The Young Leader

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Student Perspective: 4 Benefits of Unplugging Abroad

Hi! My name is Anjana and I had the experience of going on the GLA Global Health Initiative to Bali over the summer of 2019. Throughout my trip, I chose to unplug/ disconnect from my electronic device. Through this, I was able to gain a lot of insight on unplugging, so I thought I would share them with you. Enjoy!

#1: Enjoy the moment.

Swinging on the humongous swing at Teraz Agro

Without your phone in hand and a bunch of notifications to check, you will be able to appreciate your surroundings so much more. When I went on my GLA trip, I chose to not have data or internet access. I simply used my phone for pictures, if that. Doing so helped me create deeper connections with the people around me and also gave me the opportunity to savor the trip to the best of my ability. If you are taking a trip soon, I would highly recommend doing this, but let your family and friends know beforehand so they don’t get worried 🙂

#2: Get to know people better.

Staring at a phone screen is what people are used to doing these days. It’s really sad. But unplugging gives you the chance to get to know people with face to face conversations. In my opinion, If I was sitting in a room with a group of people and none of us had phones, it would be much easier to get to know each other. Specifically in Bali, My fellow GLA friends and I spent a lot of time sharing stories, playing games, and going on food runs. We were also able to have fun doing the simplest things like washing clothes.

#3: Learn about your surroundings firsthand.

Getting traditional thread (Mauli) tied on my hand for Galungan

 

During travel, you might feel inclined to use Google Translate or to search stuff you encounter online. Use the unplugging opportunity to learn more about the language and culture of the place you are planning on traveling to firsthand. Try and learn a couple of basic words in the language beforehand. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. While this is definitely a challenge (it was for me, anyway), doing this helped me immerse myself into the surroundings and provided me with a different perspective.

#4: Save money.

From personal experience, international phone plans aren’t cheap. Unplugging could help you save money and you could use it towards spending on your trip. For all the trips I have taken outside of the country, I haven’t had an international plan. Instead my mom told me that I could use the money that would have gone to a phone plan during the trip. I was definitely apprehensive to this idea at first, but I came around. I was able to buy souvenirs, such as t-shirts, magnets, and other reminders of my time abroad. Coming home and showing my family, friends, and teachers what I got made for great conversations.

Contributed by Anjana Narayanan

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20 Earth-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

John Updike once said, “we are most alive when we’re in love.” Whether it is friends, family, a significant other, or simply yourself, expressing the love we feel for one another in our own unique ways is part of who we are. Although we express love in our everyday lives, there is one particular time of year where expressing the love we feel for those in our lives is priority to anything else: Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is known to many as the most loving day of the year. However, although this day makes people all around the world feel warm and fuzzy, this holiday does quite the opposite for the beautiful world we live in. Around the world on February 14th, humans create more carbon emissions than driving around the world a whopping 3,993 times. This is made up of:

  • 36 million heart-shaped boxes
  • 180 million greeting cards
  • 198 million roses
  • 58 million pounds of chocolate

. . . and so much more. Pretty crazy for a single day, isn’t it?

Be an Earth-Friendly Consumer

So, what can we do to be more sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint as a society on this beautiful day? It is so much easier than you think! Because sustainability has become so much more of a necessity than ever before, a plethora of companies have built themselves on the concept of creating items that not only make a positive impact on the world around us, but also positively impact people who need it most — view a list of these amazing companies here!

Farmgirl Flowers Big Love Burlap Wrapped Bouquet: these flowers are hand picked from ethical local and international farms, and wrapped up in upcycled biodegradable coffee bags! A bit more on the expensive side, but a beautiful and sustainable way to get a large bouquet for someone you love.

Theo Chocolate: an organic, fair trade chocolate brand that makes a very minimal environmental impact! This brand works with cocoa farmers in the Congo to make jobs for those who need it.

Branded Collective Jewelry: this brand provides job training and employment to survivors of human trafficking in Nashville, Tennessee with a mission to inspire each survivor to “rediscover the dreams she has lost and be motivated to go forth and pursue them.” The jewelry is locally and ethically sourced, and works hand-in-hand with a non-profit in Nashville.

Kind Karma Company: this brand provides employment to at-risk and homeless youth in Toronto, Canada. All jewelry is ethically created and crafted custom by each employee, giving them an opportunity to use the process as a form of healing.

Lazarus Artisan Goods: this brand works directly with and in communities in Honduras and Haiti to “ignite generational change with employment and vocational training” through Mission Lazarus, a nonprofit focusing on individual, economic, and family development throughout the countries it is involved in. 100% of the profits made go directly to Mission Lazarus.

