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Let’s Help Fellow SalaamGarage Volunteer, Simon Cordova!

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Last week I blogged about SalaamGarage and their wonderfully altruistic voluntourism endeavors.  Well, they haven’t gotten out of my mind.  I’m infatuated with their organization!  And I want to do what I can to get the word out to help them with their endeavors.  (After all, that is the goal of Enchanting Challenge: to connect the volunteer dots across the universe!!)

I think one of the coolest things SalaamGarage does is offer advice about how to raise money for their adventures.  There are so many organizations out there that offer altruistic and exciting travel packages, but so often it seems impossible as to how one can afford such an under-taking.  SalaamGarage breaks it down and reminds you that you can raise money, a little bit from a lot of different sources, to help you get on your way. 

In my last post, I also mentioned Simon Cordova, a SalaamGarage volunteer who is taking part in their September 2009 voyage to India.  Simon has under-taken quite an endeavor: not only is he embarking upon the voyage to Rajasthan, India and taking a nose-dive into some serious service work there, but he is also taking on a MAJOR citizen journalist project once he returns home to Los Angeles…Let me explain the full monty here.

Meet Simon: simon

An LA resident and photography guru, Simon will be working with the KARUNA mobile education van this September in India through the Vatsalya nonprofit.  KARUNA is basically a school on wheels that drives to the slums in Jaipur, India to help educate children who are too poor to be sent to school.  KARUNA has the best intentions, but not the best funding, and thus it can only make this educational voyage once every five weeks.  Simon’s goal is to accompany the KARUNA operators on their voyage this fall, and to document their efforts.  He will use this documentary to raise money so that the van can make the trip more often than only once every five weeks; his goal is to get the van to the slums ONCE A WEEK.  It’s a big goal, but reachable with outside help.

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But, Simon is VERY ambitious and doesn’t plan on stopping hiw work when he leaves India.  Nope, he’s got more in mind: when he returns to Los Angeles, Simon plans to put his photography to work, to let the picture tell the story.  He is scheming to put on a photography exhibit of the photos he took while in Vatsalya to further spread the word and raise more money for the KARUNA van.  I think this is SUCH an amazing idea, and one that could turn his potential into reality.  BUT, he needs funds.  He says it best when says, “Though I have plenty of drive, and the desire to make an impact with the KARUNA effort, I lack the necessary funding to do so.”  So let’s get the word out there and help Simon however we can.  With a lot of helping hands, a little bit goes a long way.  Simon needs a total of $5000 to make this trip happen (flight, project amount and fee’s).  To carry this dream to fruition, he’s begun the penny collecting journey and is at $150 right now in donations.  To donate yourself, click here:  http://www.vatsalyaproject.com/donate/.  To spread the word to others who may be interested, you can read Simon’s words on his blog here, check out his photography here, or follow him Twitter here.  Volunteers like Simon bring such hope to the world, and that hope is contagious.  If we all help Simon a little bit, we can all be a part of his work, and the further work that his work creates, and help spread that wonderful feeling of hope…

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Posted in Children, Community Volunteering, Education, Interviews, Joy, Service, Service Abroad, Social entrepreneurism, socially responsible travel | 1 Comment »

SalaamGarage Service Opportunity in India this September

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

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Flashback to SalaamGarage…

The other day I posted about the lovely voluntourism organization, SalaamGarage.  Today I want to talk specifically about their upcoming service trip to India this September.  They have 3 spots left for this trip and I want to get the word out so that any of my loyal readers that are interested can have the opportunity to sign up! 

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The 411…

Here’s the low-down.  The SalaamGarage journey to India will voyage to Rajasthan, India from September 18-October 1.  In Rajasthan, volunteers will work with the Vatsalya Nongovernmental Organization, a really lovely & altruistic nonprofit that seeks to bring opportunity to the underprivileged people of their city.  Some of their endeavors include housing homeless women and children in a group home away from the city; orchestrating educational, mental, and physical support systems; teaching HIV/AIDS awareness programs; and coordinating internships and vocational training for impoverished city residents. 

