The Young Leader

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Contest Winner & GLA Alum Inspired to Protect the Ocean

“My life makes more sense when I am helping others. By using my passion for the ocean to help others, I believe I can make a difference.”

–Noemie Roy

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Name: Noemie Roy
Home Country: Canada
Education: College Nouvelles Frontieres
Passions and Interests: Hiking, snowboarding, ice skating and yoga
Transformational Experience: Costa Rica: Protecting the Pacific™
Making an Impact: Winner of the 3rd annual My Ocean Guardian Journey Contest

My friend Mathilde and I won the Ocean Guardian Journey Contest 2015 with our project, Bracelets for Belugas. The public had to vote for the Best Action for Environmental Stewardship. The grand prize is a surf and yoga camp for two people at Bodhi Surf School in Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica. I think the major support from all of our entourage helped us win. Everyone has been very supportive throughout the contest.”

Also, last September, my friend Mathilde and I started a project named Bracelets for Belugas. The Saint-Lawrence Beluga is an endangered species particularly important to people from Quebec, Canada because of the proximity with the Saint-Lawrence river. Wanting to protect them, we decided to raise funds for the GREMM (Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals), a group working to protect this animal. To do so, we sold Pura Vida bracelets. We wanted to spread awareness through our project. So, each bracelet came with an information card explaining the situation of the Saint-Lawrence Beluga, proposing easy actions to prevent the Saint-Lawrence pollution, and encouraging to spread awareness about this issue.

Noemie and her project partner, Mathilde, started a project they named Bracelets for Belugas. An endangered species important to people from the Quebec region of Canada, the river-dwelling Saint-Lawrence Beluga faces environmental and habitat threats on multiple fronts. Bracelets for Belugas was designed by Noemie and Mathilde to raise funds that would benefit preservation efforts for the animal.

The two decided to raise their funds for GREMM – the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals – an organization working to protect the Belugas. With the inspiration of the Costa Rican motto Pura Vida, or Pure Life, these women sold Pura Vida bracelets. Each bracelet they sold came with an information card explaining the situation of the Saint-Lawrence Beluga, and proposals for easy actions people could take to prevent pollution in the Saint-Lawrence River.

According to Noemie:

We sold all of our 100 bracelets, raising $410 and making a lot of people aware of this issue. Also, bracelet buyers are now wearing them as a sign of support for the Beluga’s situation. So, the movement is spreading.”

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Noemie already had a passion for the environment prior to attending Global Leadership Adventures’ Costa Rica: Protecting the Pacific™ program. She chose the program because of her interest in studying marine biology and pursuing environmental conservation, and the opportunity to link the two.

On how her GLA program influenced her future direction, Noemie is modest:

I already liked helping others. [After my GLA program,] I now know I will be doing service and volunteering my entire life. Also, it made me thinking about linking environment and social good. For example, I would like to help coastal communities that are challenged by environmental issues. In this way, I would use my passion for the marine environment to help humans in need.”

Upon returning from Costa Rica inspired to make change in the world, Noemie knew she wanted to make the “oceans healthier and help people in need.” Her parents also noticed an immediate difference.

Her parents reflected on the changes they saw:

Before she went, we thought GLA was a safe program for students who wanted to do service in a country in need. This program has made her grow. It brought her greater awareness to oceanic and environmental issues. Now she has a greater impact on the people around her by constantly making them aware about the actions they can take and should take to protect the ocean. We were impressed by the depth of the program and the knowledge she gained. That, and the chance to meet colleagues from numerous countries will make her a better citizen of the world.”

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Noemie has a promising future ahead. She’s currently a semi-finalist for the Loran Award, a scholarship awarded to Canadians who “demonstrate character, service and leadership.”

Since her trip, she also makes concerted efforts to reduce her use of plastics and encourage others to do the same. This includes a particular focus on picking up trash in order to prevent it from falling in waterways.

Looking back on her GLA experience and how it inspired her, Noemie sees in herself the passion and dedication brought by the two directors on her program:

They are both very inspiring persons. They devote their every day in making a difference in the world, and seem so happy doing it. They make it look possible, to make a real difference. It makes me want to do the same.”

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Noemie attended College Nouvelles Frontieres in Gatineau, Canada.

Program Noemie attended:

GLA Costa Rica: Protecting the Pacific™

Curious about exploring your own GLA adventure through environmental conservation service? Check these out:

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5 Reasons Why Health & Hygiene are the Most Important Tools You Can Promote in the Developing World

GLA-Medical

If you’re interested in public health and caregiving back home—why not promote it abroad?

Hey there, health volunteers! Here are 5 reasons why you should apply your passion to the developing world:

1. There is an overwhelming need

If you’ve always wanted to volunteer but weren’t sure how you could help, then consider the importance of health. Many of the luxuries that we take for granted in first-world countries—such as clean running water—are not standard elsewhere. There are billions of people without these daily necessities.

