United Planet works very hard to make sure our volunteers get the most out of their time working on projects in their countries. So we take pains to prepare them for what’s to come: culture shock, preconceptions about Americans, health and safety precautions, and more!
This year, we gathered the incoming crop of Long-term volunteers (they’ll head out in January 2011 for either 6 months or a year) for a weekend of training on a beautiful lake in New Hampshire. We had a great time getting to know them, and engaging in lots of fun activities.
A few highlights:
- Matthew, a seasoned international traveler and volunteer (and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer), will be one of four UP volunteers heading to Australia for our first time there!
- Harold and Erin, in their mid-20s, are going as a couple to Ecuador.
- Teijna, who was raised by parents who speak Finnish (but doesn’t herself), is heading to Finland to explore the land of her ancestors.
- Dilpreet, a young man whose parents are originally from India, is heading to Uganda.
- For the first time, United Planet is sending Long-term volunteers to Australia, South Africa, and Indonesia; we can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Thanks to everyone who participated; we’re anxious to follow their stories.
United Planet shirts go out into the world
I guess this is what you’d call “team building.”
However you spell it, it comes out “Volunteering is awesome.”
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
