So, for those of you are taking the time to read this and aren´t too familiar with what I´m doing this year, this is the post you´ll want to read.
This experience I´m starting is supported through a non-profit, non-governmental organization devoted to improving international education by placing volunteer teachers in developing countries. Some volunteers, like me, commit themselves to a year of service, and others only three months. I´ve found out since getting here that a good portion of volunteers who complete a year of service actually choose to extend their stay for another year. A bit of background: my volunteer organization was begun in 1986 by a group of students from Harvard, and it´s main headquarters is still located at the university. Since the original post, I´ve found out I can´t include the organization´s name, but if you have any questions and want to know more, contact me directly.
On a more personal note, my decision to volunteer through the organization through which I am came about over many months. Before I had even heard of the organization, I applied to and was nominated to serve in Africa as a volunteer for the Peace Corps. By Christmas time of last year, however, I started to have serious doubts about working for 27 months with the Peace Corps, so I decided to review my options. I performed an extensive search of all the other service-related programs available to me and came across the my volunteer organization´s website almost immediately. For anyone who has gone through the process of narrowing one´s application choices from a large-scale search such as this one, it was no easy task deciding what I wanted to do with the next year of my life. I actually decided upon my organization because of the cleanliness of its website. As I had moved so far forward with the Peace Corps application, governmental secretaries continued to nag me for blood tests and medical evaluations, but I knew by spring break that I would be traveling to Ecuador instead of Africa the following fall.
And what do you know? Here I am!
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3 comments:
Let me be one of the first to say that I am glad you are safe and having some what of a good time. I am refreshed to hear that you don't have to worry about violent crime. I mean, who ever heard of violent acts in South America or a third world nation. We don't even have them here in America. As Marv would say, "Keep your grasp of the obvious strong and pull out your bullshit detector." Good to hear from you Mark.
Hi Mark, Good to hear from you. I sent this to the entire HD. Thanks for keeping in touch. Keep healthy! Jan
Hello Mark,
We too are glad you made it and are proud to say we have sponsored you in part for your efforts. I was watching Globe Trekker on National Geographic the other night and they did a stop in Quito. Sounds like a neat place as long as you know where NOT to go. We have added a web link to your blog so hopefully other members can keep in touch or see how you are doing. We also sponsor the Hearts in Motion group who frequents Ecuador. If you ever need a care package from home maybe they could deliver. I will find out where the do their work.
We Serve - and so do You!
Lion Ray Tweedale
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