Here I am, sitting on the rocks,

looking at the waves as they come and go…

The sun is going down,

I hear birds singing,

Singing as they announce the end of the day..

Some waves, bigger than others, bigger then me

splash into the rocks, splash on me…

I love the sound of the waves,

the sound of the wind,

the sounds that come and go into my ears…

In the sky, people I see,

Parasailing…it is beautiful.

Just a wonderful saturday,

Chilling near the beach..at LarcoMar.

My name is Éric Bergeron and I am currently living in Gatineau, Québec. For the next three months I will be volunteering as a Program Assistant ISM and SWB in Botswana.

I decided to volunteer because I have formerly done some humanitarian work in Nicaragua and I wanted to do a different experience by going in Africa. I am currently studying in Conflict studies and Humain Rights at the University of Ottawa.  

Last year, I was a host for the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the year before, I was a Page at the House of Common.

I am ready to share what I know, be a link to resources outside the community, and learn about the incredible work at the Assistant-ISM and SWB that I will involve this summers that the Botswana people have already established.   

I chose to go overseas with WUSC’s program because I believe in their vision and their objective  of poverty reduction through local and global volunteering, education,and advocacy.

Interest in the region is not the only reason I want to take part in this internship. I also want to better understand development from a grassroots perspective, and I believe that the only way to do that is to practically engage with development processes on the ground. I also love to experience new cultures and languages, so I am hoping to learn some Vietnamese and understand a new way of life.

I applied for a position at the Hoa Sua School for Disadvantaged Youth in Hanoi to gain a better understanding of the unique issues faced by disadvantaged and disabled individuals in development. The school’s goal of combating poverty through free education, training and career support resonated with me and my interest in education as a prerequisite for development. At the school, I will hopefully be developing skills training programs, running and English club, organizing extra-curricular activities and training students. I am excited to take part in this because I feel like I can be making a difference by sharing skills with people that might end up bettering their lives.

Through this project I hope to empower Vietnamese youth to be productive members of society and to use their skills to contribute to development in their country. Personally, I hope to figure out whether or not this type of work is something I would be interested in for future employment or research purposes. But overall, I just want to gain practical experience and learn what it is really like on the ground.

I’m expecting to have a lot of work and a lot of fun while working with the organization. I know my limits will be tested, but I hope I can grow from it and really make a difference. I am a bit worried about language barriers and my ignorance of Vietnamese culture, so I will do my best to be open to new ways of doing things. Overall, I’m very excited to be going to Hanoi, and can’t wait to experience a new country!

A few years later, I was privileged to have the opportunity to spend three months volunteering at a medical clinic in Conocoto, Ecuador. That is when I fell in love with the beautiful Spanish language and the many cultures that share it. During the three months in Ecuador, I became incredibly attached to my very large and dynamic host family, who I plan on visiting in the next few years.

Ever since these incredible experiences, I have been volunteering in other countries and continuing to deepen my understanding of global politics and development issues. I am currently in my third year of study at the University of Ottawa in International Studies and Modern Languages and will continue to study and specialize in International Law once I graduate.

I am ecstatic about this phenomenal internship opportunity in Guatemala where I will be working as a Touristic Development Adviser with La Red Nacional de Grupos Gestores. I am looking forward to working with an NGO and gaining invaluable field experience while at the same time helping to improve and develop the local community’s sustainable economic capacity, so that the community can achieve its goals!

Many people do not have the means to supplement their daily diet with other food sources. Refugees are not allowed to work outside the camp in Malawi, unless they have a special skill like an Engineer or a Doctor, and there are limited opportunities to work for money in the camp. I had the opportunity to observe some of the food distribution in the camp a few weeks ago. My friends in the camp wanted to show me their reality, so I can share it with others and maybe change can happen. This is the first time in my life I have felt guilt for going for lunch at work and coming back with a full stomach, knowing my colleagues and students are hungry.
From the refugee community and Malawian people I learned about struggle and determination. Outside of the challenges in the camp, Malawi is facing very serious resource shortages – daily electricity cuts, no fuel for days and extremely high cost of living due to the limited foreign exchange. A few days ago I counted a hundred vehicles in line for fuel on one side of the fuel station. I value the skills, resourcefulness and determination the people I met hold, which enable them to survive in challenging conditions, while caring for one another, family and community.
My time in Malawi and in Dzaleka has reinforced my desire to pursue opportunities abroad, but also exposed the importance of the work I do at home in Toronto, helping immigrants and refugees in my community. I leave Malawi to return to Canada and my role at the YMCA working with newly arrived immigrant and refugee youth, and volunteering to support SRP youth in Toronto and across Canada. I have learned so many valuable things that I can apply back in Canada working with newcomers. Spending time with the SRP youth has been such an enriching experience, as they have taught me patience and challenged me on my cultural understandings of social interaction and cultural diversity. I will take away from this experience a stronger self, as I move forward with my career, supporting migration through cultural understanding.
Some tips for those planning to embark on an adventure in Malawi: bring a head lamp, its dark; be patient with others and yourself; make connections with those in your community and you will discover why Malawi is called the Warm Heart of Africa.