ABLE Brand: initially developed in Ethiopia with scarves, this brand employs and empowers women living in developing countries to create economic growth and reduce poverty. All jewelry is made in-house in Nashville, while all leather goods, clothing, and shoes are made by partners in Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, and India. All employees are paid a fair wage and provided with a safe working environment.

Light Shine Candles: this brand works directly with Global Outreach Development, an organization with a commitment to serving immigrants and refugees in the United States, teaching English and Spanish, and working directly with a nonprofit in El Salvador. All candles come in eco-friendly mason jars (reusable!), made in small batches, and with all natural and sustainable ingredients.

Singing Rooster Coffee: this brand is a certified nonprofit that partners with small producers in Haiti. 100% of the proceeds are returned back to the small Haitian farming communities to allow these families to live better lives! The brand is also completely fair trade and sustainable.

Ten Thousand Villages: this brand is committed to ethical and sustainable practices. Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn a sustainable income and live a life of higher quality. They also donate part of their profits to Two Wings, an organization that helps survivors of human trafficking throughout the United States.

DIY It!

Interested in taking sustainability even further? Awesome! Valentine’s Day is all about showing love, and what is more loving than a gift crafted by your own hands? There are so many creative ways to make heartfelt gifts from things you already have in your home and in ways that create little to no waste. These gifts can be anything from baking heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies and gifting them in a reusable container to visiting a local florist to pick out your own bouquet wrapped in paper (or yarn from home to tie the flowers together in a sustainably sourced bow) rather than purchasing flowers from a grocery store wrapped in excess plastic and other waste. Curious about other ways to be creative and sustainable on Valentine’s Day? See below for just a few of the many fun ideas on ways to reduce your footprint as you share the love:

  • Buy your chocolate in bulk! Plenty of stores carry bulk items these days as a way to buy your favorite products waste-free. Grab a reusable container like a mason jar and fill it up with the chocolate of your choice! You can even decorate the jar or add a cute note using recycled paper with a cheesy quote like “I love you a chocoLOT!”
  • Bake! Often times, you already have the resources you need on hand. Put them in a reusable container and it makes a perfect and tasty gift.
  • Instead of purchasing flowers, get a plant or herb instead! These last a lot longer and often have a use to them (besides looking pretty, of course). They are much more sustainable and oftentimes have a lot less waste.
  • Cook a meal at home instead of eating out! This way, you can purchase your items much more sustainably and use what you already have at home. Cooking will also use much less water than a restaurant would.
  • Instead of purchasing a card, make your own! They don’t need to be anything fancy, and these are usually more cherished than a store-bought card.
  • Skip the gifts all around and share an experience instead! Research shows that experiences make us much happier than possessions, and are usually more memorable.
  • Do something for the environment. Plant a tree instead of buying flowers, pick up trash, or plant a garden. Not only is it a fun date, but it will make you feel good as well.
  • Create a playlist! Throw together a bunch of songs that reminds you of the person you are gifting it to and put a fun spin on it. Everyone loves new music, and it is 100% sustainable.
  • Make a gift out of things you already own! Things like t-shirt quilts are completely sustainable and have a lot of meaning behind them, too.
  • Adopt an animal from the World Wildlife Fund! Not only is it super awesome, but it gives a better life to an animal as well.
  • Give your gift in something reusable like a cloth bag or reusable grocery bag. Not only can it be cute, but it is sustainable as well.

Valentine’s Day is one of the most beautiful days of the year. Let’s make sure we do our part to keep the world we live in beautiful on this day, too.

What’s your go-to for sustainable Valentine’s Day gifting? 

Contributed by Becca Lund

Edu-Terra Global Intern

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How To Give Back

So you want to give your time but don’t know where to start? Not to worry! There are lots and lots of volunteer options out there–it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for you. We’ve compiled some helpful resources in finding the right fit both locally in your community and worldwide.

 

Find a Local Organization

You never know what organizations in your own community may need a helping hand! The websites below all have vast databases of nonprofits seeking additional assistance.

VolunteerMatch.org: This vast online database allows searchers to narrow not only by city, but by type of volunteer opportunity, passion, or interests. Highly recommended!

GivingTuesday.org: Includes a database of volunteer opportunities by city

HowToHelpInMaine.org: Just for Maine residents, this database was created by GLA alum Zoe Siegel!

Teen-Friendly Organizations

Finding a minor-friendly volunteer position can be difficult; luckily, there are many organizations out there that recognize the value of young volunteers and the fresh perspective they bring to projects. While checking directly with organizations that serve your community is often the best way to go, the following nonprofits offer teen-specific projects:

Humane Society: Animal lover? The Humane Society generally has volunteer opportunities for minors. You can use the link to find branches in your area, or Google “humane society (your town)” for specifics.

