Volunteering in Fijian Paradise

Fiji is a tropical paradise of islands that are some of the most remote on Earth. Fiji is also a country with tremendous need. GLA volunteers in Fiji will get the chance to learn about how the Pacific was settled by explorers who crossed thousands of miles of ocean by canoe. The Fijian people have a vibrant culture and students will connect with them through dance, music, cultural activities, and day to day conversation. From providing quality education to children at a local school, to learning the complexities of the environment, students will make a large impact through their service.

“After a three hour boat ride, we finally arrived at our new home for the next 2 weeks, Barefoot Island. With a view of crystal clear waters all around us, we were greeted by the GLA island staff standing on the shores of Manta Ray beach. We spent the afternoon settling in and snorkeling above vibrant coral reefs and schools of tropical fish. However, today the real festivities began with a scavenger hunt to help us get acquainted with the island.”

One of the largest challenges that teachers in Fiji face is providing quality education for all children. There are many factors that contribute to this challenge including geographical distribution of the population, insufficient housing for teachers, and lack of water and electricity. GLA volunteers will become a friend a role model to children and students, improving their learning environment in school.

“We took charge in the classrooms, feeding off the energy of the Fijian students. By the end of the day, our team was able to accept cultural differences between American and Fijian high school students. Our group also made the challenge of working with younger, non-English speaking children fun and educational.” -Michaela O’Connor and Lizzie Wilson

“Eddie’s group continued to build their new found friendships with the high school students. Lots of new perspectives gained and lessons learned from their experiences and captured in their journals. These friendships will continue as we visit Yasawa High School throughout our service days with opportunities to join in games and social activities. Sewei and Sarah in particular were barely seen through the day spending all their time with their year group and choosing to spend break times with them too. Truly positive cultural exchanges.”

Community members in Fiji welcome students into their lives with open arms. Help community members cultivate fruits and vegetables, fish for your dinner, and discover the many uses for coconuts. Make an attempt at weaving hats, mats, baskets, and bags! Listen and watch ancient stories and legends unfold through traditional dance. Village leaders will converse with students and discuss the issues facing their community and how they can affect change for future generations.

“After being greeted by a warm welcome, the families taught us how to cook, clean, and live the day in the life of a Fijian. We learned how to weave bracelets, cook cassava, and herd chickens. The experience was eye opening and life changing.”

Each day in Fiji is filled with adventure! Glide by boat over blue waters, snorkle over coral reefs, rappel down a cliff over the Pacific Ocean, hike to remote mud pools, and gaze at more stars than you have ever seen at once. The beauty of this country will keep the adventure meter on high! 

“Ash’s group spent the day educating themselves on threats to the reef, such as Crown of Thornes, then went on a snorkeling expedition to spot and remove these creatures which cause damage to coral in the reef when overpopulated.” –Sarah Shutt and Lexi Stravato

 “We spent the afternoon at Mermaid Beach swimming, playing some rugby, snorkeling, and tanning. For dinner, we collaborated with the local staff members to cook traditional Fijian food called lovo. Lovo is made by cooking vegetables, starch, and meats in an underground oven. We also learned how to weave our own dinner plates and baskets out of leaves as well as how to break open coconuts and harvest the meat out from the insides.” –Anna and Casey

 

If volunteering in paradise alongside some of the most unique animals and plants on Earth sounds like something you would like, Fiji is for you! The contrast between incredible service work and the exotic sites of Fiji will give students a unique opportunity to learn about island culture from the local community while giving back to the same people they are learning from. The time spent at the schools and in the village makes for a meaningful volunteer abroad program.

Want to learn more about the Fiji Empowering Island Communities experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in island paradise.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.

Build a School in the Dominican Republic

“We went to Caraballo to work on the Bottle School, which will be the biggest structure built using this technique in the world! It is such a cool thing to be a part of. We worked on making the walls by recycling used water bottles to fill them. Our favorite part was the people we worked with: Dominicans and Haitians of all ages from the area.”

– Kiana Duran, Georgie Exton, Reed Smith, and Rachel Vopni

GLA students who work on building the school may surprise locals – and even their own parents! – with their incredible work ethic and commitment to doing a structurally-sound job.  But the people who are often most surprised at their skill and tirelessness are the students themselves.  When projects have lasting impacts, and aren’t only bandage fixes to large societal issues, it’s amazing to see what these young leaders will do to carry out the project to completion.

“We constructed more of the bottle school walls and mixed cement to coat the outside of the bottle walls to make the building more durable. The mixing of the cement was harder than we expected, and as Cameron would say, it “gave us big guns.” After our filling lunch made by the locals, we visited the market in Ascension. The vendors sold beautiful bracelets and decadent artwork; however, it was very overwhelming because of the need of the families there, and their want for money and us to buy their products. Most of us felt empathetic towards the families who were working towards a better living.”

– Jade Paquette and Morgan Demboski

It’s the local children – truly – who benefit most from the compassion, generosity, and dedication of the Dominican Republic Beachside Service Adventure students.  These GLA students instinctively understand that every bottle they build into the school, and every foundation they lay, is critical to the long-term success and vibrancy of the communities where they serve.

