Hope this letter finds y’all well.

Wherever you may be in life, in the world right now, we’d like to remind you of the few weeks of summer you spent in Yunnan.

The land itself, however, need not be reminded. For a part of what is now the soil was the compost you made, and it is now home to spectacularly complex networks of life that help nurture food and, hopefully, minds, as the eco-farm continues its efforts in influencing the valley toward sustainable agriculture.

Their bread is still delicious.

The kids you played with are now a little older, growing up in the same village, except now with a slightly different understanding of the world beyond and memories of joy.

Those kids will most likely participate in festivals and events at the temple activity center in the near future, where the bricks you sculpted are now hard as stone in a solid wall.

Perhaps now is a good time to see if you still remember those Bai dance moves?

Which of the workshops & events you recall the clearest now, looking back?

We hope you still have some good pictures of those photogenic monkeys, and we certainly hope that Xi’An has not become your least favorite place on earth, for reasons that only the 29 of us who were there know first-hand.

Finally, we would like you to know that you made an impact on us as well. Inspired by you, some of us have picked up long-abandoned hobbies, others have tried new things from meeting you.

Wherever you are now in life, on the planet, we would like you to know that the changes you made live on, and the cool things you saw, tried and did, are yours to revisit.

Thank you for a meaningful summer.

—Henry, Xiao, Samara, Yi

You guys did it, way to go. From bats in the shower to scorpions also in the shower, you guys survived everything that was thrown your way. I’m writing this on the last day of the program, and I’m going to be sad to see everyone go their separate ways tomorrow. We have built a tightknit community these last three weeks that I feel lucky to have been a part of. I hope you all enjoyed your time here as much as I have. It was truly a pleasure to get to know all of you. You should be proud of all you have accomplished in your time here.

The transition from the first to last day of service was remarkable. By the end of day one, everyone was exhausted and saying how hard it was to look after a group of students, and that was completely fair. Over the two weeks, there were fights that had to be broken up, students that had to be called down from the roof, band aids that needed passing out, walls that needed painting, and a few classrooms had t literally had kids climbing out of the windows to run away. To add to it, all of this was done in the hot Belize sun without any AC. The service was in by no means easy. The last day was tear-filled and heart wrenching however. And that’s because even when managing the Belizean students was difficult, there was never a lack of love. The students that you worked with looked up to you and loved you. They came to school every day waving with a big smile on their face, excited to be back for another day. You played with them and made them laugh. You taught them and helped prepare them for a better future. You got to know them and made them feel special. They have the letters you wrote for them and I know that they will always remember you. They all loved you too much not to.

The trip was also a full-blown adventure. You lived one hundred feet from a pond that a crocodile called home, and you snorkeled with schools of sharks bigger than yourselves in the middle of the ocean. You explored the ruins of Xunantunich in an absolute down pour and swam through the ATM caves to see the skeletons of Mayan sacrificial victims. You braved cold showers, mosquitos, dorm-life, and outdoor bathrooms. You swam in the Blue Hole, tasted Marie Sharp’s habanero hot sauce, encountered a jaguar, and floated on tubes through caves, disappearing into the pitch black. You also swam with a Mantatee in the crystal blue water of the Caribbean (that in itself is pretty unreal). I know I’m leaving things out, but that is only proof of how great of an adventure you’ve had the last three weeks. Everything you guys have done is impressive. Here’s to stepping out of your comfort zone, you guys really went for it, and I know you have the memories of a life time to show for it.

While it is easy to look back and remember the service you did, the adventures you had, the different cultures you learned about, and the country you explored, it is vital to also remember the friendships you made. Last night I heard countless conversations about ways to see each other again, be it at home or on the road. Do it. You guys should see each other; make the effort, it is worth it.  You became really good friends these last three weeks. Honor your friendships, for each other and yourself. The thought of you guys continuing to be a part of each other’s lives makes be happy, and I hope that this program not only does the incredible task of bringing you across the world to see and participate in a different way of life, but that it also makes lasting friendships that can continue to grow and prosper as you get older.