American Red Cross: Aspiring healthcare worker? The Red Cross has a teen-specific program with all kinds of options, from blood drive organization to emergency preparedness education to fundraising.

Habitat for Humanity: Aspiring contractor? Like to work with your hands? Habitat for Humanity also has a Youth United program especially for teen volunteers.

Volunteer Abroad

Give your time with the added bonus of learning not only a new skill, but about a whole new culture! Volunteering abroad, when done responsibly, can be one of the most rewarding experiences out there. You can search by interest here, or see below for a breakdown by number of hours of community service. Programs include a range from 5 to 83 volunteer hours, over a span of 8 – 28 days. If you’re all about the service hours, see below for GLA’s most service-heavy programs:

40+ Service Hours

Ghana: Children Of Africa™ (60 hours over 21 days)

Brazil: Rio Service Adventure (60 hours over 21 days)

Peru: Children Of The Andes™ (50 hours over 21 days)

Costa Rica: Spanish Service Adventure (48 hours over 21 days; adding Homestay Extension, up to 83 hours over 28 days)

Costa Rica: Animal Rescue Project™ (45 hours over 21 days)

Fiji: Children Of The South Pacific™ (45 hours over 21 days)

India: The Initiative For Children™ (45 hours over 21 days)

Peru: Llama & Animal Service Adventure™ (45 hours over 21 days)

Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative™ (40 hours over 14 days)

 

 

 

 

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Black Friday Alternatives

Aaaah, Thanksgiving weekend, a time to feast, give thanks, and…wait in line in the freezing early-morning hours among aggressive and equally grouchy patrons for doorbuster deals?! Ugh. Not feeling the frenzied consumerism this year? We’re with you. Here are some other options for making the most of your post-Thanksgiving day–and none of them require spending a dime!

#1: Get Outside!

The benefits of swapping shopping malls for the great outdoors are many, and include better sleep, lower stress, and in most cases, a happier bank account.  If you’re physically active in the outdoors, the boons just keep getting better. (You may have seen the #optoutside hashtag on Instagram and Twitter; this movement was started by outdoor retailer REI in 2015 with the intent of getting people out of the retail mindset and into nature on what was traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.)

In fact, many National and State Parks in the US offer “Black Friday” deals of their own to promote a love for the great outdoors: Free parking, free passes or discounted admission, free tours/classes or other celebrations are all on offer. (Check to see what’s going on at your nearest park here.)

Wilderness access out of the question? Take a walk through your city, check out a local park or botanical garden, or explore a part of your neighborhood that you’ve never seen before.

“Each Thanksgiving weekend my husband and I take advantage of the long weekend and smaller crowds and camp at a National Park. We’ve done snowy Grand Canyon hikes, braved a rainstorm at Zion, and last year, camped at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan where we now live. No crowds, no frenzy, just spending time in nature and making memories!” –Jenica Pistone-Donahue, GLA Marketing

Enjoying those Black Friday views, Zion Nat’l Park edition

“We like to go on a family hike out in the Laguna Mountains to unplug and appreciate being in nature. Afterwards, we go to a local farm and plant nursery–our kids love to visit the animals and pick out some new native plants and vegetables for us to plant in our garden. Everyone feels tired, happy and appreciative after a day like this.” –Hannah Shepherd, GLA Admissions Manager

#2: Create New Traditions

It’s never too late to start a new tradition. Baking cookies, creating holiday crafts, or enjoying an annual family outing gives us something to look forward to year after year. Not your fam’s style? Break the mold–do something out of the ordinary! First Annual Remake Your Favorite Music Video Day? Why not!  Jones Family Speak Only in Rhyme Day? Totally could be a thing. The weirder & more the unique to your crew, the more memorable. (Check out other ideas from our alumni below.)

