall capacity building initiatives. Lonny’s passion, drive and enthusiasm translated into his engaging as a Youth Innovator once again in 2012. Lonny has just completed an 8-week placement as a Youth Innovator in both Zanzibar and Morogoro. Lonny’s background and expertise in Information, Technology and Communications has been invaluable in supporting our partners to increase their computer literacy.
Lonny, during a recent website training, with ZANGOC.
To date, Lonny has dedicated over 800 volunteer hours to YCI. Lonny’s dedication to YCI and his contribution to our international partners is absolutely invaluable. We thank him and are proud to honour his contribution by naming him YCI’s Volunteer of the Year!
Finalist: Angela Mak
Angela working with children in Guyana
Angela Mak is a standout volunteer who made a significant impact in her 5-week volunteer placement in St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Guyana. Before her arrival in Guyana, Angela’s creative flair shined through in her fundraising efforts. Events like “Dance or Die: and a “Spin-a-thon” resulted in Angela quickly exceeding her fundraising target! Once in Guyana, Angela successfully engaged young learners through innovative curriculum development initiatives, educational activities and compassionate instruction. She was instrumental in improving literacy and education in and out of the classroon. Angela’s friendly, outgoing personality was a supportive and positive addition to St. Cuthbert’s Mission. She integrated extremely well into the community, forming many close relationships–she even had a baby named after her! Angela’s can-do attitude and overall zest for life is absolutely inspiring. Angela has been one of YCI’s most active Alumni and has remained engaged through writing blog posts using new media (From Guyana With Love), onboarding new volunteers and even local volunteerism in Toronto. Her recent efforts at the KPMG Aeroplan Campaign impressed YCI staff and Board Members alike.
Finalist: Lisa D’Alimonte
Lisa in Ghana
Lisa D’Alimonte began volunteering with YCI in the fall of 2010 as part of the Humber College youth leadership team and has remained engaged with the organization ever since. Shortly after her 10-week placement in Ghana, Lisa was selected as the YCI IYIP Good Governance Intern in Tanzania. Working with our partner ZANGOC, Lisa was instrumental in their strategic planning and the creation of the Gender Equality Team in the organization. Her love of Ghana and commitment to YCI has brought her back as an Innovator in two capacities for our Ghana program . She recently completed a Program Development placement to formalize the YCI-YMCA mentorship program and is currently assisting our partner YES Ghana with designing a Monitoring & Evaluation toolkit for their projects. Lisa has also remained an active representative of YCI in Canada. When she is in Toronto, Lisa is one of our most enthusiastic advocates at universities and colleges alike, speaking about YCI and the CIDA IYIP program.
Nominees:
Thank you to all the volunteers who were nominated. We have included them below with a link to one (or more) of the blog posts where they shared their experience. Please read what they had to say.
Matt Leslie, Youth Ambassador, Tanzania: Preparing for Tanzania and Alumni Update
Hyun Park, Youth Ambassador, Tanzania: Gender Equality Team of ZANGOC
David Caughey, Youth Ambassador, Ghana: Culture Shock and The Harmattan
Ben Yurkiw, Youth Ambassador, Tanzania: Karibu- YCI Orientation in Tanzania and A Lesson in Selflessness
YCI would like to introduce you to our newest person in Toronto, Adriana Koolman. Adriana has just completed her first full week as the Program Assistant Intern in the office. This post also serves as an Alumni Update, as she is an alumni from our Tanzania project!
Adriana was this excited to join the YCI team!
This is my first full week as the new YCI intern, and it has been going great! On my first few days here the office was quite the flurry of action, with new IYIP interns training for pre- departure. I got to sit in and learn all about the history of YCI, including our past and present projects. One of these past projects was how I became introduced to YCI. Just this past year, I was a Youth Ambassador in Zanzibar, Tanzania for eight weeks. I was originally interested in this project because I have a degree in International Development and Political Science from Dalhousie University and was looking for some practical work experience. This project taught me a lot about how just different the classroom can be from the field and reconfirmed for me a passion to work in development. After returning I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to apply to the Program Assistant Internship, which I hope will allow me to find out even more about all of the facets of development.
The position here seems to include getting to sample each of the full time positions, which will give me a great behind the scenes look. I am also excited to get to know all of the staff here, as they have proven very interesting already and I’m only one week in!
In my time off you can find me enjoying a good book, tv show, or outside with my dog!
