I love my job, and I feel so lucky to be able to say that. There’s no doubt, it’s a fantastic personal experience to take part in a volunteer program abroad, and through my work I feel even more privileged to be involved in and stay connected to our partner projects and volunteers each and every day.
Travel is one of the most incredible tools capable of facilitating a more peaceful and just world. To travel as a global citizen we need to ask more questions, get involved with local communities, and then take action to the best of our ability to make a difference. This action could be volunteering our skills, purchasing environmentally sustainable and fair trade souvenirs, and directly donating to local organizations working in the areas we visit.
There’s one question that crops up with seemingly every new person I meet along my travels: What’s my favorite country? The simple answer, Nepal. Though there are several countries that have touched me, really it’s the people along the way who have impacted me the most; they have shared with me moments, view points and perspective and altered my perceptions of the world.
Every move we make in our lives is based on a decision. That decision can be of minor importance, or like in my case the one that changes the path of my life forever. When I hopped on a bus to take me from Belize to Tikal, Guatemala I had no idea what was awaiting me!
Ngwenya Glass is a great example of how one can help people in poor countries learn a new skill and contribute to poverty alleviation whilst embedding in them a greater awareness of the environment. I’ve visited many eco community projects around the world but the Ngwenya Glass story is one that I found particularly inspiring, probably because I’m a big fan of projects that stimulate and promote local arts and crafts. I have yet to make the trip to the factory in Swaziland though it remains at the top of my list of things to do on my next trip to South Africa. I can’t wait!
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