First (of many) KGSA video update

July 12, 2010

Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, Kenya
Jake Naughton

This is a short video I put together pretty quickly for a video challenge that I did not win (oh well). BUT it helped me learn Final Cut and I am now using those skills to edit together MUCH better videos about this incredible school!

Look for more stories and video updates to come.

My volunteer experience in Cusco, Peru...

July 10, 2010

... can be explored in detail in my blog here!

Indira Ranamagar of Prisoners Assistance Nepal Interview

July 10, 2010

PA Nepal, Nepal
Alan Burns

 A short piece from my development education documentary. Indira Ranamagar of Prisoners Assistance Nepal talks to me about the work she does, her story and some of the problems in Nepal.

6-21-10

June 29, 2010

Hogar de Esperanza Orphanage, Peru
Jennifer Turner

Changes...    (jenenperu.blogspot.com)Coming home to the albergue after my trip through southern Peru and Bolivia was a bittersweet ordeal. I was sad that such a perfect vacation was coming to an end and that Steve was going to have to leave soon to go home to the States; but, at the same time, I was looking forward to getting back to work and seeing all the kids again, and was really excited for Steve to finally meet everyone at the albergue.Before his flight back, Steve spent three days hanging out with me in Trujillo and volunteering at the albergue,...

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Here Goes Nothing...

June 28, 2010

LHA, India
Anoop Jain

I just quit my job. It feels weird to be sitting at home on a Monday morning, when I could be in some meeting. For the past year, I have been working at an engineering company in Chicago. But for the past year, I have also been working to raise money to build a community kitchen for Tibetan refugees in northern India. While I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity gave me, I finally feel like I am following my passion. The reason I quit my job is to turn this "side" project of mine in to a full time job. Service work has always been the biggest part of my life, and I am so happy that I can finally dedicate every...

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Extreme Home Make Over Pisco

June 26, 2010

Pisco Sin Fronteras, Peru
Lisa Bradford

I don’t normally write blogs or anything like this because I have never been very good at it, but since I have been at PSF I have been doing a lot of things that I didn’t think I would ever be able to do, so I thought why not try this as well.I spent three weeks at PSF and worked on two different projects. The first was a multi functional sports field fundraised by 3 volunteers, named Super Fun Town. I spent a week and a half working on this project, which 15-20 volunteers went out  a day to pour the 50 concrete slabs necessary to make the field big enough to be a football/basketball/ volleyball court. The community that...

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First month in Peru with Pisco Sin Fronteras

June 25, 2010

Pisco Sin Fronteras, Peru
Michael Blankenship

It was a good moment, watching Delia turn around the corner to see her new house for the first time.  And it was hard not to just define the last four weeks of volunteer work in Peru in that moment alone.  Honestly though, the weeks have been full of projects--there's so much to do in a place like this that it's difficult to even stop and take a breather.  And yet, this weekend will be my first vacation since I've been here.  I'm going to Huacachina, a nearby oasis.  (Fortunately some kind person has loaned me the money to go.) I'm not sure what I'll find there but the others have been there...

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Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Pisco plus more

June 25, 2010

Pisco Sin Fronteras, Peru
Tom Janes

Hey there Omprakash folks, this is a blog that I put up on my site www.offexploring.com/tom-janes, just wantedto share this with you guys so that you can see what a great job we are doing here at Pisco Sin Fronteras. I have had a truly excellent past few days, can't wait to tell you all about it!Just Another Manic Monday!So I did my last blog on Monday evening, shortly after which I remembered that I had arranged to go round to Michael's house for dinner. This had been postponed on Saturday, so we were a little reluctant to go in case we weren't completely welcome. After ringing him up we decided to go because his wife had already...

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How to use our website!

June 20, 2010

Omprakash,
Willy Oppenheim

This video is meant to help Omprakash Partners learn how to use our website more effectively.  Check it out!

Work and fun at PSF

June 18, 2010

Pisco Sin Fronteras, Peru
Tom Janes

Buenas dias!!! That's Spanish for 'ow do! Welcome to part four of my blog about my work and times at Pisco sin Fronteras. It has been an interesting start to the week, been on four different projects in four days and was today put in charge of my second project which I will tell you all about!Return to SFTWith my first project as leader completed and still feeling a little worse for wear after Huacachina, I set off for an easy day at Super Fun Town, which regular readers of my blog will know is a multi-sports facility (or a big slab of concrete you may say!) that we're building for the poorer district of Tupac Amaru....