Hello!
My name is Jessica Downing and I am finishing up my fourth year at the University of Ottawa in Conflict Studies and Human Rights. I have always wanted to travel and with the aid of my studies I would like to take what I have learned in the classroom in order to enhance my learning experience and gain a new perspective on conflict, human rights, and life in general from another geographical view point than the one I have living in Canada.

I am excited to have the opportunity to work in Gaborone, Botswana as a Youth Program Assistant at the Center for Youth of Hope (CEYOHO). This NGO has a primary target of young people living with HIV and AIDS. They offer a variety services to provide care and support to youth living with HIV and AIDS as well as educating others on prevention and how to live positively with the disease. I chose this placement because I love working with youth and enjoy bringing my knowledge and skills to the table as well as taking away as much as possible. I hope to learn about the insight youth have in terms of living with HIV/AIDS as well as to gain a better understanding of public health issues in Botswana. I am thrilled to take part in this placement and cannot wait to see how this journey will unfold!

I am Ashley Shellard and this summer I will be completing and International Internship with Accion Para Los Ninos located in Lima, Peru.

I have lived in Ottawa my whole life and I am currently completing my third year of studying Psychology at University of Ottawa. I am looking forward to participating in the implication of the various educational programs and the preventions programs for the community of Lima. I believe I can lend a strong hand in the organized actions of my partnered organization.

My part-time jobs of my past have allowed me to gain much experience in working very closely with members of the city community, therefore I am very excited to attend to the tasks of a social assistant. I have also been able to visit Peru as a child, and I am looking forward to going back to gain a deeper outlook.

 
My name is Jessane Castro Nelson. I am a third year student at the University of Ottawa in the International Studies and Modern Languages program. Personally, I try not to judge people too quickly and believe I am a very open minded individual, who loves to experiment new things; culture, food, music, life style. I am a caring warm and ready to help person. I have no problem with any race, gender, religion or culture. I am myself born from parents with two different backgrounds: Mexican and European. I love to meet new people and get to know them well. I care about people and of what happens to others. I enjoy the simple things of life and I thank God for everything I have.
My motivations for participating in WUSC’s SWB international placement opportunity are quite diverse. Firstly, that I love traveling in foreign countries and experiment other ways of living and thinking. I enjoy living new experiences. I like spending quality time with people who are different and that can introduce me to new things, new ways of thinking and seeing life. Also, through this experience, I think I can share with people my own Canadian, Mexican and Haitian experiences. I have travelled a few times overseas and my family is all over the place. I have family in Belgium, Mexico, Haiti, and United States. I can be a good contact to inform people about places I have visited and share my point of view on things. I also want to get to know better the country, the culture and the people living there. I want to absorb as much thing as I can during the time I will in my host country. Finally, the place I have chosen to do my internship: Peru is specific to the fact that I also want to practice my Spanish through this amazing experience. I may still be young but I find that for someone my age I can give a different point of view on things and I have a strong sense of adventure. In Peru, my position will be an Assistant of the Peruvian Network for Environmental Research with Ministry of Environment. Through this position I will have to Implement Communication Plan for the Peruvian Network for Environmental Research. My responsibilities will be to assist in the collection of environmental information, studies, research and projects, through the platform of the Peruvian Network for Environmental Research. Assist in the activities of communication identified in the communication plan of the Peruvian Network for Environmental Research, such as production of monthly newsletters and communications, monitoring the network’s email address, management of social networks, and diffusion of scientific TV programs. Assist in the development of other activities of the Peruvian Network for Environmental Research such as virtual forums, round table discussions, and scientific meetings. Finally, assist in other activities as assigned by the DGIIA to contribute to its development. My biggest doubts are mostly about the fact that the environmental area isn’t my study area and that I may not be fully aware of what is expected of me or not have enough resources to fulfill the task properly, but I personally hope to be able to accomplish the responsibilities given to me, the best I can.

Bonjour!

Mon nom est Émilie et je suis une étudiante de 3e année en Développement international et mondialisation, mineure en économie, à l’Université d’Ottawa. Je termine présentement un placement de 4 mois à l’ACDI où je travaille avec la division de la recherche sur les politiques. Je passerai l’été à Maun, au Botswana, avec l’organisation NCONGO qui procure différents services et réunit les organismes non-gouvernementaux de la province de Ngamiland, au Nord. Tel que décrit dans la description de mon poste, j’assisterai certaines organisations avec leurs stratégies de communications et de relations publiques, en plus d’appuyer quelques comités organisés par NCONGO.

Je suis très anxieuse, mais à la fois très fébrile, à l’idée de vivre au Botswana pendant 3 mois. En fait ce périple sera mon baptême de l’air, puisque je n’ai jamais vraiment voyagé auparavant, malgré mon grand intérêt pour la découverte de l’inconnu et pour le contact avec des cultures qui diffèrent radicalement de la mienne ! Je m’attends à ne pas être déçue sur ce point durant mon stage. Ce qui me pousse à entreprendre ce voyage c’est d’abord et avant tout un désir d’apprendre : d’en apprendre plus sur ce pays sur lequel j’ai tant lu et écrit, mais aussi d’en apprendre plus sur moi-même, en dehors de ma zone de confort et de mes repères traditionnels. Je tiens à acquérir une expérience pertinente à ma carrière, qui me poussera à vivre et à travailler dans des conditions matérielles et sociales très différentes de celles du Canada, mais aussi une expérience de vie qui me permettra de grandir en tant que personne.

