The thirteen 2012 AllPeopleBeHappy Volunteer Service Award recipients:
Molly Ortiz participated in Ghana ACT’s education program, teaching English, Math, Science and Computer Skills at McColin’s Primary School in the town of Ho, Ghana. During her 9 week stay, using her passion for athletics and coaching skill, she initiated an after-school basketball program for the 270 children in the school. For Molly’s report,click here.
For 6 weeks, Michelle DeChant worked as a research assistant withGlobal Emergency Care Collaborative at Nyakibale Hospital in Uganda. She assisted each day with the Emergency Department teams as well as helped to develop a research project to improve injury surveillance and prevention of intimate partner violence in the population of patients in East Africa. For Michelle’s report, click here.
Chloe Guss has worked at Indego Africa in New York as an unpaid intern since September 2011 in sales, marketing, and product development. As a result of her background in design and merchandising, Indego Africa has requested that Chloe travel to Rwanda for at least three months to apply her design skills to the further development of new products, expand new markets, and increase the efficiency of production. For Chloe’s report, click here.
This summer Janna Elwell worked with Greenheart Travel, a division of the Center for Cultural Interchange in Malloco, Chile. The specific project was with a community-based organization that gives abandoned, psychologically and physically abused children an opportunity to rebuild their lives by developing self esteemed, love and trust in people. For Janna’s report, click here.
Armani Hawes volunteered with Greenheart Travel, a division of the Center for Cultural Interchange in Ecuador. As a volunteer, she assisted local doctors and nurses in a clinic in Cumbaya and a poor person’s hospital in Quito. She also taught English to children in the small town of Lumbisi. For Armani’s report, click here.
Paola Pardo spent 3 months in Tanzania working as a student leader for Global Student Embassy’s youth leadership program. She helped local students in the Morogoro, Kilakala, and Mzumbe Secondary Schools in the development of agricultural and farming projects, as well as the sustainable support of the Village of Hope Orphanage. For Paola’s report, click here.
Michael Austin traveled to Ethiopia, where he worked with The Kossoye Projectduring its June Great Gardeners Workshops in the town of Gondar, helping to teach the 75 participants. He also worked with the students at the University of Gondar to encourage them to become more involved in the project. He took time touring the countryside and looking at the gardens that had been set up by Kossoye Project as well as the ones that had started in the community as part of the diffusion strategy. For Michael’s report, click here.
In February 2012, Philip Issa began his 1st 4 month volunteer assignment as a Fellow with Kiva. With the AllPeopleBeHappy Volunteer Service Award, he continued volunteering with Kiva through at another four month assignment. Kiva Fellows are assigned to work with a host Microfinance Institution (MFI) to expand its base of clients and funding, improve its services, and implement the practices necessary to fulfill its social purpose in its community. Philip is currently working for Kiva in Ramallah, Palestine. For Philip’s report, click here.
Christopher Kuo, Megan Kelly, and Cynthia Lee volunteered withSupport for International Change to support its mission to limit the impact of HIV/AIDS in underserved communities and to train future leaders in global health and development. These students first undergo intensive training in the US, learning Swahili and all aspects of HIV/AIDS. They then spent 8 weeks in Tanzania, staying with host families in rural communities. During their time in their home villages they will teach about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention in both formal and informal settings, encourage residents to participate in HIV/AIDS testing opportunities, and help reduce the stigma and enhance the acceptance of community members living with HIV/AIDS. For Christopher’s report, click here. For Megan’s report, click here. For Cynthia’s report, click here.
Kauleen Menard volunteered with Village Health Works on an educational initiative launched in early 2012. She spent 6 weeks during the summer in Kigutu, Burundi, observing the primary school teachers training and doing interviews. After returning to US, she wrote a detailed report to VHW providing guidance for interventions, monitoring, and impact measurements. For Kauleen’s report, click here.
Monika Blodgett volunteered with Maya Nut Institute for 6 weeks (November through mid-December) in Nicaragua. She interviewed members of two rural Nicaraguan villages, Cinco Pinos and Versailles, many of whom collect maya nut for income. The survey results are used to assess the impact of the maya nut program. For Monika’s report, click here.