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Volunteer: Prof. Margaret Andrews, Canada

June 17, 2010

Parijat Academy, India
Uttam Teron

A Canadian Volunteer in AssamI am a retired Canadian university professor of history and have just returned from my second volunteer experience in Assam. I taught spoken English at Parijat Academy last October and returned in April of this year to help at Prajnalaya Academy and Asha Darshan.Uttam Teron of Parijat was my initial contact in Assam and I learned of him and his work through the Omprakash Foundation website. I had been to India a number of times, but never to the northeastern states, and his school provided a perfect introduction to the area. I am deeply indebted to him and his family for...

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Maoist Strike (Bandh)

June 14, 2010

 We are now in day 6 of the indefinite strike, so as expected this week has been an unproductive one. It is a well-enforced bandh, which has brought the whole country to a stand still, the streets are full of wandering Kathmandu residents and void of any traffic. Everything is closed which makes the simplest of everyday tasks a real chore. In terms of my documentary it has really grinded to a halt. I did a lot of editing and work on the script that has actually been really useful as now the documentary’s structure and several scenes are nearing completion. However, there are still gaps in which I still need footage and interviews...

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shanti-leprahilfe

June 14, 2010

 I had been trying to contact an organisation called Shanti for some time (Dr Singh and the free medical clinic) and had been awaiting permission from the German donors to film their operations. They contacted me and we scheduled a tour/interview for thursday morning. The organisation provides free medical assistance to the disadvantaged and needy members of Nepali society. Many of whom are physically disabled mostly from leprocy.The work they do is absolutely amazing, their facility has three large buildings, two of those buildings are workshops where the patients have been given actual jobs to suit their capabilities. It was incredible...

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Interview with Bridging Year Intern

June 08, 2010

SAEP, South Africa
Emma Cape

Interview with Jane Keen, Director of SAEP

June 08, 2010

SAEP, South Africa
Emma Cape

South African Township Primary School Marimba Band -Clip 2

June 07, 2010

Amy Biehl Foundation, South Africa
Emma Cape

South African Township Primary School Marimba Band -Clip 1

June 07, 2010

Amy Biehl Foundation, South Africa
Emma Cape

South African Township High School Marimba Band

June 07, 2010

Amy Biehl Foundation, South Africa
Emma Cape

South African Township Student Dancing Clip 2

June 07, 2010

Amy Biehl Foundation, South Africa
Emma Cape

S

South African Township Student Dancing Clip 1

June 07, 2010

Amy Biehl Foundation, South Africa
Emma Cape

Futbol at Paulino Salgado

June 07, 2010

Colegio Paulino Salgado, Colombia
Brett Rezek

 Futbol (soccer) is one of the most popular and influential sports in the entire world and Colegio Paulino Salgado is not unlike most schools in Colombia that place a great deal of value on the sport. Each day at recess the children play on the concrete with the one ball shared by 600 students until it is lost over the patio walls. Sometimes the ball makes it back to the school and sometimes not.To alleviate the dependence on a single ball, we were lucky enough to receive 20 brand new Nike soccer balls with two pumps and a ball bag  by the Fort Lewis College Men's Soccer Team delivered in person by their Head Coach Oige Kennedy....

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Peru 2010 Blog (Day 7 - Day 9)

June 07, 2010

Pisco Sin Fronteras, Peru
Alex Rodrigues

Day 8 - June 1stToday was going to be our first day in Pisco. On August, 15 2007, Pisco was hit with an 8.4 earthquake that devastated the city damaging 80% of the buildings in the city. The partner we were visiting here was Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF). PSF is a very large volunteer organization that has been aiding in the reconstruction of Pisco for the past couple years. This organization was a continuation of ¨Burners Without Borders,¨ an organization that brought relief to Pisco in the wake of the earthquake in ´07.I was anxious to see the city and PSF to assess the current situation in Pisco. As we drove through...

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Winter sets in...

June 05, 2010

Hogar de Esperanza Orphanage, Peru
Jennifer Turner

May so far has been a bumpy ride. Obviously, the Mothers' Day holiday and the weeks leading up to it was a hard time for many of the kids at the albergue. I think it was a difficult time for the volunteers and staff members as well, especially because everyone at the albergue seems to be getting sick these days. The same illnesses keep getting passed around from person to person until they've made their way back to where they started from before anyone has enough time to fully recover. This has definitely been the case for us in Kinder.Maricielo came in to class with a runny nose and a cough three weeks ago, and despite the abundant...

