Volunteer Trip to India
Donation protected
"Be the change you want to see in the world" – Gandhi
Ever since I was young I have always believed I would save the world. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that it really isn't about saving the world, but rather being a force for positive change. I am continuing my efforts to be a force for positive change by participating in my second volunteer trip to India with the organization Cross-Cultural Solutions. This endeavor combines my passion for helping others with my desire to get involved.
I am pursuing a career in public health because I hope to someday help establish long-term, sustainable solutions to global health issues affecting impoverished communities. I am dedicated to improving the quality of life for less fortunate persons in both the United States and abroad like Dr. Paul Farmer. Dr. Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health, has dedicated his life to addressing health issues and inequalities in impoverished areas like Haiti, Peru, Siberia, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Farmer, I too would like to engage in this effort now, rather than wait until I have completed my graduate education. I began my efforts abroad November 2014 during a 4-week volunteer trip to New Delhi, India through the organization Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS). I originally selected this specific volunteer experience because I strongly believed it would be an invaluable learning opportunity which was fully consistent with my longer-term educational goals and career objectives.
While volunteering at a crèche established by the NGO Vidya Munirka I interacted with young children from the surrounding economically distressed community. My primary responsibility was to assist the Indian teachers at the crèche by teaching the children numbers, letters, shapes and colors in English. Outside of teaching lessons I also focused a large amount of my efforts on connecting with the children in small groups or one-on-one setting in an attempt to establish a bond and provide a more individualized learning experience.
In addition to working with the children in the classroom I spent time interacting with the teachers at the crèche sharing new ideas for teaching different subject matter, helping them to improve their fluency in English and exchanging stories about our differing cultures.
About Cross-Cultural Solutions:
"Change their world. Change yours. This Changes everything"
Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), established in 1995, is a nonprofit organization working towards addressing global needs through volunteer service in ten different countries. CCS has created a travel opportunity that provides a complete experience by organizing meaningful volunteer work and cultural immersion through activities, participation in cultural traditions, local cuisine, and language. Since each country is different the volunteer assignments are based on the specific needs of the local community. CCS establishes these needs and the volunteer assignments through its relationships with local organizations.
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Video about Cross-Cultural Solutions:
Volunteer Assignment:
Prior to departing for their trip, volunteers complete a Skills and Interests Form identifying their top choices for a volunteer assignment. Next, CCS Program Site Specialists and in-country staff work together to select a volunteer project that best fits the volunteer’s skills and interests. The volunteer opportunities offered by CCS in New Delhi focus on: improving education for children; assisting with the care of infants and children; improving health and the sense of dignity among the elderly; improving the quality of care for people with disabilities; and enhancing the overall quality of health care locally.
The volunteer assignment I will be taking part in again is improving education for children. Volunteers that work to improve education spend their time and efforts at a local crèche. As stated on the CCS website the mission of the crèche is to provide basic care, attention, love and early childhood education to at-risk, vulnerable children who have been marginalized.
Serving as a volunteer to improve education for children is similar to the honors project I completed during my senior year of college at Aurora University. My honors project was a service learning initiative I developed with the objective of empowering young girls in 4th and 5th grade through a series of workshops which were filled with group discussions and hands-on activities addressing topics such as success, goal setting, leadership, personal leadership style, and healthy body image.
While the success of my volunteer endeavors with CCS are difficult to measure quantitatively, my volunteer service forms an important part of a much larger effort begun by previous volunteers and is sustained by my successors. As a whole, CCS seeks to continuously improve its international outreach efforts by soliciting feedback from volunteers and local organizations, and by evaluating yearly surveys completed by partner organizations. They also co-sponsor annual workshops with their partners, and maintain regular and ongoing communications with community leaders from partner organizations.
Fundraising Goals:
My fundraising goal in total is $4,000 (USD) which would cover my volunteer fee with CCS ($3,849 USD).
CCS fee includes:
a. Professional staff of local nationals
b. Lodging
c. Comprehensive travel medical insurance
d. Ground transportation
e. In-country cultural activities and excursions
f. Language lessons
g. Personalized volunteer assignment
h. Local phone calls and incoming international phone service
Not included:
a. Visas
b. Passports
c. Flights – estimated round trip airfare - $1,400 USD
d. Free time expenses/personal expenses
e. Personal items
Recap:
a. Total CCS fee = $3,849 USD
Thank you for your kind consideration!
