| A community is an important place to belong and our students love the country, communities, and cultures of Australia and New Zealand with passion and dedication. Volunteering while abroad is a way to give back to the country which hosts you during your semester or year abroad program. Becoming a part of the culture and community around you is an integral part of immersion in another country, and volunteering is an easy way to get involved. The impact of volunteering is well emphasized in this article by Stacey Hartmann Here are some comments from our volunteers: “The best aspect of participating in the volunteer program was knowing that I built something that thousands of people will use. There is a definite sense of accomplishment from building a walkway/steps at a national park that will be there for years to come.” - R. Romine, Ohio State University “The best part about participating in the Volunteer Project was a sense of giving something back to the environment that I had taken so much from. I felt pride in the fact that I planted several hundred trees that will have a huge impact on the soil erosion and vegetation problem over the years. I also gained some good friends.” - M. Nelson, Central Michigan University "Working for the CVA volunteer program was an awesome opportunity to meet new people, see new places, help out the environment and have fun all at the same time. I am very thankful to have signed up for the program. It allowed me to travel to a new place that normally I would not have taken advantage of. Working with the other volunteers was a great experience.
I ended up meeting a wonderful new group of people and we all enjoyed our weekend together getting to know one another. Helping clear away overgrown brush and planting new trees to help the environment was fulfilling and fun working together with our new friends. Overall, the weekend was spectacular. We put in our effort during the day to get things done and at night we all relaxed and gathered around the campfire, cooking hotdogs, eating smores and laughing about our days adventures. Our leader Marium was more than helpful throughout the weekend and made sure that we all enjoyed our time together. I am very thankful that I signed up for the program and after sharing the details of the weekend with my friends, many of them wished that they had also taken the opportunity to travel and volunteer in Mt. Tamborine." - K. Gregory Get Involved There are many ways to volunteer in the local community outside of the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad volunteer projects. Check out the local non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and other organizations to find out how you can get involved. You will meet more locals, integrate yourself into the society beyond the campus, and find places and people you wouldn't otherwise experience. |