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Peru - Huancayo

June 03, 2010

Expand Peru, Peru
Chiara Nosse

Day 1 (5/24) - After a long day of travel that began early this morning, we (Vance, Alex, Jon, and I) landed in Lima around 9pm, and met up with our guide (Gaby).  Then we headed to our Hostel in Mira Flores, Lima. :)  After taking a few minutes to refresh, we headed out to find some dinner.  On the way we got to see a quick glimpse of the city at night.  So grateful to be here!!!!Day 2 (5/25) - Today we did a quick city tour of Lima and then headed to Expand Peru in Huancayo on a fairly long bus ride.  On the bus ride we watched Life is Beautiful, The Aviator, and August Rush, as well as slept...

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Volunteering in Assam with Asha Darshan

May 31, 2010

Asha Darshan, India
Margaret Andrews

 In April and May 2010 I spent three weeks with Biju Borbaruah and Asha Darshan, staying first in Kumarikata, and then in Tamulpur and Guwahati. My initial task as a volunteer was to lead a six-day training program in spoken English. The participants were either teachers from Asha Darshan schools or Asha Darshan staff. I then visited eleven of the twelve Asha Darshan schools and wrote a report on each, describing both the schools' condition and improvements requested by the teachers. I also took illustrative photographs. The most inadequate school was completely surrounded by water in the wet season and consisted of one large room with...

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Volunteering in Assam with Asha Darshan

May 31, 2010

Asha Darshan, India
Margaret Andrews

 In April/May 2010, I spent three weeks with Biju Borbaruah and Asha Darshan, staying first in Kumarikata, and then in Tamulpur and Guwahati. My initial task as a volunteer was to lead a six-day training program in spoken English. The participants were either teachers from Asha Darshan schools or Asha Darshan staff. I then visited eleven of the twelve Asha Darshan schools and wrote a report on each, describing both the schools' condition and improvements requested by the teachers. I also took illustrative photographs. The most inadequate school was completely surrounded by water in the wet season and consisted of one large room...

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Peru Blog 2010 (Day 1-Day 7)

May 26, 2010

Expand Peru, Peru
Alex Rodrigues

Hello everyone! It is currently around 11PM on May 24th and I am too anxious to fall asleep. We leave tomorrow morning at 2:30AM and travel up to LAX where we will then fly to Lima. All 4 of us, myself, Chiara N, Jon L, and Vance W, are very excited to be leaving to go to Peru. Please stay posted for updates as often as possible and some potential video or pictures.Day 1 - May 25th:We all rolled out of bed and into the car this morning to go to LAX. We flew to Lima throuhg Miami and made it here around 9PM. After a little bit of difficulty, we found our guide Gabriella. We then jumped in a car and traveled to our hostal...

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Paulino Salgado in the News

May 25, 2010

Colegio Paulino Salgado, Colombia
Brett Rezek

After visits from American NGOs, several cultural events and meetings with local government officials, three times in the newspaper and once on TV isn’t a bad record for a small underprivileged school in Colombia. El Heraldo, the biggest paper in Barranquilla, has featured the students, the principal, and the volunteer from Paulino Salgado and has helped in our efforts to creating local awareness about the plight of displaced and ignored communities. Please have a look at our school and project in the news! The articles are in Spanish but I’d be happy to translate if anyone is interested. Please let me know.www.elheraldo.com.co/ELHERALDO/BancoConocimiento/0/0futuro_a_ta_ku_suto_el_futuro_esta_con_nosotros/0futuro_a_ta_ku_suto_el_futuro_esta_con_nosotros.aspThis...

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Good News From Colombia

May 25, 2010

Colegio Paulino Salgado, Colombia
Brett Rezek

As most of the world knows, Colombia has not only suffered from a violent history of civil conflict, but is now infested with corruption at all levels of business and government. The violence has led to the displacement of many minority communities in the south and the corruption prevents those in power from helping displaced persons. Many students attending Colegio Paulino Salgado are AfroColombian children from displaced communities who on a daily basis experience the negligence of the local government. This year however, surprisingly enough, things have changed for the better. Denny Lloreda, the principal of Paulino Salgado as well...

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It's the Hard-Knock Life...