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How to learn more, an insider’s story…

To learn more about the details of the service involved with this trip, you should check out Salaam volunteer Simon’s website.  Simon has talked in detail about the specific project he will be working on, helping to coordinate Vatsalya’s Educational Van that tours some of the city’s poorest areas to bring the education to the children.  He talks with wonderful passion about his wonderful ideas and plans.  You should check out his site asap for inspiration! :-)

The cost…And the reason to choose SalaamGarage

Okay now for the details that make everyone groan…The price.  The total cost of the trip is $3300, and that includes all housing, 2 meals a day, all transportation, translators, in-country guides, and museum entries.  Also, 10% of the profits go directly to Vatsalya to help them in their endeavors.  ALSO, if you refer a friend, you get a $200 discount! :-) So spread the word!!  Keep in mind that the prices does not include air fare, spending money, visas, vaccinations, laundry, tips, 3rd daily  meals, beverages, and the necessary travel & health insurance (this is a big must!).  It definitely sounds like a lot of money, but if this type of hands-on service in this region of the world is something you are looking for, SalaamGarage prepares it all for you at the lowest possible cost. 

How to pay for this…

SalaamGarage includes lots of ways that you can raise money to support such a venture.  For example, the aforementioned volunteer, Simon, has a donation tab up on his website that is helping his readers and supporters donate to his cause.  Many of the past volunteers have similar stories of raising all the money they needed for their trip by putting the word out about their endeavors and collecting a little money from a lot of different places.  Anything is possible if you want it enough.  Good luck, and Salaam! :-)

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Posted in Children, Community Volunteering, Education, Family Volunteering, Service, Service Abroad | No Comments »

Ulaa Series: The 4 Pillars of Ulaa

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Today Nick and I worked with Martin at length to start planning the Ulaa service sector.  It is exciting and beautiful to see this plan come together, and we all hope so much that some of our readers will be interested in the program we are constructing.  Below I have written the four main points of our plan.

Las Paisajes–The Landscape

The farm is the heart of Ulaa.  It is most important to realize that we are here for the farm.  Ulaa’s fields grow walnuts, apples, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkins, potatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, basil, tomatoes, and more.  Chickens roost in their hen house and trout and salmon swim in the lakes.  The landscape is very, very alive, and we are here to keep it vibrant.

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La Gente–The People

The people who come to Ulaa to serve on the farm must come with a proactive attitude and a hard-work ethic.

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Ulaa is beautiful and it is impossible not to feel at peace here.  BUT, it is important to realize that volunteers can not come simply for relaxation.  Their stay here will be free or at a minimum cost, but they must come prepared to be a core part of the hard work that keeps Ulaa healthy.

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The people, the volunteers of Ulaa, together will make a whole unit, with each person an integral part of the unit.  The sucess of the whole depends upon each person fulfilling his or her tasks.  For example, Ulaa is far from any major road or market; basic supplies that can not be made on the farm–like toilet paper–are delivered regularly; but other basic items–like bread and jam–that can be made on the farm must be made on the farm.  Getting bread and jam at Ulaa is not a simple short-trip-to-the-store endeavor.  Instead, for the jam, someone must pick the berries, take out their thorns, and boil them with sugar until they resemble jelly.  For the bread, someone must mix the flour and yeast and let it rise, and then bake it.  These are simple examples, but I mean to paint the picture of how everyone’s well-being, in addition to the well-being of Ulaa itself, depends on each person helping out where they can.

 

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The collective contributions of everyone make Ulaa a beautiful experience.  In our normal lives, things like bread and jam are items we buy at the nearest grocery store.  At Ulaa, they are things you make from scratch with your own hands.  It is all hard work, but the reward is priceless: you learn where your meals come from; you feel close to and a part of what you eat; and you gain a deeper respect and understanding of our relationship with nature and our place within nature.

Las Cabanas–The Cabins

All of the volunteers will stay in log cabins on the Ulaa property.  The cabins are gorgeous–rustic, wooden, and overlooking the two lakes Ulaa sits between.  Each bedroom has an incredibly comfortable wooden bed with a fluffy warm comforter.  Each cabin has a bathroom that can be shared between the 2 or 3 inhabitants of the cabin.