“Throughout the week we have been learning about differences in privilege: How Americans as a whole are on a completely different level of privilege compared to the Dominicans and Haitians. Working on a bottle community building today at Las Canas illustrated this difference.”

– Halle Mackert

Using all the bottles on-site is a sign of success.  It may sound strange to outsiders that GLA students are using bottles to build a school, but reuse of products that would otherwise become waste and an environmental nuisance is a thoughtful way to contribute to these communities.  With limited resources, turning old bottles into a productive learning environment is a great way to use readily available materials, and teaches GLA students the power of unconventional solutions to all-too-conventional problems.

Experience the World of the Maya

The traditions and ancient culture of the Maya are facing the challenges of a generation in a globalized world. Students volunteering with Global Leadership Adventures will travel to this beautiful country and learn first hand about the ways the Maya are preserving and protecting their heritage and culture. Diving head first into this rich culture and learn how to make beautiful textiles, teach the local children, meet grassroots leaders, and make friendships that will last a lifetime.

“After the weaving lesson we went through a traditional wedding ceremony using volunteers from our group. It was extremely interesting to see how they get married and it was great to actually be a part of such a religious custom. Following the wedding ceremony we learned how to make tortillas and coffee. In the cultural center we all purchased amazing woven items or bags of coffee. I am pleasantly surprised about how close the group has already become. It has only been a full day and I feel like I have been here for a week.” -Hannah

GLA students will spend much of their time volunteering at a local school refurbishing and building classrooms. Students will play a large part in helping the children doing arts and crafts, playing sports, and learning English. The school GLA partners with is unique in that it is run by Maya teachers and actively promotes indigenous language and culture, further immersing students into the Maya culture.

 

 

“The recess was the highlight of our morning, because that was the precious time when we could interact fully, for an hour, with the kids.  We enjoyed giving them piggy-back rides, speaking to them in Spanish, and (surprisingly!) going without technology— allowing us to simply live in the moment and relish the emotional connections we established – connections that transcended language barriers, age and nationalities.”

The rich culture of Guatemala allows for many interesting guest speakers and community leaders to come and interact with the GLA groups. Students are given the unique opportunity to learn about the Guatemalan Civil War, which ended in 1996, by a former guerrilla that is now a human rights advocate, and hear the contrasting perspective of a former military general. A traditional Maya Shaman will teach students about Maya cosmology and medicinal plants used by the Quiche people of the region. Students get an up close and personal experience of the culture of the Maya.

 

Xela, the city where the program is located, is near many cultural treasures in Guatemala. Students will have the chance to adventure out into the Maya ruins at Takalik Abaj, visit a charming colonial town, Antigua, explore Lake Atitlan, and visit the largest Maya craft market in the world, Chichicastenango.

“At the Mayan ruins we were able to view and participate in a traditional ceremony.  We walked around the grounds and saw where great temples, palaces, and astronomy observatories once prospered.”

Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America and is surrounded by 3 volcanoes, making for a breathtaking view. Students spend the day at the lake and are able to experience the surrounding markets and city.

The outdoor market of Chichicastenango is one of the largest craft markets in the world. Vendors and buyers from the entire Quiche region and beyond come together in Chichi, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The market occupies the central plaza and the side streets within several blocks around it. Students get the chance to perfect their bargaining skills while shopping for goods!

“We drove for about an hour with the view of clouds rolling over the mountains out the window. Once in Chichi, we unloaded into a classy hotel to use the restroom before facing the market. We split into groups of three to tackle the largest indigenous craft market in Central America. As the group set out, we saw our friends drown in vibrant colors and dedicated Guatemalan salespeople. The few hours spent in the market were hectic in the best of ways. Ponchos, wallets, worry dolls, fruit, backpacks, and jewelry became common sights throughout the twists and turns of the vendors. We met back at the hotel for lunch and recuperation from the morning bargaining. ” -Cami and Sarah 

The colorful culture of the Guatemalan people makes this country a magical place to learn about tradition and history, while making a lasting impact within the community. Guatemala is loved by students who are interested in culture, traditional religion, nature and social issues, all while being in a beautiful setting.

Want to learn more about the Guatemala Children of the Maya experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in Guatemala.

Interested in studying abroad, but still have questions? Read more about why you should volunteer abroad while in high school with our 5 Benefits of Educational Travel for a little extra motivation!

Volunteering in “Incredible India”

India is often referred to as “Incredible India”. People within the community work as a team, sharing limited resources with such compassion and understanding. The children laugh and giggle, and welcome you into their world with a warm smile. Students volunteering abroad in India with Global Leadership Adventures have the unique opportunity to engage with these kids in day care centers and run a summer camp, all the while learning more about traditional Himalayan culture and the Tibetan exile community.

