In the middle of July, I left the mitten state and was headed off to the Dominican Republic for my ten day service trip through Global Leadership Adventures. The name of the program was Dominican Republic: Sustainability and Service, but little did I know that the program was all about transforming us naive teenagers into sustainability activists. I not only learned what sustainability was from Dave Addison, our director who obtained a PhD in global business sustainability, but I came to live it as well. We lived virtually a “no impact” lifestyle, consisting of thatched huts for lodging and daily meals of beans and rice. These accommodations forced me to break free of my American comforts and discover what it truly means to live simply and sustainably.

The program allowed me to help change the lives of the Dominican people through our service, but I was also changed as well. The nightly videos, such as “Food Inc.” and “Blue Gold”, and the in depth conversations with Mr. Addison transformed my global perspective and gave me a incredible new insight into the world’s problems. We discussed topics such as climate change, conservation biology, water scarcity, desertification, poverty, urbanization, and oil scarcity. For these were the challenges that us up-and-coming world leaders would tackle in our lifetime.

I left the Dominican Republic and came back to the United States more aware of the world outside my hometown. Before a meat eater, I came home a changed lacto-ovo vegetarian. After preaching my newly adopted philosophies to my parents and sister, I was able to transform them to vegetarians as well. I also inspired my family and others to begin eating an organic diet too. Not only has my family become healthier, but more environmentally friendly. My family was able to significantly reduce our environmental impact due our dietary changes and new habits.

My mission after coming back to the United States has been to change my ways, and also teach my peers and fellow community members the practices I learned in the Dominican Republic. I now work closely with the my local community garden and community kitchen in providing low-income families with fresh, locally-grown, organic food. My life was permanently changed from those ten days, and I want to have the same impact on others. I came back and was able to change the lives of others as well, which is more satisfying than any self transformation I underwent.

Mud splatters with each step down the slippery path. I cling to the closest wooden posts, avoiding the barbed wire at my sides.  My heavy breathing does not allow me to hear the surroundings. The sign, LA ESPERANZA HACIENDA, grows larger as I approach on the winding path. At the end of an exhausting trek, I finally catch my breath.

My sigh of relief is only short-lived as I am fully aware of the daunting tasks that lie ahead. On the Galapagos Islands, the high school volunteer work tends to be lengthy and physical. Of course, I am not used to the hard labor, but I journeyed here to help the environment, so, I overcome my reluctance and power through the work. My group’s job is to construct a greenhouse from the native bamboo. Wielding a sharp machete, I head toward the bamboo trees, managing to topple a tree after multiple failed attempts. Though my hands ache, I am persistent.  Everything here is different. This is a job to help the native ecosystem and also an immersion into a new culture. I am exhausted, yet confident with my decision to travel out of my comfort zone, to work in primitive conditions.

Jose’s uplifting smile, the one he sustains through the toughest work, encourages me to persevere through the pain. The owner of La Esperanza, Jose reconditions the land constantly, hoping to one day create a turtle rehabilitation center. He named the ranch Esperanza, which means hope in Spanish, to express his feelings for the project. Knowing his goal will take years to achieve only drives him to accomplish more every day. I have worked hard, though never as hard as Jose does.

On a particularly sultry day, Jose leads us to the fruit farm he maintains. “Take a bite,” he tells me as he hands me a slice of cantaloupe. Cantaloupe has never been my favorite, but this bite is succulent perfection. I feel a profound joy as I devour the rest of the piece. A piece of fruit, something I consider trivial, has brought me an unusual satisfaction. I feel as though I had been lifted off the Earth and given a taste of divine food. I hug Jose and thank him for his generosity. He doesn’t understand my happiness, so I explain that back home I live a fast-paced lifestyle, not stopping to enjoy the sweetest moments of life.

As the final hour of my volunteer work wanes into the fading sunset, I feel sad. Even though the work is physically demanding, I enjoy it. Before I met Jose, I complained about the slow service in a restaurant, while he unremittingly labored, even for the smallest fruit. Now, I relish my time to relax and reflect. I emerge with an open mind, pausing to take in every moment life gives me

To learn more about how you can make a difference in The Galapagos, click on the link.

I am not satisfied with procrastination or empty promises. I am not driven by ephemeral inspiration or futile idealism. I do not believe in improving the world through impersonal charity or mere rhetoric, but I believe that we have a moral obligation to improve our world through means that are both meaningful and plausible. This obligation should not be the result of man’s attempt to seek praise, for the virtue of solidarity goes beyond recognition. It lies in an understanding that we are irrevocably linked to one another, that we are not alone in our endeavors, and that we have a solemn responsibility to set forth conditions encouraging dignity and respect, an environment nurturing the ideals of social justice. This vision cannot be realized if it does not imply a commitment to those who are vulnerable or marginalized, and it cannot be realized if we cloud our judgment with hubris by believing that it will somehow materialize on its own. These are the beliefs that brought me to Tecpan, Guatemala, via a high school study abroad program, and it is this mindset that allows me to know that I will one day return.