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Eating, like the farm work, is also a collective endeavor.  The kitchen in the main lodge is where all the group meals are cooked.  A gigantic oven and a whole lot of counterspace make it hard to have too many cooks in the kitchen.  Like always, everyone will be a part of the meal process, and all the volunteers will eat 3 meals together everyday–and all of the meals will be made from food grown right from Ulaa’s soil.

Los Alerces–The Alerces

The Alerces are giant, ancient trees growing in the forests surrounding Ulaa.  It takes one year for an alerces tree to grow a single milimeter.  These trees loom high into the sky, giving you an idea of how old they really must be.  Their majestic beauty helps to connect you to nature and remind you of the wonders of our natural world.  Seeing them will make you excited to be cultivating the land in this beautiful place…

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We are so excited to put the Ulaa service project together.  It is something so close to our hearts, and something we know will be enriching to anyone who takes part in it.  In the coming days, look for my posts that will detail exact volunteer duties, the costs of this experience, and more details on the fabric of Ulaa…

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Posted in Animals, Education, Environment, Service, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Summer Break, Ulaa Service, Winter Break | No Comments »

Ulaa Series: Volunteer Opportunities at Ulaa

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

img_3376Life at Ulaa

For the past three days, Nick and I have been doing our city-slicker best to help out at the Ulaa farm in any way we can.  These are some of the tasks we have been charged with:

  • Picking apples, plums, blackberries, walnuts, tomatoes, and peas
  • Brushing down the horse
  • Feeding the chickens
  • Fishing for our dinner (rainbow trout!)
  • Helping to prepare all the meals (which include cobblers made with hand-picked fruit from the garden, baked pumpkin also picked from the garden, and fresh, home-made bread)

Not too bad of a life, eh?  I have been going to bed each night completely tired, feeling like the day was completely lived, and waking up completely ready to begin a new day in this beautiful place.

The History of Ulaa

Martin, the amazing Ulaa-caretaker, arrived on the banks of Lago Puelo Inferior 10 months ago.  It was then that he found Ulaa, beautiful and majestic, but sad and lonely with no one to tend her fields.  So Martin the Mountain Man set to work.

His first order of business was to clean house.  He took action beautifying the log cabins for the tourists and volunteers.  His second order of business was to give the farm some tender loving care.  He and his sidekick, Chardo, planted gardens and nursed the potato and raspberry fields back to life.  Now, not even a year later, the potato beds are thriving; heads of lettuce are popping up out of the ground; tomatoes and basil are growing side-by-side; the trees are dripping with apples, plums, walnuts, and blackberries; onion bulbs are bursting through the soil; pumpkins are plump and ripe; the roosters are cock-a-doodling, and so much more…

The only thing is, Martin needs help!!!

The Future of Ulaa

Ulaa is currently open for travelers and tourists to stay and enjoy a cozy, natural setting and home-cooked meals.  Tourists and travelers can stay in the rustic and gorgeous Ulaa cabins for only $70/night, and enjoy home-cooked food picked from none other than MARTIN, and of course picked fresh from the Ulaa gardens.  It really is an incredible experience for travelers and tourists…

However, with so much growing, and so much potential to grow more, Martin and Chardo don’t have enough hands to cover it all.  They would LOVE if volunteers came to help them out.  We are currently in the process of planning the service sector of Ulaa, but here is the general idea:

The goal is to have 5 service workers here at all times, helping this farm world go round.  The service workers would live on the Ulaa site, eat here with the Ulaa family, and of course contribute to the daily work (such as those not-so-bad tasks I mentioned before, like picking succulent fruit from the vine and fishing in a pure mountain lake).  We are aiming for agritourism, and hopefully volunteers could stay for free, although nothing has been officially decided.  (I will let you know as soon as it is in stone!)  Service workers could stay for as long or as short of a time as they would like.  We at Enchanting Challenge will use organizations like WWOOF to get the word out, but if any blog readers out there feel that this is the opportunity for them, please at sarahannmaxwell@gmail.com.

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Posted in Education, Environment, Service, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Summer Break, Ulaa Service, Winter Break | No Comments »

Ulaa Series: Tracing Our Path to Ulaa

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Our journey to Ulaa began in crazy, crowded, and cosmopolitan Buenos Aires.  It was there that we hopped on board a crowded bus that would take us to the international bus station in 45 minutes time, where we would then board a double-decker cross-country bus that would take us on a 20-hour journey southbound.  We were armed with a hiking backpack loaded with hiking gear and warm clothes for the Patagonian mountains, and enough food to last us until we arrived in Ulaa, an estimated 30 or so hours away.

