There's no denying it, these bloggers are bound to make you jealous. Whether it's their guts, their energy or their tan you admire, overseas volunteers have got plenty to share with you about their remarkable work in fascinating countries. Read on to find out what you could be missing.

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Thursday May 04, 2006

Why am I volunteering?

Why am I volunteering? Let me explain my life to you. I work in a library. I check books in. I check books out. I check them in. Then out again. And then...guess what? I check them in again. Get it? It's dull. It's predictable.  I live in Indiana, in the USA. Miles and miles from anywhere fun. Surrounded by dairy farms and cornfields (you have no idea how bad my allergies act up this time of year). In winter it can snow several feet. In summer it can feel like a Turkish sauna. Tornadoes bounce around like rubber balls. (This year –SO FAR- I've had 7 or 8 touch down within 50 miles.) Good ole' boys have gun racks in their trucks with a rifle or two racked up. It may be idyllic for some. Not me.

I may joke about life here in America's heartland, but seriously, I volunteer because I grew up in a house where it was the done thing. My parents were both scout troop leaders and worked the school carnivals, dad was a volunteer firefighter. I first got involved when I gave a speech on volunteerism in a university class and was asked where I volunteered. Embarrassed, I stammered, 'Ummm, I've applied at the local Boys and Girls Club.' (Fortunately I'm good at thinking on my feet.) Where was I immediately after class? Down at the Boys and Girls Club inquiring about volunteering!

Of course, donating an afternoon a week is quite different from choosing to do so full time. I originally chose to volunteer for a year as a way of spending time in the UK. I went back twice more because I enjoyed the work. It felt like I was able to make a difference in a few young people's lives. I've had an amazing time exploring the UK and have made wonderful friends, but nothing will compare to having a young man I befriended for several years give me a heartfelt, 'Thank you for everything you've done for me.' That makes the uncertainty of whether going back for a fourth year is really a smart idea. I know I'm not going back to the place I was, but it gives me the confidence to know that I am making a worthwhile choice.

Posted by Dana ( 11:47 AM )
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Why did I start volunteering?

Why did I start volunteering? There are several aspect to why I started volunteering, Maybe it was in built; at 3 I took my mums credit card to play school for the africans because mum wouldn't give me enough money.

Maybe it was my up-bringing: Mum always sponsored children in Africa, and I would read the letters we recieved, along with updates of the situations, at the time, when I was only 7 or 8 I didnt think what I was reading was unusual for kids my age, and I never understood why my school friends didnt have the same questions as me.

Maybe it was God: I have always had a key question that I have demanded of every religious person I've met; Why does God allow suffering? When I was 14 I got involved in a local church and questioned every person I could get my hands on, they gave me a lot to think about and the end situation was that helping those people was down to me, or us as people.

This spurred me on, and began my research with my best friend, who shares similar ambitions to me. Her way into the future was work through her church family in Gambia, but I wanted to escape the religious aspect, as I felt that limited my acceptance and open mindedness as well as possibilities. I chose to travel with a gap year company to Ghana on my own at 17...I volunteered in an orphanage for 5 weeks, and this was my first ever volunteering. I loved it, and that's why I will continue to volunteer.

Posted by Emily ( 11:41 AM )
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Introduction

My name’s Dana and I enjoy volunteering. I grew up in America’s heartland, Indiana, and always knew I wanted to be someplace else. After my time at university, I moved to the suburbs of New York City and spent several years working as a nanny.

Having holidayed in Britain several times and knowing I wanted to spend more time there, I began searching for a fulltime, residential volunteer position. (Many countries allow unpaid, voluntary workers – check it out if there’s someplace you’re craving to explore.) The organisation I went through eventually placed me with a befriending project just outside of Edinburgh. I had a fantastic year! So great, in fact, I went back for a second year. (Year two was just as fabu so, glutton for punishment that I am, I arranged a third year!)  Now back in America, I’m searching for a new project in the UK.

My other volunteer gigs have included helping out with a three-day literature festival devoted to Scotland’s writers during the Edinburgh Fringe, reviewing historical fiction & nonfiction for a literary society, photographing the ceiling at King’s College Chapel (Cambridge) for an architectural survey, and being a Girl Scout (Guide) leader. I enjoy cooking, photography, music, traveling and drinking proper English cider (not the apple-juicy stuff we Americans call cider)!

Posted by Dana ( 11:20 AM )
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Who am I?

Hey, I'm Emily, an 18 year old student from the south coast between Portsmouth and Bognor! I'm studying for my A-levels at the moment in English litereature, Psychology, Sociology and an AS in communication. (I appologise for spellings...I'm slightly dyslexic, and not very good at concentrating on them!) At the moment I am living the typical student life at home with my mum and dad, but now I can drive I'm hardly ever home!...work, sleep, drink. It has been a good few years, but I can't wait to start following my dreams...oh thats a bit cheesey...sorry!

After my A-levels I am taking a gap year before going to Birmingham university to study african sudies with development. In my gap year I am volunteering in Tanzania for 8 months, working with youth in rural villages helping them with information about health related topics eg; HIV and AIDS, water purification etc. I'm not going into Tanzania a complete volunteer virgin as I travelled to Ghana last year to volunteer in an orphanage for 5 weeks between my AS and A-levels. It made me an adult for sure, and I absolutly loved the experience despite all the questions (moral and otherwise) it raised for me about volunteering overseas, and development as a real issue, not just in a book. It made me ask if it was really beneficial for westeners to travels to africa to volunteer with children for short periods of time, bringing our culture and values with us, becoming attatched to the children and then leaving...what did I teach them, how did I help them? its a question that I still havn't answered.

Before Tanzania I am returning to Ghana for 3-4 weeks, but more as a holiday to see old friends...its bizare how close you become with people when you are in a brand new situation, one of my best friends is someone I met over there, but I only knew her for 2 weeks!!! After Ghana in the summer I am planning to start work on fundraising for Tanzania...only £3600 to go! + part time volunteering with children in my area, after school clubs and similar,I hope it will give me confidence and experience and every little helps!

I hope that gives you a little idea of who I am, and what I'm all about.

em xxxx

Posted by Emily ( 11:10 AM )
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