KELLY'S GONE AGAIN
…AND HERE'S WHERE I'M AT.Archive for Volunteer
Sidebar: International Volunteering: 5 Ways to Find a Fit
In lieu of writing an original post (I am workin’ on it), this sidebar highlights another post I wrote for The Lost Girls as a guest blogger. The title of the post is “International Volunteering: 5 Ways to Find a Fit,” and is essentially a summary of selected bits from Issue 2 of The Nonprofit Notes, “Giving Back While You’re Gone” (full version in the next column over).
I hope it helps you or someone you know find their perfect path to international service!
http://lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html (posted September 30, 2009)
Update (posted October 20, 2009): While we’re on the topic, also check out VolunTourism, a new addition to my nonprofit website blogroll. I recently spoke on a webcast with them, and have found the site to be a great resource for travel-related volunteer ideas.
#51. Paris: My To-Do, -See, -Eat, -Buy List
Well, I’ve finally said goodbye to Paris and, oui, I do miss it a little. I’ll relive it here by sharing some memories with you in the form of a list, 20-deep of random things to do, see, taste, hear and buy, should you find yourself in the vicinity. For one reason or another, they helped make my summer pretty splendid. Take from it what you like and, of course, bon voyage!
Sidebar: Update on Children’s Future International in Cambodia
Hi all, I got an update from Andrew Wolff of Children’s Future International in Cambodia, the organization at which I taught kids yoga in February. He’s put together a fantastic short clip of some of our “animal” yoga sessions, and though I’ve updated the original Post #7 with the link, I’m adding it here as a sidebar…
#30. Candidasa: Back to Business
I’m back in Ubud now, but let’s get caught up on the last few days, shall we?
So, all of that beach decadence made me feel like I really oughta’ up the devotional practice, which fit in perfectly with my already-organized trip out to the Gedong Gandhi Ashram in Candidasa. I’d wanted an excuse to get to the east side of Bali anyway, so the location was an added bonus. My purpose there was to learn more about the ashram, understand how it fits in within the larger community structure and, naturally, provide a little bit of service while I’m at it (it *is* named after Gandhi, after all).
#11. Luang Prabang: Love/Love
I reserve the right to change my mind, and though I haven’t totally (overtourism still gets a thumbs down), I’m happy to share some positive news: today, I got out of Disneyland.
A ways down from my guesthouse is a NGO-type organization called Big Brother Mouse (“Mouse”). It’s dedicated to improving both English and Lao language literacy among children. Apparently schools here are good and kids can learn how to read, but there just are not enough books for them to actually do it.
#6. Battambang: Miscellaneous
Today, on the way back from school, I saw a woman passenger on a motorbike breastfeeding a baby. While it was in fast motion. On the highway.
I don’t really know what to post after seeing that. More this weekend.
#5. Battambang: The First Day of School
I’m covered in red clay. It’s what the schoolroom grounds are made of, and it gets in and on any- and everything. Shoes aren’t allowed in the room, so you spend most of the day barefoot, though the floor is cement and dirty and might as well be the bare ground.
I’ve been sitting a lot, reading to the kids, today. My favorite so far is Riti — he’s an energetic, super-fun kid of 12, who looks about 7 (malnutrition, no doubt). I taught a yoga class to him and the more “unruly” kids this afternoon – the first day of my “Yoga for Young Artists” program I’ve designed for the English School here in Battambang – and they did great. Really great. We sang the Om song, went on a “yoga adventure” to the jungle resulting in lots of animal poses, and sang the Namaste song to close. They don’t speak English, and I don’t speak Khmer, so a teacher translated. The kids had a wonderful time, possibly almost as much as me, even. *smile*