Shine On,
Emma
Ever since I was young I have always believed I would save the world. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that it really isn't about saving the world, but rather being a force for positive change. I am continuing my efforts to be a force for positive change by participating in my second volunteer trip to India with the organization Cross-Cultural Solutions. This endeavor combines my passion for helping others with my desire to get involved.
I am pursuing a career in public health because I hope to someday help establish long-term, sustainable solutions to global health issues affecting impoverished communities. I am dedicated to improving the quality of life for less fortunate persons in both the United States and abroad like Dr. Paul Farmer. Dr. Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health, has dedicated his life to addressing health issues and inequalities in impoverished areas like Haiti, Peru, Siberia, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Farmer, I too would like to engage in this effort now, rather than wait until I have completed my graduate education. I began my efforts abroad November 2014 during a 4-week volunteer trip to New Delhi, India through the organization Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS). I originally selected this specific volunteer experience because I strongly believed it would be an invaluable learning opportunity which was fully consistent with my longer-term educational goals and career objectives.
While volunteering at a crèche established by the NGO Vidya Munirka I interacted with young children from the surrounding economically distressed community. My primary responsibility was to assist the Indian teachers at the crèche by teaching the children numbers, letters, shapes and colors in English. Outside of teaching lessons I also focused a large amount of my efforts on connecting with the children in small groups or one-on-one setting in an attempt to establish a bond and provide a more individualized learning experience.
In addition to working with the children in the classroom I spent time interacting with the teachers at the crèche sharing new ideas for teaching different subject matter, helping them to improve their fluency in English and exchanging stories about our differing cultures.
About Cross-Cultural Solutions:
"Change their world. Change yours. This Changes everything"
Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), established in 1995, is a nonprofit organization working towards addressing global needs through volunteer service in ten different countries. CCS has created a travel opportunity that provides a complete experience by organizing meaningful volunteer work and cultural immersion through activities, participation in cultural traditions, local cuisine, and language. Since each country is different the volunteer assignments are based on the specific needs of the local community. CCS establishes these needs and the volunteer assignments through its relationships with local organizations.
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Video about Cross-Cultural Solutions:
Volunteer Assignment:
Prior to departing for their trip, volunteers complete a Skills and Interests Form identifying their top choices for a volunteer assignment. Next, CCS Program Site Specialists and in-country staff work together to select a volunteer project that best fits the volunteer’s skills and interests. The volunteer opportunities offered by CCS in New Delhi focus on: improving education for children; assisting with the care of infants and children; improving health and the sense of dignity among the elderly; improving the quality of care for people with disabilities; and enhancing the overall quality of health care locally.
The volunteer assignment I will be taking part in again is improving education for children. Volunteers that work to improve education spend their time and efforts at a local crèche. As stated on the CCS website the mission of the crèche is to provide basic care, attention, love and early childhood education to at-risk, vulnerable children who have been marginalized.
Serving as a volunteer to improve education for children is similar to the honors project I completed during my senior year of college at Aurora University. My honors project was a service learning initiative I developed with the objective of empowering young girls in 4th and 5th grade through a series of workshops which were filled with group discussions and hands-on activities addressing topics such as success, goal setting, leadership, personal leadership style, and healthy body image.
While the success of my volunteer endeavors with CCS are difficult to measure quantitatively, my volunteer service forms an important part of a much larger effort begun by previous volunteers and is sustained by my successors. As a whole, CCS seeks to continuously improve its international outreach efforts by soliciting feedback from volunteers and local organizations, and by evaluating yearly surveys completed by partner organizations. They also co-sponsor annual workshops with their partners, and maintain regular and ongoing communications with community leaders from partner organizations.
Fundraising Goals:
My fundraising goal in total is $4,000 (USD) which would cover my volunteer fee with CCS ($3,849 USD).
CCS fee includes:
a. Professional staff of local nationals
b. Lodging
c. Comprehensive travel medical insurance
d. Ground transportation
e. In-country cultural activities and excursions
f. Language lessons
g. Personalized volunteer assignment
h. Local phone calls and incoming international phone service
Not included:
a. Visas
b. Passports
c. Flights – estimated round trip airfare - $1,400 USD
d. Free time expenses/personal expenses
e. Personal items
Recap:
a. Total CCS fee = $3,849 USD
Thank you for your kind consideration!
Shine On,
Emma
Organizer
Emma Emvp Hill
Organizer
Alpine, CA