By visiting a female agricultural cooperative that grows cash crops to support their families, I learned how the Kak’chikél farmers cope with their hardships. I discovered that it is their solidarity that holds their traditions and values together in the face of unlikely odds; their will has never broken. It is their ethic, their commonality of interests and concerns that allows them to maintain their cultural identity despite the potent forces of globalization. It is their support for one another, their sense of harmony that reinforces their existence.

At Escuela Rural Pueblo Viejo, one of the few schools in Guatemala that teaches the Kak’chikél language in addition to Spanish, I helped paint a run-down basketball court, befriended Enrique and Freddie, and taught English phrases to eager children. I played soccer with enthusiastic boys in a schoolyard consisting of fragmented concrete, dirt, and a small patch of grass. Unlike schools in the US, there was no running water or electric lighting and few students had notebooks. After witnessing a society that lacks the luxury and opportunity that many Americans cherish, I am now compelled to act, not out of pity, but out of a sense of humanity. I now plan to return and deliver school supplies because I believe that education is the premise for progress, opportunity, and development and because I will never forget the jubilant smiles I witnessed, the authentic happiness of Edwin shouting “foto,” or the flood of emotion that surfaced within me as the children chased after our van, begging us not to leave.

Few realize the significance and power of providing comfort and compassion; that through solidarity and support we can start countering the myriad problems we face. Some say American cultural hegemony is either directly or indirectly the cause of many of the world’s problems. Others proclaim that within the American spirit is a genuine care for the plight of others, but with the problems the world faces, caring and words are not nearly enough. We have become too consumed with the trivial matters of our everyday lives, valuing scores and grades over character, and material objects over the conditions of others. Somehow we lost sense of what is important, and only when we are reminded of the dreadful conditions some face do we feel compelled to make a difference. Unfortunately, even then, that fiery passion that once ignited all too often flickers then fades. This view is not one of pessimism but realism, and it is compassion, empathy, and solidarity that the world now requires.

Prestigious Award Honors Outstanding Commitment to Volunteer Service

San Diego, CA– Global Leadership Adventures today announced it has teamed with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service AwardGlobal Leadership Adventures is one of thousands of organizations that have joined forces to deliver the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and honor the volunteers who strengthen our Nation. As a Certifying Organization for the AWARD, Global Leadership Adventures is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients and delivering the AWARD.

“We are extremely proud to recognize our most outstanding volunteers with the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD,” said Andrew H. Motiwalla, Executive Director of Global Leadership Adventures volunteers are role models in our community, donating their time, energy and talent to bring us closer together as neighbors and a Nation. The AWARD is our way of thanking these volunteers and inspiring everyone in our community to make volunteering a central part of their lives.”

“Even if you’ve never volunteered before, the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD is within your reach,” Motiwalla said. “There are so many ways to contribute, and every volunteer hour makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others. We encourage everyone to get involved and to bring along your family, friends and neighbors. Together, we can strengthen America – one hour at a time.”

The AWARD is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group convened by President George W. Bush and continued by President Barack Obama to help foster and encourage a culture of volunteer service and civic participation among Americans. Chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs, the Council is composed of leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofit and volunteer service organizations and community volunteering.

For more information about volunteering with Global Leadership Adventures, visit www.experienceGLA.com. For more information on the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and to find out how to identify additional volunteer opportunities in this area, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307.

Established in 2004 and headquartered in the U.S., Global Leadership Adventures has worked with hundreds of students from over 50 countries, inspiring teens between the ages of 15-18 all over the world to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it. The volunteer abroad programs provide a safe environment focused on human rights and community service. Global Leadership Adventures is part of Terra Education.

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Parents call me all the time asking about GLA, but often it emerges that they don’t even know how to think about choosing a summer program.  They’re bombarded by a ton of catalogs and often just select whichever organization has the prettiest catalog.  Obviously, this is not the best way to figure out where to send your teenage son or daughter.

Our calls usually turn into sessions where I help parents construct a mental framework to think about all the summer program options available.  Here are some of the key questions to ask:

1. Honestly (really, honestly) how emotionally mature and globally minded is your child?  This can help you answer whether they are even ready for an international program.  If you’re not sure if they’re ready, then maybe start with a 1 week program in Latin America.  If they have already traveled extensively with school or family, then let them go further out.

2. What is the objective of doing the summer program?  Is it purely for fun?  Is it to foster personal development?  Is it to earn some needed community service hours?  Is it to explore a personal passion about a certain part of the world?  Its amazing how many families haven’t asked themselves what they hope to get out of the program.  Start with the general goal and then work backwards.