At 5 pm on Saturday our bus pulled out of the station and hit the road.  As the sun set, we sped through the Argentine pampas, farmland run by gauchos, or Argentine cowboys.  Cows grazed freely across miles of fields, drinking from pure water ponds. 
Night fell and we could no longer see the animal characters of the landscape.  We closed our eyes and fell asleep.

We opened our eyes just as the sun was rising above the farmland.  The terrain had become more desert-like, and the vegetation looked a little parched.  Soon we were passing by massive rock formations that gave way to imposing, jagged mountains.  The bus wove its way across the mountain roads, kicking up dust and sand in its path.

Then we reached Bariloche, with its green mountains and clear lakes.  At the bus station in Bariloche, a backpacker’s hub to be sure, we boarded a smaller bus to take us 3 hours south to Lago Puelo.  The bus scotted through the rain down even more isolated mountain paths, massive ridges surrounding the valley roads we took.

We arrived at Lago Puelo at 5:45 pm on Sunday, 25 hours after we had left Buenos Aires, but the journey was not yet over.

We hopeed into a remis, or an unofficial taxi, and our driver, Sergio, ferried us to the port.  There we boarded a small motorboat driven by a Senor Claudio, who guided us across the waters of Lago Puelo.  We flew up and down with every bump and every wave.  When the water got too rocky to motor through, Claudio parked the dinghy and led us to the beach. We all helped each other jump from stone-to-stone until we reached a calmer part of the water where Martin would come pick us up from the other side of Lago Puelo, the Chilean side.

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“Okay, chicos!” Claudio said as he bade us farewell kisses, promising that Martin was on his way.  We certainly hoped that he was right because all we could see were rocks and lake!  And sure enough, within minutes of Claudio’s departure, Martin arrived on another small motorboat, the one that would carry us to Ulaa.

We boarded the second boat and cruised across the water, surrounded on all sides by majestic mountains and low-lying, mysterious-looking fog. 

And there she was: Ulaa.  The wooden cabin arose out of a mountain at the edge of Lago Puelo.  Martin docked the boat and we disembarked.  After three bus rides, one taxi ride, and two boat rides, we had found Ulaa!  And we were ready to begin planning ways for you to see her beauty as well…

Keep your eyes peeled for tomorrow’s post on the Ulaa activities we are taking part in and plotting for you to take part in!! 

PS: I promise that your journey to Ulaa does not have to be as complicated as our’s was…For instance, you could take an airplane to Bariloche, cutting about 18 hours from your journey…However, taking the long way certainly does add a sense of adventure to the whole journey!!

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Posted in 17434518, Animals, Education, Environment, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Summer Break, Ulaa Service, Winter Break | No Comments »

Ulaa Series: Welcome to Ulaa!

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

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This week my boyfriend~fellow Enchanting Challenge blogger Nicholas Cunningham~and I are in the Chilean paradise of Ulaa.  Ulaa is an organic farm founded by the Enchanting Group and run by the amazing Ulaa care-taker, MARTIN.

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Ulaa sits nestled into a mountainside overlooking a crystalline lake and river: Lago Puelo Inferior and Rio Puelo.  The Rio Puelo runs into the Pacific Ocean, carrying schools of 20-pound salmon in its streams.  The log cabin of Ulaa is heated by a wood-burning fire and electricity comes on for 4-5 hours a day.  The water for bathing is heated over the fire,and when it is not heated it is ice cold and pure.  The cabin’s main room has a wall of windows where you can sit by the fire, mesmerized by the blues and greens of the waves down below, gently moving the sea grasses in their wake.  With the smells of the fire and the gentle chill of the lake winds, you will feel so close to nature here.  No cell phones ringing, no pullution, no television blaring.  You are brought back into balance.  It is Heaven.