May 12, 2010

Hogar de Esperanza Orphanage, Peru
Jennifer Turner

Before graduating from Purdue last December I found myself being asked on a daily basis about my plans for the future. When I told people that my post-college plans did not include getting a job nor applying for graduate school, but that I was instead going to go live in an orphanage in Peru ("No, not Peru, Indiana, Peru the country, as in South America"), I got a lot of different responses. I remember a couple of friends cracking some innocent jokes about the grimness of orphanage life, as popularized by Oliver Twist ("Please, sir, can I have some more?") and the musical Annie, in which the orphan girls sing, "It's...

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Adoption, Despedidas, and Easter eggs...(March & April at the Albergue)

May 03, 2010

Hogar de Esperanza Orphanage, Peru
Jennifer Turner

(For the full version and photos, visit my blog at http://jenenperu.blogspot.com )lunes 3 de mayo de 2010Hogar de Esperanza...Home at Last!I know, I know, it's been a REALLY long time since I've posted anything new, over a month in fact, and I appologize for the delay. Simultaneous spare time and a decent internet connection come to me far less frequently here than I had hoped and planned for.Today marks the end of my 9th week living and volunteering at the Albergue Infantil Hogar de Esperanza in Trujillo, Peru! I'm amazed by how fast time seems to fly by here,...

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Bonding

April 28, 2010

Colegio Paulino Salgado, Colombia
Brett Rezek

The most rewarding part of being an international volunteer is looking into the eyes of the people you work with, in my case children of all ages, and realizing that not only do they appreciate what you are doing but they rely on your friendship. I am an English teacher at Colegio Paulino Salgado in Barranquilla, Colombia but I don´t view the kids as just my students: They are my friends. We have exchanged stories, laughed together, argued, listened to music, teased eachother, played games, danced and helped eachother learn a foreign language. I miss them on the weekends, we wave to eachother in the street, we eat our lunch...

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April 16

April 16, 2010

AFCECO, Afghanistan
Ian Pounds

 16 April The seeds that my sister-in-law gave me to bring for the children to sow are now sprouting in the garden of Mehan orphanage.  Though I lobbied hard for the tomatoes and cucumbers, the children prefer the flowers, so this summer we will enjoy a dazzling display of nasturtium and daisies and calendula and violets.  I step out of the old white Toyota wagon into the courtyard, my cittern in hand, my satchel full of lessons and lyrics and markers strapped to my shoulder, and I put my right hand over my heart.  The guards greet me first.  They are from small villages, they have seen horrors, family members...

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Barranquilla, Colombia

April 13, 2010

Colegio Paulino Salgado, Colombia
Brett Rezek

Currently I am in Colombia on my very first international volunteer project, and I am very pleased to be working with Omprakash.  So far, my time in Barranquilla has been exciting, stressful, tiring, and fun, but most of all it has been rewarding. I will never beable to express the true feeling of helping those in need and I would hope that everyone, at least once in their life, gets the chance to lend a hand either to their local community or to those abroad.The project I am with, Colegio Paulino Salgado, was in need of a native English speaker to help with their curriculum. After a very quick application process...

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9 April

April 09, 2010

AFCECO, Afghanistan
Ian Pounds

 9 AprilI wrap my new black and white scarf over my head and step out from my little classroom, onto the rooftop of the guesthouse where I now live.  It is a clear, crisp spring morning.  There is still snow in the mountains to the west.  It is Juma, things are ...

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Let Us Play

April 07, 2010

As R and L are interchangeable here, this is what the kids say as they bow their little heads and fold their little hands to give thanks for the ugi. Ugi is a corn porridge provided daily at Judith's chekichea (preschool).It tastes like cream of wheat (sort of). I'm back in Mbeya, but returning to Ngonga on Thursday. Have a ton of stuff to do before I return, but I'm excited about being in Ngonga and about the project. And especially excited about sitting on the porch in the morning, drinking my coffee, and waching the cows in the yard, and the pigs and the chickens. It's rural sana so will try to get...

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Living with the kids

April 07, 2010

 Aloha everyone, I'm great, having fun, on my own with 105 kids, staff, and whoever else comes to me with whatever it is. Got here almost a week ago, but it feels like I've been here forever. I've never had people try so hard to make me happy. I've already had 2 kids ask if I'd be their mother. One little girl, Josephine, 10 yrs old, was sitting out with me waiting for the shower. It started to rain and she ran in and got a cover for my head. Shes one of the ones who asked me to be her mommy. Too sweet. These kids are working on me, that's for sure.So far Ive seen a bunch of ear infections, multiple malaria, a BP of 240/120, which...