“Natalie and I were given the second graders to work with and we were put in a small class of only 9 students. It was quite challenging to teach the children the difference between past and present, singular and plural. What we noticed was that the kids were struggling with comprehension of the words. It appeared to us that they could read the words in the workbook but their understanding of the words and sentences were lacking. After lunch we started to discuss topics to get our minds thinking about how we can be our best to provide service to the students of the local school.  We shared our thoughts as a group and kept our responses in mind while we created our visions and developed goals. In our teams we finished the sentences “We are teachers who…” And “Our classroom will be a place that…” We decided that we will be teachers who are caring for each student, created a non-intimidating and approachable aura, and bring happiness and inspiration into the classroom. We talked about how we want our classroom to be a place that is organized, full of purpose, color, and enthusiasm.” -Ashley Dyer

“In these day camps, we colored, played games, and taught each other English – and Hindi!  Though at first it seems uncomfortable to get used to, soon after we found things in common with each other, played many games, and laughed about all the random, unexpected moments. The children welcomed us as well, and helped us find a different outlook in our own lives.” -Lili Whitelaw and Cassidy Boylan

Many times education and opportunities are taken for granted. GLA India students have the opportunity of further opening their eyes to the importance of education through discussions with local teachers and insightful activities on their teaching styles, visions for their classroom, and group reflections. Students are also immersed in the local culture and traditions. From visiting the largest and oldest dated fort in India, the Kagra Fort, to Norbulingka, a Tibetan Arts Center, students are involved in hands on activities they would not experience elsewhere.

The Himalayan Mountain range offers a unique excursion experience for students to do an 8 kilometer trek! During one weekend, they hike out to a rural village and camp out and live among the semi-nomadic Gaddi people and learn about their culture.

“I found out that kids who go to school have to walk 20 kilometers every day traveling to and from the school-house. This was an astounding fact considering the extent of our griping and moaning with only an 8 kilometer hike. I also learned that locals in need of supplies have to travel all the way to Dharamshala on foot, a journey we made mostly by car. The stuff we learned today further revealed the rigorous work ethic required of the locals.” – Nathan

A volunteer program in India would not be complete without an excursion to the Taj Majal. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the great architectural marvels of the world. 

“When I finally caught a glimpse of the historic marvel it absolutely took my breathe away, I mean I was seeing one of the 7 Wonders of the World!  The detail of the carvings and inlayed precious and semi- precious stones were mesmerizing.” -Sydney Rodriguez

Everyday in India is filled with new experiences, challenges, and always brings an opportunity to learn. Through service with the local children, hands on cultural workshops and excursions, and opportunities to reflect as a group and individually, students are able to embrace their opportunity abroad to learn and grow in a vibrant and beautiful country.

Want to learn more about the India Service in the Himalayas experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in India.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.

Scuba Diving in Bali’s Pristine Ocean

The teenagers volunteering abroad with Global Leadership Adventures in Bali aren’t spending their entire time doing service projects – though that’s one of their favorite parts!  In fact, these GLA students get the incredible opportunity to get scuba certified, and add an element of heart-pulsing adventure to their cultural immersion in Indonesia.

“We have enjoyed many swims in the warm Balinese water, great food, and breathtaking sunrises. Today was our first day participating in the PADI scuba diving program, which was very exciting and exhausting. Super excited for our second day of scuba!”

“We had our second day of scuba diving lessons today. It was incredible, although some of us struggled a little bit with the equipment and diving techniques (at first!). It will be well worth it when we become certified and can apply the skills this class has taught us to new diving locations filled with exciting experiences. After a whole day of diving, most of us were very tired and we all came back to the bungalows to have dinner together while discussing the day’s events. Those who did not participate in the scuba lessons spent the day immersed in the culture of Bali and witnessed an important ritual. We should all sleep pretty well tonight and will have our final day of scuba diving tomorrow.”

Many students staff off with very basic or no skills at scuba diving (or even snorkeling!), but are soon immersed in the water with all of the techniques they need to dive in successfully.  The land-based world of Bali is already stunning enough, but adding in the underwater world of Bali only amplifies the wonders of this pristine ocean community.

Learning to scuba dive on your own can be a lonely experience, so GLA students instead have the chance to bond with their fellow students, staff members, and friends as they all partake in the training together.  Building ties with the local community is an aspect unique to Global Leadership Adventures’ Bali program, but building lasting bonds between other teens on the program before plunging into the water is hard to duplicate no matter where you go!

“We had a short break back at the dorms, designed our next lesson plans, and then headed to the beach! We all swam and listened to music, and hung out on the black sand. Then, we got to take an amazing sunset boat ride. We took the boats out, swam over the coral reefs and then watched the sunset.  We headed back to the coast for dinner, and after a delicious meal, got to hang around a bonfire with the owners of the restaurant, singing and dancing. It was an overall great evening, and a great day of volunteering.”

Ready to take the dive and learn to scuba in the the sun-soaked waters off the Bali shore?  If so, check out the GLA Bali Land of Discovery program and learn how you can spend your summer in the sea.

Prefer to surf?  The Young Leader has a feature all about this surfer’s paradise in Costa Rica, and it’s waiting for your visit!