2.  Health and hygiene are universal

Let’s say that you pull up a map of the world. You then close your eyes and point to a random part of the world map. Wherever you end up pointing to has health and hygiene as an essential need. This may seem obvious when you point to well-known countries; this may not be so obvious when you point to the ocean (sailors and seagoers have to be meticulously, even obsessively clean and also mindful about their nutrition).

3. Everyone’s affected

Nobody’s immune to sickness or disability. Infants, children, young adults, parents, and the elderly are all at risk. If you’re looking for a meaningful area to volunteer in, then choose health and hygiene since it impacts everyone.

4. Small improvements make huge impacts

It’s a cliché but one that’s certainly true. If you install a water purification system for a village, this greatly improves the health of everyone living there and especially for children yet to be born.

Your contribution will help generations.

5. YOU can help right now

Absolutely! You don’t need any specialized knowledge or experience to make an impact here. All you need is a genuine interest and a willingness to learn from others.

What have been your goals and experiences with promoting health and hygiene? We’d enjoy hearing your story!

Contributed by Nick Focthman

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4 Times Sports in History Have Been Used to Bridge Differences Between Countries or Communities

GLA-Sports

The outcome of a sporting event always means more to than a simple win or loss. If our team wins, we carry the glory, if our team loses, we feel the shame. It’s this emotional connection to sports that keeps them at the forefront of our lives and constantly on our mind. For years, we have seen our various sporting events as metaphors for world power or to sway political views. Here are four times in history when sports have represented more to the world than a simple loss or victory.

1. 1936 Olympics

Adolf Hitler was hosting the 1936 Olympic games in Germany hoping to use them as a showcase for Aryan superiority. Hitler was upset when Jesse Owens, an African American, took home four gold medals in his four respective track and field races. To this day, Jesse Owens’ victories represent one of the greatest blows to international racism viewed on a wide scale.

2. 1971 China Vs. U.S. Ping Pong

For over twenty years leading up to the famous China Vs. America Ping Pong match the U.S. had virtually no contact with China since 1949. China made a surprise offer to the U.S. team in 1971 to play a few exhibition games. China had plans to use this match as political propaganda for their citizens to show superiority over America. This exchange allowed for Americans to see China for what it really was at the time, opening up America’s eyes to the truth behind the Chinese people and paving the way for President Nixon’s trip in 1972.

3. 1995 Mandela Supports Rugby

After becoming president of post-apartheid Africa in 1994, Nelson Mandela offered his support to South Africa’s rugby team. A team which at the time consisted of only whites and acted as a symbol of white dominance in South Africa and Black suppression. After Africa’s team, the Springboks won the championship Nelson hand delivered the trophy to the team’s white captain representing the African people’s ability to forgive, but never forget.

4. 1936 wrestling match

Another event from the 1936 Olympic games that may have held just as much fervor as Jesse Owen’s victory would be the defeat of the German wrestler, Wolfang Ehrl by a Jewish-Hungarian athlete, Karoly Karpati. The defeat happened with Adolf Hitler in attendance.

Contributed by Josh Schwartz

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9 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad to a Country with a Different Language Than Your Own is Better for Language Learning Than the Classroom

GLA-Language-Learning

Trying to convince your parents, and maybe yourself, that time in another country to study a language without being in a formal classroom is a good idea? Here are nine. Maybe they will help you and/or your parents feel a little better.

1. Get Out of the Classroom

You’ve spent thousands of hours sitting in classes during the regular school-year. Why spend your time abroad in a similar setting? Unless, of course, education is a subject in which you’re interested.

2. Get Out Into the World

There’s far more to learning a language than diagramming sentences. In fact, the formal languages often taught in language courses are considerably different from the way natives speak. (Think about your last English class and compare it to how you talk.)

3. Natives Are Better Teachers

When you’re immersed in a foreign culture where everyone speaks an unfamiliar language, you’ll find that you learn the quickly language – especially key phrases.

4. Gain Perspective

Words communicate our cultural differences that no textbook can. Learning the meanings of various ways locals emphasize words can bring new perspectives on language that you don’t get in a classroom.

5. Expansive Vocabulary

Let’s be honest: vocabulary books and translation guides give you a limited number of words. There are far more words in a language than those taught in the classroom. Try learning the words people use every day – by every day interaction with them.

6. Get Moving

It’s pretty easy when you’re given a map, recommendations and someone to contact if you get lost. Without those, you’ll have to learn to get around. Your reading skills will also improve as you learn directions, sign meanings and menus.

7. Hang with the Locals

Too often, when studying abroad in a classroom setting, there are many other Americans studying there as well. Unfortunately, often they all hang out together – inside and outside the classroom. So, studying abroad outside the classroom will force you to talk in the native language.

8. Tough It Out

Almost all of us get homesick, and it helps if there are fellow students who understand, but studying abroad outside the classroom allows you to build the confidence not only in speaking the language but in knowing you can take care of yourself.

9. You Decide
Finally, you get to decide your schedule when studying abroad. If you learn best in the afternoon, you can focus then.

As long as you’re self-motivated and disciplined, studying a language abroad outside the classroom can be a great learning experience. I’ve given you some reasons – now go do it!

Contributed by William Pate

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