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    The Impact of Volunteering Abroad

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    linaarjona

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    The Impact of Volunteering Abroad

    Uploaded by

    linaarjona
    4 views2 pages

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    4 views2 pages

    The Impact of Volunteering Abroad

    Uploaded by

    linaarjona

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    3.

    The Impact of Volunteering Abroad: A Journey in Education


    and Community Empowerment

    Ladies and gentlemen, we need to spread awareness.

    I am truly honored to have the chance to share my recent experience


    participating in an international volunteering program. Volunteering
    presents an incredible opportunity for personal growth and new
    perspectives. Today, I’d like to walk you through the program I chose,
    the challenges I encountered, and the lessons I gained from it. This will
    hopefully provide valuable insight for anyone considering taking part in
    such a transformative journey.

    The program I joined focused on education and community


    development. It’s important to note that volunteering abroad offers a
    wide range of opportunities, such as Environmental Conservation,
    Healthcare Services, Youth and Sports Development, among others. In
    my case, I had the opportunity to work with low-income populations,
    helping improve the infrastructure of their homes and the quality of
    education in a small, rural area of Turkey.

    In 2022, Turkey experienced a devastating earthquake that displaced


    thousands of people, damaging homes, schools, roads, and essential
    infrastructure. The economic and social crisis that followed still affects
    the country today. Even two years later, the shortage of resources has
    delayed the rebuilding of schools, leaving many children without
    education. Witnessing these circumstances moved me to offer my
    support. I knew the journey would be challenging, but I asked myself:
    How can I stand by, knowing I have the ability, the strength, and the
    knowledge to help?

    One of my biggest challenges was gaining the trust of the local


    community. The people there were understandably desperate and
    vulnerable, and on top of that, there were language barriers, cultural
    differences, and scarce resources. It took time, patience, and
    persistence, but with dedication, we learned their language and
    gradually built meaningful relationships with the people.

    I focused on three core strategies throughout my time there. First, I


    invested significant effort into learning essential phrases and words in
    their language to enhance communication. Second, I prioritized cultural
    sensitivity and respect. I made it a point to converse with community
    members, especially the children, to better understand their culture,
    needs, and dreams. Finally, resourcefulness and creativity became key in
    tackling the lack of educational materials. I began creating activities with
    whatever resources were available and collaborated with local
    organizations to secure donations of educational supplies, as well as
    materials to help rebuild homes.

    Through this work, we were able to help families transition from


    damaged shelters to safe, stable homes. Children who previously didn’t
    understand basic math concepts began to learn how to manage
    everyday tasks, like handling purchases at local markets, for themselves
    and their families.

    From this experience, I learned how crucial it is to raise awareness in


    others. It doesn’t take a fortune to make a difference; the world is full of
    inequities, and education is the most powerful tool we have to fight
    them.

    To the younger generation, the future is in our hands. We hold the power
    to decide whether we want to be the ones who heal the world or
    contribute to its destruction.

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