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Inaugural Team to Brazil Reaps Soulful Rewards
Global Volunteers' first service program in Salvador, Brazil in early July was a wonderful journey of the heart and spirit for the 11 adventurous participants and staff team leader Diane Fredricksen.
"All of the volunteers took their responsibilities seriously. They were one of the best teams I have had the honor to lead. This team bonded very quickly and became fast friends," said Diane, who is also director of international operations for Global Volunteers.
The team served the most vulnerable segment of Salvador's populace -- children of extreme poverty, including some with life-threatening illnesses.
Working at Santa Isabel Hospital, some volunteers befriended children with cancer, while others provided a loving presence to young patients in a cardiac unit and gave needed respite and friendship to their parents by playing games, providing manicures and leading crafts sessions.
Another project site was the large preschool and daycare center at the host organization Santa Casa de Misericordia (House of Mercy), where volunteers played with children (ages 1 to 6) and led arts and crafts sessions.
Michigan volunteer Mary Brylowski grew close to Vanessa, a terminally ill child at the hospital. "It was very easy to relate to the children," she reflected. "I sang softly to Vanessa who was failing. For the short periods we were with them, they were children, not cancer patients."
Susan Smith, a volunteer from Flolrida was impressed by the sincerity of the local people. "The Brazilian people are very warm and friendly and so hospitable. I would love to return and learn even more about their children. I became very close to some of the patients and their families."
Frequent volunteer Patrice Goldberg summed up: "You can never, ever anticipate when a symbol of love and or understanding will appear. Any incident, even the seemingly unpleasant situation, might be the perfect conduit to the one moment you will treasure forever."
Learn more about future teams to Brazil.
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Child Sponsorship Program Expanded for New School Year
As Global Volunteers' Child Sponsorship Program enters its third year, benefits to the sponsors and the sponsored children and classrooms continue to grow. Children at Tutova Clinic in Romania, students at An Shang Elementary School in China and the children of Chennai, India have felt the compassion and assistance from caring individuals around the globe. Robin Eising, volunteer to Romania, explained: "I just returned from...Tutova and very much want to sponsor Liliana R. and in the very near future, two more children in the clinic as well. I hope to return next year. I am clearly changed forever after this experience and thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting us continue to do all we can until we can return."
This year, we extended classroom sponsorship opportunities to Tanzania, Ecuador, the Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Peru and Poland -- providing schools in host communities with needed materials and education scholarships. Classroom sponsors help ensure that students receive books, paper and pencils, uniforms and furniture such as desks and chairs.
US and Canadian students in sponsoring classrooms learn about and make a difference in the lives of students in another part of the world. Country-specific activities and reports sent from the host community update students in age-appropriate language. Teachers, students and parents are urged to contact Child Sponsorship Program Manager Tanya Battista Crespo at tbattista@globalvolunteers.org to receive materials for the 2006-07 school year.
Learn how you can contribute to this effort.
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Encore Teams Resume Regional Meeting Schedule
After a summer break, the Global Volunteers regional Encore teams will begin their fall schedules. The Global Volunteers Encore Network of service program "alumni" nationwide shares their volunteer experiences with potential volunteers and the media in their community. If you're a former volunteer, and would enjoy working with these motivated humanitarians, please contact Ivy Kaminsky Zupka, Encore Program Manager at ikaminsky@globalvolunteers.org or (800)487-1074, x6141 to be connected with your local Encore leader.
Minneapolis: China and Poland volunteers Dean & Carol LaFrenz will serve as new Co-Presidents, Costa Rica volunteer Margy Ross as Vice President and Poland and Minnesota volunteer Lori Wedeking as Secretary. Their yearly goal-setting meeting is planned for September 21st.
San Francisco: Encore Team President and six-time volunteer Evan Boido will be handing over leadership this fall. This is a very active volunteer region of the country, so if you're interested in helping to provide direction to this lively team, please let us know!
Washington, DC: After a very successful reception with Bud Philbrook and three new volunteer service program sign-ups, this team will soon complete their first year with discussions about new leadership and future work plans.
Orange County: Encore Team President Pam Cromer is hoping for a good turn-out for the next meeting, scheduled for September 21st. A favorite and imaginative volunteer team leader, Pam promises lots of creativity sprouting from this team!
Los Angeles: This recently launched team is making plans for their first meeting in the next two months. Costa Rica volunteer Kim Archer, serving as President, is seeking a Vice President and Secretary. Get in on the ground floor of this team this fall!
New York: The New York Team is in the planning stages for an inaugural reception to gather all area volunteers and interested community members. Scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8, the reception will feature Global Volunteers Bud Philbrook, and local Encore coordinators.
Interested in learning more? Call us at 800-487-1074 and ask for Ivy!
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Consider Volunteering as a Family this Year
Over 23 years, Global Volunteers has provided life-enriching intergenerational service opportunities for parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, couples and adult siblings. While experiencing a new culture, children gain life-changing insights that prepare them for adult life. Family volunteers have the opportunity to live and work in a community that can't be duplicated through a traditional "tour" experience.
Global Volunteers is committed to providing intergenerational service opportunities that enable all family members to grow in their understanding of each other and the world. Over half of our service program destinations are recommended for families with adolescents and teens. Children as young as 8 years old can participate on select teams in the USA and Costa Rica.
Countries where we offer programs especially suited for family groups include China, the Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Italy, Ireland, Peru, Poland and Romania! Safety is always a concern, so we observe travel warnings issued by the U.S. State Department, even if it means canceling a program, and we protect volunteers through emergency medical evacuation insurance. These policies have helped us maintain an impressive record while sending more than 13,000 volunteers to world locales.
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Sri Lanka Service Porgram Attracts True Humanitarians
One of the most exotic places on Earth has become one of the most welcoming. Through the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami, people from all over the world have united to help restore communities that were destroyed, and to build new ones on safer ground. However, even though international donations have been generous and far-reaching, the move from emergency relief to sustaining development work has been slow.
That's where Global Volunteers teams come in. Under the direction of local NGO hosts and community leaders, we're helping lay the foundation for new life to bloom where devastation reigned. Our new partnership enables volunteers to directly help homeless and povery stricken Sri Lankans in the southernmost region of the country. You're needed to help build essential school facilities and new homes, paint and repair existing and new structures, or teach conversational English and basic computer skills in village schools. No teaching experience is required. The first team will serve in September.
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Latest Catalog Soon Available as Download
Beginning on August 1, our new "Adventures in Service" catalog will be available as an online pdf download for easy reference and printing. Service program fee adjustments -- beginning with November service programs -- reflect actual costs for maintaining the partnerships and conducting the volunteer service opportunities. One-third of the service program fees have been reduced to reflect savings over the last fiscal year.
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"We're links in a long chain of those who have come before and will follow to help improve the lives of people around the world."
Bud Philbrook, Global Volunteers co-founder and president
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YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US
Do you have specific topics you'd like to see in a future issue: Send us your ideas. Since 1984, we've worked alongside local people in every corner of the globe -- laying a foundation for peace through mutual international understanding. In mobilizing thousands of short-term volunteers, we've learned valuable lessons about honoring local customs, methods and perspectives. We hope to share what we've learned with you.
Please e-mail us: linkeditor@globalvolunteers.org
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