This past August, we excitedly launched the blog you are reading right now. This was the first time we attempted to pull people’s experiences into one blog, and to be honest, we weren’t sure how it was going to go. But because we have such an awesome team of devoted bloggers – who[...]
Archive for December, 2009
2009 Wrap-Up
I’ve spent a total of five months in Colombia so far. In that time I have worked with two organizations. Since the 1st of December, I have been on break. My remaining thoughts for 2009: Holiday Festivities End of year holiday events, like fundraisers and luncheons, are a great way to make cont[...]
December 28th, 2009 - 1:14 pm § in Around Town, Peru
Peru: Most Romantic Place on Earth?
I have come to love and appreciate both the Peruvian people and their culture. But I have to admit – they are hopelessly romantic. At least several times a day I see or hear something that reminds me of the week before Valentine’s Day, when I can’t turn on the radio or buy a carton[...]
Evaluating Our Impact
As 2009 comes to a close, many of us volunteering in Latin America will find ourselves in a reflective mood, evaluating what we’ve accomplished and setting new goals for 2010. I was put in an especially pensive state the other day by the visit of two exuberant women, Fran Early and Connie Newton, [...]
December 22nd, 2009 - 12:54 pm § in Tips & Resources
How to Volunteer Abroad: A One Minute Explanation
Thinking about venturing into the world of international service? But not sure where to start? Check out this one-minute how-to! Erin Barnhart, Idealist.org’s Director of Volunteerism Initiatives and mastermind behind our International Volunteer Resource Center, gives a brief step-by-step gui[...]
Rio Secures Giuliani for Security
Brazilian officials have recently announced that former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, has accepted a long-term position as a security consultant leading up to the World Cup in 2012 and the Olympics Games in 2016. Rio’s current plans to fight crime, including the new initiative Choque [...]
December 16th, 2009 - 11:03 am § in Argentina, Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Spotlight: Facing Paco in Buenos Aires
Jennifer Yael Green is a writer and traveler who most recently spent a year as an English instructor in South Korea. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, she lives her life striving to write something worth reading, or to do something worth writing about. She spent several months volunteering in a [...]
December 15th, 2009 - 9:34 am § in Around Town, Guatemala
Educational Exchange with New Hope Teachers
Most of the content of this blog focuses on the adventures of English-speaking volunteers who are planning to or are currently exploring Latin America. While it’s not an easy thing to embark upon, it’s often much more accessible than the reverse, when Latin Americans look for experiences to expl[...]