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The Enchanting Group wishes to open up Ulaa into a service opportunity where traveleres can come and stay in the cabins for no charge as long as they participate in the daily farm work.  The travelers can come back into nature and rest in the beautiful rustic Ulaa cabins as long as they help tend the potato fields, the pumpkin patches, the tomato greenhouses, the raspberry bushes, and the fruit tree orchards.  All the crops are organically grown and just need to be tended with loving care by those who are interested in learning more about our food and our Earth.  To serve at Ulaa is a beautiful opportunity, and if you are interested in agritourism and agricultural service and education, this may be the perfect place for you.

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This week, Nick, Martin, and I are working together to form a plan to bring service learners and workers to Ulaa.  During this week, I will write an Ulaa Series that will be updated daily, keeping all our readers notified of the progress and updates of the Ulaa plan.  As I mentioned before, we are working on constructing a service program for agricultural service, but we are also thinking and brainstorming for medical service programs, dental service programs, and even a service program for authors, all here at Ulaa!!  Please write me or comment on the blog if you have any comments, quetsions, and/or suggestions.  We would love nothing more than if our readers were a part of the planning process for this up-and-coming Enchanting Challenge-sponsored service trip!!

* All photos taken by Nicholas Cunningham *

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Posted in Animals, Education, Environment, Family Volunteering, Service, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Summer Break, Winter Break | No Comments »

It’s All About Fair Trade, Baby!

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

On Wednesday, February 25th, the BBC ran a story on one of the most important issues facing our world today: the plight of the small farmer and the decision to eat Fairtrade food.  The story was called “Food Crisis Hits Developing World Farms,” and it was written by James Melik.  I want to summarize its main points for you and to dive more into detail on some of the issues raised, as buying and eating Fairtrade food is one of THE best ways we can serve our world…

Food prices are rising all over the world.  It is scary, yes, for everyone involved, but here’s the scariest truth: the small farmers don’t see one penny of the price increase…Which means that yes, we the consumers suffer at the till, but as we cut back on our spending, the farmers suffer even more from our collective cut-backs.  Moreover, the farmers are also struggling as they deal with higher costs for farm necessities like fertilizer.  In many cases farmers are forced to sacrifice what should never have to be sacrificed: healthcare, education for their children, even meals (which seems unbelievable, seeing as they are growing everyone else’s meals).

To put this suffering in perspective, a third of our global population lives on a small farm.  That means that one-third of all the world’s people are suffering in this way.  But there is a solution, and we can all be a part of it.  The solution lies in Fairtrade.

Fairtrade works in a “fair” balance between the market and the farmer.  First Fairtrade systems decide what products are in demand, such as fruit, coffee, vanilla, and spices.  Then it works with the farmers, guaranteeing a steady income as long as the demand for that product is still in existence.  Such a system prevents the chaos that accompanies unsteady markets, such as the markets we are seeing now with the global food crisis.  As Ian Bretman of the Fairtrade Foundation summarizes:

Providing the demand is upheld, farmers are guaranteed an income regardless of volatile prices and that enables them to conduct their business by planning ahead.

Therefore, through buying Fairtrade food products, you are helping provide the producers of our sustenance a steady income.  Moreover, something that often gets overlooked is that with Fairtrade, you are helping to ensure that everyone in the world eats, as we can’t eat if the farmers can’t afford to grow food.

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Here is the great news: the word is spreading and Fairtrade is flourishing.  Despite the global economic crisis and its preceding global food crisis, Fairtrade products are getting more and more popular!  For instance, in the United Kingdom in the past year, consumer demand for Fairtrade prodcuts has jumped by a whopping 43%!  Even more exciting is Fairtrade success in countries like South Africa where Fairtrade is beginning to be demanded by the lower class masses, which is driving the price of Fairtrade products down due to a higher volume of products sold (good news for producer & consumer!!).  Another exciting twist is that many supermarkets are realizing that it is cheaper for them in some cases to stock only one line of an item, and many markets are choosing a Fairtrade line.  What exciting stuff!!!  There are now 4,500 items that are officially marked as Fairtrade, and they keep a-comin!

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But it’s not just good news…We have to be inspired by the good news, but remember the sad news that not every farmer has the chance to be a Fairtrade partner.  Those excluded from this movement are the ones selling their land and/or starving because of unfair trading practices.  We the consumer have the power to demand Fairtrade products, to double the current 4,500 Fairtrade products available, and then double that again!!  Our money is our vote, so let’s spend it wisely, and let’s buy Fairtrade from now on.

