GIVE Volunteers — Local services in Seattle

Along with 25 other volunteers, I arrived on the island of Zanzibar, a part of the country of Tanzania, to immerse ourselves in the local culture and leave a positive impact within the community. We had the opportunity to learn the rich history of Kairo and the island of Zanzibar as a whole. Previously, Tanzania was split into two countries, Tanginika and Zanzibar. When their governments merged together, the country of Tanzania was formed. Life on the island looks a little different than on the mainland, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty of the land and it’s people. The past two weeks have been full of hauling rubble (gravel), mixing cement, clearing brush, and teaching English and computer skills to the citizens of Kairo. As a group, our main goal was to finish the stage being built in the new testing center at the local elementary school, as well as clear ground for a new computer lab to be built (which future volunteers will continue to work on until it is completed!) The school can then use the stage for local events and make an income towards school fundings. The computer lab will be used for the GIVE tutoring program, since they currently use the elementary school’s computer room. Right now, my group is beginning our two-day water & land safari before we all fly home (U.S., Canada, & Australia!) and the second volunteer group of the summer is arriving on the island to take over where we left off! The impact this opportunity has left on my life is immeasurable. Along the way, I got to learn some of the Swahili language (not spoken anywhere else in the world!!) and try so many local food dishes. Being able to experience first-hand the living conditions in Tanzania was life-changing, and seeing how genuinely happy the citizens are means so much more. This experience has proven that materialistic things cannot create happiness, but the people we surround ourselves with. Speaking of the people, the citizens of Kairo are some of the kindest people I have ever gotten the pleasure of meeting. There was never a time when someone would pass you on the street without offering the greeting “Mambo!” (Hello!) with a smile on their faces. Each of our students were so eager to learn. They would show up to class early everyday and ASK for homework. It was so inspiring to watch them grow in their education and openness to our teaching. The people I met along the way were just as inspiring. From my fellow volunteers to the local staff and guides, each one of them had the purest hearts and biggest aspirations. I’ll miss the daily laughs we shared and each unique personality of the local staff members who never failed to put a smile on my face. The relationships that I have built with them have been incredibly hard to leave behind, knowing there is a slim chance I will see any of them again. I am incredibly thankful to GIVE Volunteers for offering me this incredible opportunity, the positive impact they are making all over the world is truly amazing, and I am so blessed to have been able to be a small part it. I highly recommend looking into their efforts of leaving our home better than before, there are so many ways to...

First, I want to address a few concerns that some people I met had about the Laos GIVE trip. The trip cost and traveling across the world by themselves. I believe that this experience was invaluable and it was something that I will forever hold close to my heart. If cost is a problem for you I would recommend fundraising for your trip. I appreciated being informed during my trip of where my money was going to. The logistics like accommodations, transportation, food and activities are all covered with the trip price. Most importantly, GIVE does a wonderful job of using those funds to support local businesses and people everywhere you go throughout the trip. By going on this trip you get to support the local people of Laos so they can provide for their families and make a living. One thing I appreciate about GIVE is that they push you out of your comfort zone. During this trip you will experience personal growth, discover new insights about the world and gain a fresh and meaningful outlook on life. Traveling across the world to a country you know nothing about can be intimidating, but once you arrive in Laos you will be greeted by the nicest guides that will make you feel like you are home. Also, you get to meet other like-minded volunteers that you will get very close with on the trip. There has been so much to reflect on after returning home from the Laos GIVE trip. The local guides make this experience so special by having connections and relationships with people in the communities that you visit. Experiencing the Lao culture was an incredible adventure. The kindness and warmth of the people make you feel welcomed, like you're in a second home. Their genuine hospitality creates a special bond. You'll stay in a remote village for the majority of the trip, where you'll be fully immersed into the culture and live alongside the locals. You will have the chance to teach English to kids, helping create a brighter future for them. You'll also get involved in local projects like permaculture and construction work that makes you feel like you are a part of something greater than yourself. Along with all of that, you'll get to experience the everyday lives of the men and women of the village that work hard to weave, fish and farm rice. You'll learn so much from the locals and guides about the history, traditions, and way of life of the village. You'll encounter a different way of life, characterized by hard work and resilience. Though it can be challenging, its clear how much joy they find in their simplicity. The strong sense of community is something you'll never forget, and the love they have for one another is evident. Their lifestyle is genuinely inspiring, and I hope to bring a piece of that back to my own community. The bonds and connections I formed with the locals will always hold a special place in my heart, and I know that if I return, I'll always have another home away from home. Thank you GIVE Volunteers for this life...

When you’re encapsulated by an environment so intimate and genuine, I sometimes find it difficult to articulate the full spectrum of the impact it holds. With such an intense and immediate impact, my perspectives and journey in this life of mine have forever changed/expanded following my GIVE trip. I think this is because it’s not just one or many things that you learn/unlearn or are inspired by… in my everyday life, since my GIVE trip to Laos, I am constantly reflecting on and utilizing different moments and insights from the trip. It holds a presence in my life no matter where I am or how long ago I was there. The experience guides me through life, helping me grow and become a more open-minded, confident, compassionate, and aware human being. A few highlights from my trip to Laos include ziplining over waterfalls, meditating in caves, learning how to make kombucha, learning from and teaching the women and kids in the village of Sopchem, partaking in an Alms ceremony (sharing food with the monks), once in a lifetime conversation with a monk, hiking to a hidden waterfall, cooking class, working with the free the bears foundation, learning about and visiting the UXO museum (heavy heart when I learned about this information), and SO SO much more! At the end of your time in Sopchem, you get the privilege to be involved in a Baci Ceremony, a Lao farewell tradition, where the entire village comes together to prepare one last union between the volunteers and the village. They prepare dinner, a guided blessing, and then the ENTIRE village will go around and share love, gratitude, and a blessing with each and every volunteer. It was one of the most wholesome, heartfelt experiences of my life. On a broader and more personal note, my trip to Laos helped me realize just how much I value the concept behind being a global citizen. How separation between human life doesn’t actually exist. How walls, distance, religion, ethnicity, etc. don’t change that we all bleed red. That every human on this planet has come from the same source, and we all deserve to live a healthy and fearless life. How mother nature is our home, and anywhere in the world is our backyard! My guides and the community in Laos taught me that no seed, no step goes without rippling out into this world – our world! I am forever grateful to have a piece of every adventure and human I crossed paths with in Laos in my heart – the heart that they all tremendously grew and filled with so much love! Thank you, GIVE and the crew/community in Laos, for providing the opportunity to grow and learn in such a safe and wholesome environment. GIVE helps nourish your garden – it plants the seeds of awareness into your garden. Whether it be the seeds of culture, permaculture, curiosity, history, or empathy, the seeds are planted, watered, and then you get to watch them grow and form this beautiful garden of your own. How inspiring is it to then watch the seeds from your garden help nourish...