Like I said before, I consider myself lucky to have been a part of the last three weeks. I have learned so much and I had such a great time Reading this, I hope all of you are doing well, and that your next chapter of life can be as vibrant and fulfilling as this one was. I hope the love of helping others and the spirit of adventure is still alive in you. I hope your all living the lives you want to live. I wish all of you the best of luck, and remember that attitude is everything. Life is what you make of it, so go have a great one.

Cheers,

John

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

Excitement levels were at an all-time high as our session three students arrived in Belize on day one! There was a slight hiccup with a tropical storm that caused some flight delays, but not even a storm could prevent our Belize program from happening!

Here are a few of our fondest memories from session 3:

-The Zoo! So many different types of animals – it was so cool that you all got to see them in person

-Setting up your classrooms on the first day at St. Joseph’s

-The lucky ones who got to steer the ferry!

-Climbing the king’s palace

-The ruins at Xunantunich

-Emily’s mantra – “Peace, Love, Hope, Joy”

-Morning seranades

-Monsoon!

-Amor y Cafe

-Rock, Paper, Scissors showdown!

We all hope you are having an amazing year, wherever you are in the world! You are all greatly missed by our GLA staff, as well as the 80 children whose lives you directly impacted with your service here in Belize! We wish you all the very best, and we hope you can come back to visit us one day!

-Your Belize Staff

The Initiative for Children, 2017

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

On June 21st we awaited eagerly for our students to arrive. Nearly two hours passed before we caught a glance of our first student wearing a royal blue shirt with the words “Be the Change.” Over the next two weeks they would discover what those words really meant. Students noted the humidity and warmth, meanwhile introducing themselves to each other, not know they would soon become deeply bonded by the power of service and adventure.

Our first contact with the St. Augustine students came the following Thursday. We described this interaction as magical. It was only a brief interaction but it provided our students with a taste of what was to come. Their initial reactions to the Belizean students filled us with hope and excitement for the upcoming service. Soccer games, swings, skipping and many hugs quickly set the tone for upcoming time with the Belize students.

Although the GLA students were eager to jump into service with the children, we were only able to spend a few moments with them before the weekend arrived. We made great use of time by first tackling a project on the playground of St. Augustine. We effectively turned a plain wooden playground from “drab to fab” as the students used their creative energy to repaint the playground in colors resembling that of a carnival. A few T-shirts were “ruined” but their wearers were thankful for the memories stored by their brush marks.

They following day we traveled to San Ignacio to tour a local market and hang out at the iguana sanctuary. Thunder storms and heavy rain didn’t dampen our spirits after hearty meal of stew chicken a local restaurant called “Benny’s.” We dominated the small diner atmosphere with our laughter. With full bellies, we headed out to the ancient Maya ruins of Cahal Pech. This place yielded an enriching experience with the ability to tour an excavated ancient ruin. We were able to walk the halls and visit the rooms of the Mayas as we learned about their traditions and practices. We finished the weekend with a visit the “Blue-hole” national park. Due to the recent rains and sediments in the water, the blue hole was murky brown. Regardless, the students jumped in, eager to cool off after a hike through a Maya cave.

Our week was saturated by service at St. Augustine and various cultural outings:

• Marie Sharps Hot Sauce Factory
• Lamanai Chocolate making demonstration
• Dangriga open mic-night
• Cooking class with Alecia
• Belize Zoo
• Snorkeling at Tobacco Caye

Service proved to be transformative as the GLA students took on roles as classroom leaders. Their first day with the Belizean students was undoubtedly difficult, as GLA students recognized the vast differences in structure, culture and behavior of the school. Doubt never surfaced in our students, instead they came together as a team and addressed those differences. They developed a plan for successful interactions with the Belizean students and implemented it the following service days with tact and tenacity. They fostered a culture of love and positivity as they encouraged Belizean youth to pursue their dreams with confidence.

We witnessed countless meaningful relationships develop between our leaders and the Belizean students. Our post service discussions were filled with comments of gratitude, appreciation, lessons learned, and awareness. As their relationships with the students flourished their friendships amongst one another grew intensely.

Emotions ran high as they found the humanity in one another and dove deep into lasting relationships. We feel incredibly privileged as mentors to have witnessed these changes on an individual level and as a group.

Best,
GLA Staff Team

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.