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Posted in Education, Environment, Service | 3 Comments »

Power Shift 2009

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

It is always a need to know when a stage in life is over.  If you insist on remaining in it, more than the necessary time, you lose the happiness and sense of the rest…Be brave.  Take risks.  Nothing can substitute experience…The only way to save our dreams is by being generous to ourselves…If you have a past with which you feel dissatisfied, then forget it, now.  Imagine a new story for your life and believe in it.  Focus only on the moments when you acheived what you desired, and that strength will help you get what you want…When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it. ~Paulo Coehlo~

Now is the beginning of a new era, a new era in which we all must join hands to save our world.  If we remain in the past, we will lost our chance, our window of opportunity to make the change that needs to happen.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a 10,000-people-wide effort to not let this chance pass us by, to not let the window close on us, for tomorrow begins POWER SHIFT 2009. 

Power Shift 2009 marks the gathering of 10,000 people in Washington, DC from Friday, February 27th until Monday, March 2nd.  These participants will bring to light energy and climate legislation and rally for Congress and the Administration to support, promote, and pass it.  Here is how they sum up their goal:

Our window of opportunity is short and the first months of the new administration are critical in achieving significant, lasting change.  We must use the time we have to redefine what is politically or financially feasible and achieve what is scientifically and economically necessary to safeguard our future.  Our political moment is now and we must not let it pass us by.

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Over the weekend, Power Shift 2009 will seek to do the following:

  • Urge Congress to pass key energy and climate legislation
  • Hold educational seminars to empower participants with KNOWLEDGE
  • Create and pass a strong Global Climate Agreement that will faciliate international involvement and activism
  • Build partnerships with like-minded organizations and initiatives

A bundle of really amazing people will be speaking to empower Power Shift.  Some of the keynote speakers include the following role models:

  • Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
  • EPA Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson
  • Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD-4)
  • Congressman Ed Markey (MA-7)
  • Majora Carter, President of the green-collar economic consulting frim, The Majora Carter Group, LLC
  • Adam Gardner, Co-Founder of the environmental nonprofit, Reverb (and the singer/guitar player for Guster!!!)

To check out their full agenda, click here.  Power Shift 2009 and all its participants can accomplish all of the things they set out to do, because just like Paulo Coehlo says, “When you want something, the whole world conspires in helping you achieve it.”  

If you live in the Washington, DC area, register today!!!  If you don’t live in the vicinity, but are interested in being involved in Power Shift 2009 and their future efforts, join their shout-outs from the online community!!  Below is a list of all the online venues that you can be a part of!  Good luck!  Here’s to a shift in power for our world!!!

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Posted in Education, Environment, Service | No Comments »

Eco-Serve During Your Spring Break

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

     ”Everthing would be great and everything would be good, if everybody gave like everybody could…”                                      ~My Morning Jacket~

As we all know, we have got to change our world.  And it won’t be one person changing the world; it has to be a collective action.  If we all do a little, the result will be a domino effect of positive change, the quintessential butterfly effect. 

So where can you begin?  With spring break just around the corner, I think this week-long vacation is a perfect opportunity for some community work.  I don’t mean you have to devote your entire, valuable and rare vacation time to service.  But maybe an afternoon of that free week?  Or even a day?  Imagine the change that could happen if all the university students across the country did a little service work during their spring break.  The results would be uncountable. 

Okay, so what are your options?  Well there are service trips, such as Enchanting Challenge’s Educational Ecological Service Trip to Tulum, Mexico.  There are also wonderful service trip opportunities through your university, Break Away, Sierra Club, and Habitat for Humanity. 