3. What kind of peer group do you want your child to be surrounded by?  Is it an all-American group?  Do all the students come from the same part of the USA?  Is the student body diverse?  If so, in which way?

Global Leadership Adventures prides itself on trying to recruit an international student body.  Although the majority of students still come from the USA and UK, we have students from throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America.  For some families, this is not what they want.  For others, getting their son or daughter to be part of an international student body is a unique benefit.

I realize now that there are a lot more things to consider when choosing a teen volunteer abroad program.  I will continue this thread in a separate post.

1st Place – Martin Hoang – 2, 388 votes
“GLA Australia 2010: Outback Adventures”

2nd Place – Junye Zhang – 2,167 votes
“GLA Dominican Republic 2010″

3rd Place – Rashaad Phillips – 1, 174 votes
“GLA – Ghana – We Can Dance, Too!”

4th Place – Brandon Grant – 1, 073 votes
“GLA – Costa Rica- Pigs!”

To view the winning entries and others, please visit the GLA Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/globalleadershipadventures

Global Leadership Adventures, which offers life-changing international community service trips for teens, is offering a FREE trip to Costa Rica for ONE deserving high school student this summer. The winner will venture on the all-expense paid 10 day Tropical Ecology & Service program from August 14 to 23, 2010 – a $2,500 value!

GLA’s goal is to provide life-changing experiences that will cultivate a global perspective and open-mindedness in students that will ultimately inspire them to become great leaders and global thinkers who will seek positive change in their own communities.

The 10 day Costa Rica trip includes volunteering at a non-profit nature reserve, zip-lining through the rainforest, whitewater rafting, hiking to hidden waterfalls and much more.

Read more details about this program. Meals, lodging and airfare from Houston, Texas to Liberia, Costa Rica will all be paid.

High school students ages 14 to 18 are eligible to enter. Students must answer the following essay question for the chance to win:

Tell us how you’ve shown leadership in your community? And, how would performing community service in an international setting help you further develop your leadership skills on a local and global level?

Responses must be no more than 500 words. E-mail responses to contest@experiencegla.com. All responses must be received by June 25, 2010, 12:00 a.m. PDT to be eligible for the contest.

Contest Rules:

· No purchase necessary.

· Prize is not redeemable for cash or anything else.

· Prize not transferable to other programs or program dates.

· Students are responsible for travel to Houston, Texas.

· Contest ends June 25, 2010, 12:00 a.m. PDT.

· Employees or family members of employees of Terra Education are not eligible.

· Only one submission per student.

· Anyone submitting more than one entry will be disqualified.

· Global Leadership Adventures is not responsible for any issues that arise that prevent winner from claiming the prize.

· In the event the winner is unable to claim the prize, the second place essay will receive the prize.

• Winner will be contacted via email on Friday, July 2, 2010.

Are you canceling your travel plans to Thailand?

Many governments are recommending that people cancel all
non-essential travel to Thailand. However, Vietnam is a great
alternative to experience the wonder and beauty of South East Asia.

Read the US Department of State travel warning on Thailand here:
www.bit.ly/USgovtThailandWarning

Global Leadership Adventures offers a unique service-learning
experience in Vietnam.  This program takes students to Hanoi, Halong
Bay, Saigon and the charming colonial town of Hoi An. We also spend
time volunteering with the Hill Tribes in the mountainous Sapa
region. Read more here: www.experienceGLA.com/vietnam

You will have the rare opportunity of being immersed in the culture
by learning some of the local language, connecting directly with
farmers while wading through the rice paddies, and visiting ancient
ruins.

Although the entire program is a journey through markets, pagodas,
beaches, and towns, we will do day trips to explore the country up
close throughout this 14 day experience.

To learn more visit: www.experienceGLA.com/vietnam

To reserve your spot, simply begin your application here:
www.experiencegla.com/apply

*Australia* travel through the Outback volunteering with aboriginal
communities and learning about their traditional culture.
- July 3: 5 spots left
- July 24: Closed

*China: experience the dichotomy between rural and urban China. A
rapidly growing country full of contrasts.
- June 27: Closed
- July 25: 1 spot left Closed

*Costa Rica: Tropical Ecology & Service in the Monteverde Cloud
Forest
- June 19: Closed
- July 3: Closed
- August 4: Open

*Galapagos Islands: Experience environmental conservation in this
pristine archipelago.
- July 10: Closed
- July 24: 4 spots left

*Ghana: Immerse yourself in the rich culture of West Africa and
volunteer at local schools and orphanages.
- July 10: (3-week program) 3 spots left

Any programs not listed here still have space. You can always check program availability here: www.experiencegla.com/apply

If you are seriously considering GLA this summer, we encourage you to hold your spot today. You may hold your spot by starting your application and paying the $395 deposit.