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!

Working at a Thai Orphanage

Volunteering at an orphanage in Thailand is an incredible exercise in empathy, service, and cultural immersion with children who don’t always have the benefits or advantages of others in their community.  Students volunteering abroad in Thailand with Global Leadership Adventures have the unique opportunity to engage with these kids, all the while learning more about who they are and the people they want to be in facing global challenges on a local scale.

“For the past week my group has been working at the Wildflower home… When we arrived, we were greeted by Kelly, an excited Australian who works at the orphanage. We were shown around the orphanage and led to a room where we received our formal introduction. We watched a video about Agape’s past, which highlighted the founder, Avis… The rest of the day was simply amazing. We spent about an hour doing service. When that was over the kids arrived home from school and we spent the afternoon and early evening playing with the children. We ate dinner with the kids and then returned to the home base to spend the evening playing cards and hanging out.”

– Riley Janeway

GLA students who volunteer at the orphanage have friends and staff members to help them make sense of the experience, and this sharing of stories, activities, and good times brings a level of positivity and compassion that would be difficult to achieve when volunteering alone.  These students from the July 1st Cultural Kaleidoscope program don’t only volunteer together, they spend their days immersed in the local culture and go off on excursions as a team, which only makes the bonds between them all stronger and more resilient.

“We woke up and had breakfast really early as usual, but then we went to Chiang Mai University and did ceramics! The art students taught us to make these really cool clay pieces with molds and some jewelry/key chains with paper clay. Later in the day, we went to Joy’s Farm for the first time. Joy’s Farm is a farm that doubles as an orphanage for Burmese and Thai children from ages 5-17. We met the kids that live there, they gave us a tour of the place, played ping pong and badminton, made paper flowers, and ate dinner together.”

Joy’s Farm is filled with a diversity of experiences that make the volunteer excursion unique.  These GLA teens go from helping out in the kitchen to teaching the children English (while mixing in some playtime as well), all in a day’s work!  Dinner is then eaten together on-site, to give the students a chance to become immersed in the daily experience at Joy’s Farm.

“We started teaching English at an elementary school with students from K-6 grade. Although teaching was tough and new for most of us, the students were very cute and it feels good at the end of the day to know that we’ve stepped out of our comfort zone. Our director Todd told us to always “expect the unexpected” while teaching, which was a helpful warning because our plans would change throughout the day and we would just have to “flow with the go,” as our mentor Kees always says. We are very excited to continue working with the students throughout this amazing journey.”

-Mackenzie Moorhouse and Molly Thayer

Cultural Kaleidoscope couldn’t be more aptly named.  The contrast between the incredible volunteer work and the exotic sights, sounds, and flavors of Thailand makes for a colorful experience that most teenagers couldn’t dream of – and yet, when it happens, all the contrast begins to make sense.  The time spent at the orphanage with local children, combined with exploration in a vast and awe-inspiring countryside, makes the time and place all the more real, and the service all the more meaningful.

Want to learn more about the Thailand Cultural Kaleidoscope experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers at a real Thai orphanage.

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.

Volunteering in the Costa Rican Rainforest

Costa Rica is one of the most distinctive destinations on earth with this region named as a World Heritage Site by the UN. While living in the jungle surrounded by unique plants and animals, students experience the true meaning of giving back to a community and protecting the local wildlife. A reforestation project will keep students physically active, building nurseries and planting trees. Bonding and playing sports with local children is also a favorite of GLA students.

“After our orientation, one of the conservationists gave a presentation on the workings of a national park in Costa Rica, thoroughly explaining the contents and inner-workings of various ecosystems that exist here, from the Ocean to the Cloud Forest. This presentation also explained the conservation procedures that the staff here at Horizontes, the experimental reforestation station that we are staying at, have taken to counteract the damage done to the tropical dry forest ecosystem.” -Omar

 Bonding with the locals and the children at the service sites is an every day occurrence in Costa Rica. Each day students are able to connect and communicate with the surrounding community, and even with language barriers make deep connectinons. Many students find the use of words is not necessary when you are truly connecting with someone. Many times, locals within the community will jump in on the service work alongside the GLA students and help. Special connections and indescribable bonds continue to impact students long after they return home.

