Volunteering in Tanzania
As you all know, I’m all about filling a backpack and venturing off to see the unexplored corners of the world. Around the end of this year, my schedule will put me in southern Europe or northern Africa. If you know me, you’d recognize that I’m just doing my best to avoid any hint of cold weather. My idea of cold weather is anything that’s too chilly to accommodate the beach.
I frequently recall my last trip to Fiji and remember what a wonderful experience it was to be immersed in the island culture. While in Fiji I stayed with a family who ran the hostel out of their home. From the first day there until the moment I left I was considered part of their family. Saki made a point every night to ensure everyone staying there knew that it was their own home away from home. We ate at their kitchen table, celebrated birthdays and attended Sunday mass with Saki and his family. He couldn’t have been more sincere.
I’ve been looking for another way to find a similar experience. I did my research and found a volunteer organization that will put me into a program so I might be able to join others in a third-world country in an effort to lend a helping hand while being immersed in their culture. On October 25th, 2008 I’ll be heading down to Tanzania Africa at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to enter into a completely new world. I’ll be working with a company called Cross-Cultural Solutions who organizes the volunteer effort. While there, I’ll be assisting with primary education, helping out at orphanages, instructing women’s business development, assisting with HIV/AIDS victims, working with animal conservation and other various, but needed tasks. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to meet these people and lend a hand!
The part of this volunteer effort that took me by surprise was that the volunteers actually need to pay to help out; and it’s expensive! At first I put off the idea but some thought, it actually made sense. After-all, I am asking them to feed me while I’m there. I learned that the fees associated with this program cover my (very basic) living arrangement and the cost of running the program itself. Cross-Cultural Solutions collects very little outside money to keep the programs alive and relies heavily on the volunteers. I’ve made a commitment and am very excited to go but I could certainly use your help to make this come true.
Here’s the scoop: I need your help. Not a lot, but whatever you can spare. I’ve already made a significant deposit toward my program fee but I have some way to go.
When you donate online, Cross-Cultural Solutions will email you a receipt for your donation.
I don’t leave until October 25th, but my sponsorship period closes on August 26th.
Seriously though, thanks for any support you can give. It’s much appreciated!
One Comments
The donation list doesn’t work!! You may want to look into that!!!