One of our volunteers, Paul, shares how he was able to fit in time to volunteer with United Planet while on a hiking trip this holiday season to visit Patagonia in Chile.
“Quito forced me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things on a daily basis. Whether it was adapting to the schedule at the center or zip-lining over the rain-forest, I was compelled to live outside of my normal world in the United States. The trip was an exhilarating experience of a lifetime that I would never trade for anything.”
The center provides care and meals for 40 – 70 children, ages two to 12, who need attention; their families are missing fathers, or struggling with alcohol and drug problems, or suffering from disabilities. Many single moms drop off their kids while they cobble together work – selling food on the streets, cleaning. The center is jumping with life, but existing on a shoestring.
So many of our volunteers who travel to Chile come back and rave about their experience; we thought we should let you see how much United Planet’s Chilean Country Coordinator, Paul, raves about the volunteers.
The University of Idaho recently sent a group of 13 students and two professors to build houses in Chile. The decision was a response to Chile’s devastating 8.8 earthquake in February 2010, the fifth strongest in recorded history, which had left thousands of Chileans homeless.
As we reported before, United Planet just donated some money to the Aldea Infantil in Cusco, Peru so they could buy materials to renovate and repair kitchens and living areas….
United Planet is an international non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. We connect people who want to make a difference in communities across the world through overseas volunteer travel programs, global virtual internships & volunteering, and project-based virtual exchange programs. With opportunities in more than 40 countries, you will learn, teach, work, engage and immerse yourself in a culture outside your comfort zone. For many, volunteering abroad is the most fulfilling experience of their lives!
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