“We immediately drove to a school in El Triunfo, where we played soccer with the community. Both teams consisted of GLA forest people, Horizontes staff, and the locals. Other community members watched our battle, until the non-jerseys came out on top with a close score of 4-1 (it was closer than you might think). We then connected and snacked with the community members and met some local kids, our age and below, who were incredibly kind and friendly. Once we got back to home base, we ate dinner and chilled together, opening up even more, and learning many interesting things about our peers. We may have only been here for three days, but it really feels like we have known each other for months.” -Leah

The range of distinct ecosystems allows students to compare and contrast their environment. While in the cloud forest issues related to water, public health, and conservation and how these relate to developing communities is focused on. See the challenges locals face with regard to access to natural resources. Along the way students also learn about and discover a new world of animals and plants.

“We embarked on a night hike. We got to hear the rhythm of the forest, as the noises of the animals coalesced into a collective exhalation of wilderness, instincts such as touch and hearing became dominant, because the brightness of the stars could only poke small holes of light into the darkness which permeated through the forest. For the most part, the creatures of the forest remained hidden, scared by our invasion of their land, but we did manage to spot some toads, tadpoles, and beautiful birds.” -Omar

Of course time in Costa Rica would not be complete without adventure! The huge range of ecosystems in a small geographic area provides a vast array of exciting outdoor activities!  Students hike along the base of a volcano, camp overnight on a remote beach, kayak, zipline, tube down a roaring river, ride horses thought the jungle, and bathe underneath a waterfall!

“Thick forest surrounded the beach in a large cove. We swam for hours. There were kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear that supplied endless fun. As the purple, pink and orange sky turned into a deep blue, the stars came out of hiding and presented themselves to us. With no lights around there was nothing to disturb the vast majority of twinkling stars. The 14 of us lied on the beach and star-gazed. There were times where we had enlightening conversations about life. Or we just talked about our favorite movies. Then there were the times where we stared into space in silence. It’s been 5 days and we have all connected so well with each other. It’s truly amazing how fast we were all able to get used to each other and make strong friendships.” -Edison

Experiencing the rainforest’s thrilling bounty inspires students to give back to the community and land. Our hope is that the connections and friendships they create together will have a positive impact and be carried with them throughout life. A seed in Costa Rica is planted (literally) with GLA that they can continue nurture, learn to be leaders within their own community, and creatively solve problems together.

Volunteering in Costa Rica is a rare experience for high school students, but one that’s worth the travel.  Learn more about GLA’s Costa Rica programs.

Interested in learning more about the environment and conservation and how it benefits us all? Check out our 5 Positive’s of Environmental Restoration to see how much of a difference your efforts actually make!

Become Immersed in a Wild African Safari

GLA student Maddie from the June 14th session is seen here with a python that was one component of a traditional dancing performance by the Kill Wizard dance troupe. Troupe is comprised primarily of street children and orphans.

Students from the June 23rd program rode in all-terrain vehicles through a raw landscape, traversing over bodies of water and unpaved land as they worked to spot wild, native animals.

During an incredible weekend excursion, these GLA adventurers made their way over to Tarangire National Park, a 2-hour drive from the Arusha base camp.

They also spent Sunday in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a little farther away, at the boundary of the immense Serengeti.  The raised arms in the photo say it all!

“It’s one thing to see zebras in books and National Geographic films, but it’s completely different when you see the animals so close. It was so real and each moment was more breathtaking than the next! There were also more than twenty different species of unique colorful birds that rested on the branches of these gigantic hollow trees! Then we saw tons of wildebeests trotting in huge numbers across the spacious plains!”

– Ariana Finkelstein

The students appreciate the opportunity to get so close to animals in their native habitat – a real asset in wilderness education and awareness that is impossible to duplicate at a zoo.

“At the beginning, we saw mostly zebras and wildebeests, but then we saw a few elephants! They were humongous, and moved much faster than we thought they would move given their heavy weight! We also saw a little baby elephant with its mama and baba (Swahili for mother and father)!”

– Ariana Finkelstein

True Tanzanian immersion isn’t possible for many high school students in the U.S. – but more importantly – it isn’t an opportunity taken advantage of by the many people who can.  Summer days are plentiful.  True summer adventures aren’t.  For the students who had the chance to dance with the Maasai people, perform critical service work in a developing country, and see a pack of wildebeests sprinting through the tall grass, the stories they tell from this summer won’t be of just pool parties and sleeping in till 1pm every day.  The stories will be of things dreamed about but rarely experienced, except for these students, it won’t have been a dream at all.