N’ayant jamais voyagé, la seule chose à laquelle je m’attends… c’est de ne pas m’attendre à rien! En fait, je fais souvent un lien avec le saut en bungee que j’ai fait l’été dernier : c’est totalement irrationnel parce que tu n’as aucune idée dans quoi tu te lances : la seule chose que tu peux faire c’est d’arrêter de tout analyser (comme les chances que tu as de mourir), fermer les yeux et te lancer dans le vide : on verra après! C’est cette attitude qui me garde saine d’esprit à ce point dans mon cheminement ! Étant une personne qui se sécurise en faisant des listes, des plans et des organigrammes avec des crayons de couleur, je me force à réduire cette partie de ma personnalité à un minimum, puisque je sais que je serais seulement plus déstabilisée à mon arrivée à Maun, puisque je n’ai aucune idée à quoi m’attendre en réalité. J’ai donc décidé de ne remplir que la moitié de mon sac avant de partir et d’adopter comme mot d’ordre pour mon stage : « Just wing it ! ».

Je suis néanmoins très occupée par la préparation de mon voyage : je lis beaucoup sur le Botswana (histoire, nouvelles, fiction (je recommande à tous la série de livres No.1 Ladies Detective Agency) afin de comprendre un peu plus la culture et le passé des Batswana. J’essaie de naviguer la liste des recommendations de SWB sur ou aller et ou ne pas aller, comment se rendre ici et là, etc. et en comparant le document de Gabarone avec celui de Maun… je me rends vite compte qu’il faudra que j’y contribue par moi-même, puisque très peu de bénévoles sont allés là ! Je me renseigne sur les différentes activités qu’organise NCONGO pour la communauté, tel des ateliers, des conférences et des journées d’activités familiales ou il faut apporter son propre âne: j’espère qu’ils en auront un pour moi! J’écris aussi beaucoup sur mes attentes et mes sentiments à propos de ce périple, histoire de me rappeller, dans un moment de crise existentielle, pourquoi je fais ça, et j’essaie d’apprendre quelques mots de Tswana, me préparant mentalement à ne rien comprendre de ce qui se dit autour de moi pendant 3 (optimiste? 2.9) mois. Mais, au moins, je sais dire : Aidez-moi ! (Nthuse!) et Où est la salle de bain? (Ntlo ya boithumelo e kae?). Je devrais m’en sortir !

Merci de suivre mes aventures, et si jamais je me retrouve sur le blog http://gurlgoestoafrica.tumblr.com/, faîtes-moi signe, s’il vous-plaît.

Emilie aka lekgowa

After an insanely long journey home (4 stopovers including an eleven hour layover in Korea) I’m back in Ottawa, decompressing and readjusting. The last two-three weeks at my placement at North Thang Long Economic Technical College, on the outskirts of Hanoi, were extremely busy. Although I had plenty to do during the course of my internship, I should’ve known that my most active times would be towards the end. Things always seem to work out like that! On March 26th the college celebrated its tenth anniversary, with speeches, singing competitions, and traditional dancing. Personally I was most impressed with the break dancing and popping and locking performances by the students! Many now-successful alumni and municipal officials were also in attendance. Also, during my last week there I was able to give a 2 hour, one-off workshop on gender equality and healthy relationships. I had been preparing for this workshop for a month and was worried about how it would be received. Fortunately, it was well attended (almost 40 students) and even though there were some sleepyheads in the audience I also saw some students taking notes. Hopefully, this presentation can be continued in the future… Additionally, with the help of WUSC and a Vietnamese sexual health expert, the college is organizing a big student event on reproductive health and gender for the end of April! I wish I could attend, but I still plan to help out and stay involved even from a far. All in all my time at North Thang Long has been an incredibly valuable experience and really rewarding as well. The staff and students were so kind and patient with me. I’ll never forget their generosity.

After working hard at the college and working hard at adjusting to life in Hanoi, I have to work hard to readjust to the life I left behind for three months. In Hanoi, everything was so incredibly busy, loud, and crowded. Personal space did not exist, especially on the bus. This was my greatest adjustment, and I’m very proud to have burst my personal space bubble! I learned to absolutely love everything about Hanoi that caused such great culture shock at the beginning of the journey. Now, back in Ottawa, the city is too quiet. There are no motorbikes here, nobody honks at each other, even the dogs don’t seem to bark quite as loud. Also, there’s space. Everyone is spread out and mostly keeps to themselves. While I thought I would be comforted by these things when I got back, they are actually a bit freaky. But I know in time, just like in Hanoi, I’ll get used to it. For now, I’m excited to see my friends and family, but also to reflect on all the wonderful things I’ve experienced during my time in Vietnam!

Tam biet!