“My aunt created Nieces Weekend. Thanksgiving night the five older nieces go to her house and we sent her boys to other families homes. Then we sleep over and spend the next day baking cookies, making the cutest Christmas crafts and dancing to Christmas music. We have so much fun being together and being creative. This year will be the 7th year!!” –Kate Gunville, Alumni (Hartland, WI)

Alumni Kate & her cousins with their Nieces (plus small nephew) Weekend creations

 

“This year, my family and I will be visiting a local museum that we visit frequently and watch a holiday movie in the giant screen theater while we are there. I love going to this museum because it helps me feel connected to my family & my background, and they always have obscure exhibits that other places never have, like collections of local artists or rooms full of Lego statues.” –Cecilia Ransburg, Alumni (Deerfield, IL)

“The end of Thanksgiving does not always signify the beginning of the holiday season; the festivities must continue—with Friendsgiving, of course! During Friendsgiving, my friends and I bring in foods from our various cultures. As we indulge in meals full of latkes, schnitzel, and dumplings, we are able to appreciate our friendships and laugh at the memories we share with one another.” –Anya Vandeven, Alumni (Morristown, NJ)

#3: Reflect & Practice Self-Care

The holidays can be a stressful time. Instead of throwing yourself into the frenzy of Black Friday shopping, why not do the exact opposite? For some, this might mean a long hot bath, face mask, and calming tunes; for others, holing up with a book and the leftover pie. Whatever it takes for you to de-stress & approach the coming weeks…do that!

“I usually spend a relaxing couple hours at a peaceful 150 acre dog park along the bay with my pup. I walk the entire edge of it as she frolics in and out of the water. It is quite healing to soak up the serenity of the outdoors and the joy that dogs find in life. Fast forward, we now have a new dog that isn’t ready for dog parks yet and an infant. I better keep working on training this new pup so we can resume this wonderful tradition as a family. Hopefully my daughter will learn to appreciate the beauty of it all too.” –Anna Graham, GLA Accounting

#4: Give Back

Not one to sit around on a free day? Consider donating your time to a cause you’re passionate about! Many organizations have additional volunteer opportunities around the holidays as need tends to be greater in the colder months: Soup kitchens, homeless services, and see a massive increase in . Animal shelters tend to hold more adoption events in November & December as these are months when many parents finally cave and adopt a family pet.

You can browse Volunteer Match for ideas on where, how, and with whom to give your time locally. Or, if you happen to live in Maine, GLA Alum Zoe Siegel created How to Help in Maine.Org specifically for young people in her state.

“For Black Friday this year, I am planning on attending the Youth Climate Strike in Chicago. I went to the one in September and it was such a great experience which put many different things into perspective. From my GLA trip this year, we learned about our ecological footprint and how we can be more sustainable, so I am really trying to live a more conscious lifestyle and get more involved with positive environmental change.” –Audrey Connelly, Alumni (Riverside, IL)

“The day after Thanksgiving, my family and I rarely opt to take part in Black Friday Sales. Instead, we usually take the time to enjoy one another’s company and spend quality time with friends and family. Some years, we even serve at a local soup kitchen with my church to give back to the community!” –Morgan McDonald, Alumni (Stamford, CT)

#5: Connect With “Chosen Family”

Taking the time to reconnect with friends during this busy family-oriented season can be crucial–not everyone has a large family or familial relationships conducive to sharing a day together. Many families’ day-after-Thanksgiving brings one or both parents or other family members back to work. This doesn’t mean you have to go it alone! Reach out to those you love for some quality time, whether they’re your blood or the family that you choose for yourself.

“I normally use this day as an excuse to catch up with friends who have opposite schedules to me. They’re usually off during the day so it’s a good chance to see them and hit the beach since we’re in sunny San Diego!” –Ros Galati, GLA Travel Coordinator

“Since I am on the cross country and track teams at my school, I love to run! After every Thanksgiving, my running friends and I all sleep in after a big meal and meet up for a run the next day. It’s a great way to catch up on how everyone’s holiday went and burn off the calories we indulged in the night before!“–Abby Peterson, Alumni (Algonquin, IL)

#6: Examine Your Relationship With “Stuff”

OK, so maybe the Marie Kondo “spark joy” decluttering method doesn’t work for everyone. Start small! What do you really need? What can you do without? What items are hindering your life vs benefitting it? Challenge yourself to donate at least three items of clothing or at least five nonperishables from your pantry. (Those cans of green beans collecting dust in the back of the cupboard can certainly be put to better use!)

If you’re seeing a lot of high-end, big-ticket items in your donation box, you can even go for a #6/#4 combo and plan a yard sale or sell these items online with the goal of donating the proceeds to an organization of your choice. Many nonprofit organizations prefer cash donations as funds are more flexible than tangible goods and can be used to address the most pressing need of the moment. (Psst: GLA International Foundation is a great way to support projects abroad!)

“I plan to clean out my closet and list a bunch of old clothing on Poshmark. I love shopping for and selling second-hand clothing because it reduces waste and carbon footprint! Instead of going to the mall and going crazy buying things, I like to make money selling things that I don’t use anymore.” –Jamie Paradis, Alumni (Maplewood, NJ)

 

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