Heather with one of the students at the YMCA Vocational School in Takoradi.
I have been living and working in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) for just over two months now. This community is a fly-in reserve about 600km north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. While here I have had the pleasure of experiencing temperatures as low as -50°C, driving on ice-roads, and witnessing some breathtaking Aurora Borealis displays. Having worked with youth both here and in Ghana (where I worked with YCI), I have found that kids are kids no matter where they live, or their cultural background.
I am working up north with Right To Play to implement their P.L.A.Y. (Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth) program. This program has several facets but here we have run the Hockey for Development program and the Youth Leadership Program. Our aim is to enhance the leadership skills of the youth in this community, bring community members of all ages together, and have our youth group plan and run community events. Since arriving, my co-worker and I have taken part in the hiring of local staff, recruited youth to join our youth group, and run the first of three activity modules for this program.
This coming week our youth will be hosting their first round of youth-led events. The young men have planned a ball hockey tournament to raise funds for the local youth centre. This community is fortunate to have a space for youth to go, however at present the youth centre is an empty building lacking furniture and plumbing. The youth here envision a space with couches, computers, internet access, and some video games. The hockey tournament is to be the first of many fundraising events aimed at making the youth centre a great place to be.
The young ladies have planned a dance to be held in memorial of a young girl who passed away last year. They are aiming to raise enough funds to purchase a headstone for their friend, and are very dedicated to their cause. The girls have put up posters all around the community and even worked up the courage to make an announcement on the radio. The youth have been working very hard on their events and I am so proud and excited to see them happen.
I am nearing the end of my time up north and I will be sad to leave. I have really enjoyed working with the children and youth here, and I have been impressed by the level of enthusiasm for our program. The Youth Leadership Program will continue to run in KI until August, and will be facilitated by two local staff. I will move on to another internship (or job), and hopefully I will be able to find another position where my days consist of playing games, having snowball fights, and planning events with youth.
Heather and her co-worker enjoying the Northern Lights.
-Heather Lewis, YCI Alumni, Ghana 2011.
To find our more about the P.L.A.Y. Program Heather is currently working on, check out the project profile on the Right To Play website by clicking HERE.
Sureet and the students she worked with on her last day in Tanzania.
It was this time last year that I was planning for fundraisers and preparing for my trip to Tanzania – not knowing the extent to which travelling and working in Arusha was going to change my life. It’s been seven months since I’ve returned home, but Tanzania is still a big part of my life, even though I’m no longer there. This trip has taught me a great deal, of which the top five lessons I will share:
1. To appreciate what I have. Although we were living in a pretty comfortable home in Tanzania, living there still taught me to appreciate what I have in Canada. Taking hot showers, getting clean water from the tap, and using my phone in public are just small things I now appreciate. Having a chance to go to school, having a job, and being respected as a young person are the bigger things that I have learned to appreciate after coming back from Tanzania.
2. Friendships can also be long distance. I am lucky to have kept in contact with many of the people I met in Tanzania, including the students, the family we stayed with, and other friends that we made along the way. Whether they are my co-volunteers on the other side of the country, or friends from the other side of the world – we all have a special and unbreakable connection.
3. I have the travel bug. A couple of months after coming back, I found myself on a plane again, this time to New York. After travelling to Tanzania, I know how much fun travelling can be and how much I love it!
4. My passion is to teach (everywhere). Before my trip, I had a lot of experience teaching locally, but being able to teach in another country was one of the most rewarding experiences yet. I was able to learn a new culture, share my own culture, and learn a new language, all while doing what I love – teaching. This trip has definitely proved to me that I want to teach wherever a plane can take me.
5. I can do whatever I set my mind to. Having travelled alone and being away from family for a whole summer, I can no longer give myself excuses as to why “I can’t.” This experience continues to push me to get out of my comfort zone to do what it is I really want to do, because I know that I am capable.
Sureet in New York City next to the Tanzanian flag.
Once I came back to Canada, my normal schedule kicked in, and I found myself back into the ‘robot school-mode’ of life. Not content with this, I find myself reflecting on my trip a lot. I often find that small things spark my memory back to my trip, thinking about the fun times and amazing connections I shared with so many people. This is great motivation for me, because it keeps me appreciating the amazing experience I had and it gets me excited for what my future holds.
-Sureet Rai, YCI Alumni, Tanzania 2011
To find out more about what our Alumni are doing now, check out the Alumni Update section of our blog.
