La Vida Idealist » volunteer impact

It’s Not You, It’s Me: The Mistake of Losing Focus

agarberson — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:00:19 +0000

We set off on global excursions determined to not only discover foreign lands but also uncharted personal territory. Books are packed that inspire thought, a journal is bought to capture valuable reflections, and a pledges are made to focus attention inward. What kind of person is at my core? How will I function independently? In which ways should I first compromise my innocence? Something essential to remember, however, is the fine line between self-concern and self-obsessed.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken to leave the kids,” reflected a volunteer on his final night in Guatemala, watering up and fighting off sniffles. “We’ve become really close and I feel, maybe for the first time in my life, that I’ve had a meaningful impact on a group of people.”

“That’s wonderful that you were able to make such a strong connection,” said a person at the table, trying to overcome the awkwardness of someone crying in a bar. “How long have you been with them in the school?”

“Two weeks.”

Like most of us, that particular volunteer ventured to Latin America primarily focused on giving, unconcerned about dipping into his savings account to provide a meaningful experience. The issue: he might have been mistaken who was benefiting more from his presence in Central America.

As I rambled about in another post of mine, “You Have to Walk Before You Can Run Away,” we all have personal motives for being selfless, as strange as that sounds. Until my rendezvous with our aforementioned friend, I seemed to be (subconsciously, at least) posing the wrong questions: How can I make more local friends to step up my Spanish? What new initiates at work would shine on a resume? What am I… (pause to gasp violently into a paper bag) going to do with my life?

This week, though, I am trying to focus less on myself and ask the right ones: How can I help someone today in a way that will generate no recognition? What positive influence can I construct to outlive my time here? What pickup line should I teach Fredy so he can fulfill he dream of dating a gringa?

“Would you like to better understand Guatemalan culture by learning some words in Kaqchikel?” has to be his best bet, right?

Andrew is the Director of Communications at Transitions Foundation in Antigua, Guatemala and is now capable of going 8-Mile at a Reggaeton Karaoke Night.

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

kentgreen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:32:57 +0000

People drawn to Idealist are those who want to improve their corner of the world. We follow Canadian physician William Osler’s maxim that “we are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.”

But it’s important to cast your desire to add to the world in a reasonable frame, otherwise you’ll never be happy with what you’re doing.

The sun sets behind the high school in Puerto Jimenez

Example: Right when I left for Costa Rica, the earthquake hit Haiti, and I thought, “I should be there.” Then Chile gets rocked, and I thought, “I should be there.” Now, I see Guatemala getting doused by massive floods, and I think, “I should be there.”

Teaching English is important. However, after reading about those disasters, it seems meager. Then, I look at what the other La Vida Idealisters are doing, and I’m blown away. Conflict management after a civil war. Working at an orphange. Sustainable energy and microfinance. I discuss when to put “-ing” on the end of words.

This relativistic approach hasn’t been limited to my time in Puerto Jimenez. In Chicago, I volunteered for 826 CHI, a creative writing and tutoring center. No matter how much I did, I always felt like there was more I could have done.

I doubt this mindset exists only in me. Everyone with the desire to do service work, whether on the weekends or as a career path, must think about it from time to time. The key is not to focus on what you should have done, but on what you have done.

Which, naturally, is easier said than done.

Kent Green is currently teaching English in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica through Costa Rican English for Sustainable Tourism, a project of ALIARSE. For more on his experiences, check out his blog or follow him on Twitter.

Evaluating Our Impact

Lisa Hetzel — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:18:49 +0000

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, who interviewed me as part of the research phase of a book they are writing about volunteerism, focusing on the experience of volunteering in Guatemala.

The fascinating twist added by Fran and Connie is that they are most interested in evaluating volunteer impact from the perspective of those who are “volunteered upon,” the intended beneficiaries of our efforts. I got to thinking that this perspective is really one we should adopt on a day-to-day basis in our work. How often do we stop and ask the students, patients, loan recipients or parents with whom we work: How do you feel about the way I’m helping you? Am I including your perspective when we make decisions together, when I offer advice, or when I offer you material assistance? And on a most basic level, do we share the same idea of what is helpful to you or to your community?

In setting my goals for 2010, I think I’ll try to go back to some communication basics. Active listening techniques could top my list, including checking for understanding and evaluating how my messages are perceived. I’ve got a lot to think about.