And if you can’t give your whole break to service?  Don’t worry–there are PLENTY of shorter-term options.  In yesterday’s post we talked about Leave No Trace eco-service projects you can get involved with, such as educational workshops and/or partnership initiatives with hiking groups and state park services.  Leave No Trace focuses on natural restoration, placing nature as the highest priority on our to-do list.  On their website they have the beautiful Frank Loyd Wright quote: “I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.”  If Mother-Earth is your bag, I recommend contacting Leave No Trace today!

leave-no-trace1(photo taken from the Leave No Trace website)

Another great place to go for eco-service is your state’s department of conservation!  Most of the 50 states have a Department of Conservation, and most of those departments ask for service work to help them accomplish their environmental goals.  For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources asks its citizens to help them in their forest clean-up efforts.  On their website they give their residents the following message:

We can only return our forests to their natural state if we work together to combine our time, energy, and resources to remove existing trash and stop the dumping in our forests.

pa-conservation(photo taken from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources site)

Once again, a call to collective action.  No one can do it alone.  If you think you would like to help your state in its wildlife restoration efforts, I encourage you to visit your state’s department of conservation website and notify them of your desire to help!

Even if you feel that Leave No Trace and/or your state’s department of conservation do not offer programs just right for you, they may be able to point you in the right direction.  Another great resource to check out is the Sierra Club, as the organization has chapters in all 50 states and all of those chapters have lots of local opportunities for you to devote as little or as much of your time as you please. 

Below is a list of some great eco-service initiatives in the US.  Unfortunately, they are state-specific, so are not applicable to all of our readers, but it can help give you an idea of what is out there.

Get Outdoors Nevada (NV)

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Adventure Camp with the Colorado Youth Program (CO)

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Keep El Paso Beautiful (TX)

Kids of the Bay (CA)

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Kids vs. Global Warming (CA)

“Kids Adopt-A-Beach” Cleanup Day (CA)

Village of Round Lake Beach Beautificiation Program (IL)

 

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Posted in Education, Environment, Family Volunteering, Service, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Tulum Eco Spring Break Service Trip | No Comments »

Leave No Trace

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

The clock is ticking: it is officially 3 weeks until the service spring breakers arrive in Tulum, armed and ready for their ecological rescue mission.  We are so thankful for these service breakers (and so is Mother Earth!).  Remember to check the blog after Spring Break (around March 25th or so) for video footage catching the ecoteers in action!  The video clips will get you excited for future Enchanting Challenge service trips (destinations: Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, and MORE!).

BUT, hold the phone: Enchanting Challenge service trips are not the be-all and end-all to service.  Rather, they are exciting opportunities within the realm of service.  Through this blog and through our website, we seek to show you the world of service, and that world stretches far beyond our borders.  Our goal is to bring information about the world of service to your fingertips, and allow you to choose which paths of volunteerism are meant for you.

With time and budget constraints, doing an eco-service trip is not always attainable.  Have no fear though, because there are plenty of eco-service opportunities right in your own backyard.  Honestly.  And one of the best programs is the Leave No Trace State Advocates Initiatives. 

leave-no-trace(photo taken from the Leave No Trace website)

The Leave No Trace nonprofit organization seeks to educate volunteers and its certified trainers how to care for the Earth and how to enjoy its natural earthly offerings in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.  They accomplish their mission through a number of educational programs and training programs that equip their students, volunteers, and employees with skills needed to teach communities about sustainability and also to lead eco-friendly natural educational adventure missions.  Pretty cool, huh? 

leave-no-trace-2(photo taken from the Leave No Trace website)

 More than likely, the Leave No Trace organization has a state advocacy initiative close to you, as they have partnerships in almost all 50 states!   I urge you to visit their state advocacy listings here and see if your state is listed as a partner.  If it is, go ahead and contact the represenative point of contact linked next to your state name to find out more about the Leave No Trace activities goin’ on in your neck o’ the woods.  And, if your state is one of the few not listed, again–have no fear!!! Simply contact their advocate, Dave, at dave@lnt.org for information about programs available to you in your locale!

 Examples of environmental community work that you can partake in through Leave No Trace State Advocacy activities include the following:

  1. Training courses to become a Leave No Trace workshop instructor
  2. Working with Leave No Trace to partner with local scout troops, hiking groups, and state parks to help each organization become more environmentally aware
  3. Blogging for Leave No Trace

If any of these activities sound interesting to you, then you should contact your state Leave No Trace rep today!!  It is a GREAT opportunity for local community ecological service!!

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Posted in Education, Environment, Family Volunteering, Service, Service Abroad, Spring Break, Summer Break, Tulum Eco Spring Break Service Trip, Winter Break | No Comments »

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