As time goes on, I feel more and more removed from my volunteer experience with WorldTeach in Ecuador. Months have passed now, and besides working a full time job in Argentina, I’ve just been starting my new life and experiences here. I don’t want to say that I’ve forgotten my root[...]
Archive for September, 2009
Volunteering at a Religious Organization When You´re Not Religious
While I respect peaceful religion, I’m not religious. Not at all. It wasn’t until my third visit that I came to realize Futuro Juvenil is a devoutly Christian organization. Sure, I had seen the chapel in the estate. But I wasn’t aware that the foundation is centered around Christia[...]
A Smorgasbord of Volunteer Opportunities, Chapin Style
Over the past few weeks, I had a chance to meet with four energetic volunteer coordinators at nonprofits based in Antigua, Guatemala, with programs all over the country. For the next few posts I’d like to share some of their thoughts with you on volunteers and volunteering. I started out each inte[...]
From a Municipality Far, Far Away
My girlfriend Carly and I just counted off our first month living abroad. It’s crazy because we daydreamed in classes and offices, strategized for days at a time and in the end searched incessantly online while running around getting so many shots and visas our heads spun. But before we knew it, a[...]
September 24th, 2009 - 7:44 pm § in Around Town, Good Ideas, Looking for Opportunity, News, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Building a Better Web and World: Mozilla Service Week
Last week, Idealist.org was one of many partners who collaborated with Mozilla for the first ever Mozilla Service Week. The goal was to encourage individuals who want to make both the Web and the world a better place to step up and offer nonprofits their talents. The results were impressive. Volunte[...]
Finding a Volunteer Situation that Fits
If you’re looking for short-term volunteering opportunities, search the Internet (especially Idealist.org) and go for what appeals to you in terms of the organization’s mission, how the opportunity matches your skills, the locale you’re interested in, and what appears legitimate. Regardi[...]
September 23rd, 2009 - 8:05 pm § in Good Ideas, In the Field, Looking for Opportunity, Nicaragua, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Top 10 Ways to be a Successful Long-Term Volunteer
Tired of the “nine to five?” Thinking of leaving the daily grind for something more rewarding? Here are my top 10 suggestions for those of you who thinking of trying your hand in Latin America. 10. Don’t listen to the people who tell you that you’re foolish for leaving your “stable” job,[...]
I Called the President at 12:18 p.m.
On September 21, I participated in my first protest ever, locally called, Cariocas Ligando para o Clima (Cariocas Calling for the Climate). This protest was a global climate wake-up call organized by Avaaz and the TckTckTck campaign. The purpose of the protest, dubbed a “flash mob,” was to infor[...]