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Peeing on a Moving Train

April 06, 2010

 Just got back from Zambia, where we went for Carlee's visa run. If the train had stalled one more day we would have officially spent more time in transit than we spent in Lusaka (capital of Zambia). All the warning signs were there, we just failed to heed them. How it happened:1. Despite all the train related horror stories we've heard about Tazara (Tanzania Zambia Railway), we opted to try anyway. It's very cheap, and you get to see alot of the country. It's rainy season now,and everything is so green and beautiful.The train office was closed for two days, first was Uhuru Day, (Tz Independence...

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Finding a place :D

April 03, 2010

 I'm going to India in August and so excited for it. I'm going to work at a hotel something that would only benefit me in the future. As I have always wanted to volunteer during my gap year and working at a hotel clearly isn't doing that so I decided I was going to stay in India for longer and volunteer. Whilest doing my research I came across 'omprakash' which made my year basically. Now I am going to volunteer at Sevalaya at an orphanage probably teaching english. I'm so happy I found the place cos everywhere else one has to pay a huge sum of money to volunteer. So now my trip to India is going to benefit me for my future career as well...

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2 April

April 02, 2010

AFCECO, Afghanistan
Ian Pounds

 2 AprilI am a lover of stories.  I see a man with half his arm missing, pointing the accusatory stub of what remains at the river of Toyotas pushing their way against him through Khoti Sani, Kabul, and I see a story.  The man for whom I can honestly use the word “ancient” in deference to the marks on his face and his cane and the bend in his back, even though he may be my age, he too conjures up a story.  And the children everywhere, the ones that are homeless selling what they find in the dumpster, wiping windows, reaching empty hands.  I was always drawn to the destitute and the innocent. ...

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First month at Hogar de Esperanza

March 31, 2010

Hogar de Esperanza Orphanage, Peru
Jennifer Turner

My name is Jennifer Turner, and I am a recent college graduate of Purdue University. The Omprakash Foundation was generous enough to award me with a Volunteer Grant in December 2009 to spend six months volunteering at the Hogar de Esperanza orpahange in Trujillo, Peru.Before I left the States, I was able to raise several hundred dollars in donations for the children Hogar de Esperanza, in addition to several bags of school supplies and gently used clothing, thanks in great part to some generous friends and relatives.After spending two weeks traveling Ecuador, I have now been at Hogar de Esperanza for one month, and it's already...

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My History with AES

March 30, 2010

 For over a year, I have co-led the group AES (also an Omprakash partner), which has been very successful. Since the creation of the Surya Project, AES has feidl tested 3 solar units, sold one to a partner, and has partnered with students in 3 other nations. 

I have been involved in the planning, construction, and distribution of the alternative energy sources since day 1. Please see Alternative Energy Sources for more information.

Parijat Academy a small school for the underprivileged children

March 25, 2010

Parijat Academy, India
Uttam Teron

Parijat AcademyA small school for the underprivileged tribal children. It was founded in 2003. It is non profit school. Providing free education. There are currently 52 children studing from Nursery to Class 10. Parijat Academy is following Assam Education Board. Though is an Assamese school , we included  English and Hindi from Class I.Subjects taught at Parijat:  Assamese, English, Hindi,  Maths, Science, Social Studies, Environmental Science.School Time: 9am to 2 pmWorking days: Monday to SaturdaySunday: art  activity.Parijat AcademyPamohi, P.O. Garchuk, Guwahati-781035,...

Teacher Taining at Parijat Academy

March 25, 2010

Parijat Academy, India
Uttam Teron

Ravi Aluganti of Andhra Pradesh, India recently visited Parijat Academy to  conduct Teacher Training on Activity Base Learning at Parijat for the teacher. Ravi  taught  lot of new things to our school  taecher. He taught  the teacher to be  friendly with  children, need to understand their problem. Using  many small small teaching materials while conducting  the training. 

Ravi is runing a  Project in  Andhra Pradesh called Akhsara. He is also Fellow of Asha  for Education.  

Volunteering at La Esceula Yachay Wasi, Quito Ecuador, September 20 – December 20 2009

March 23, 2010

Yachay Wasi, Ecuador
Greg Conyers

 Volunteering at La Esceula Yachay Wasi, Quito Ecuador, September 20 – December 20 2009"A child said What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands; How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he."The children at Yachay Wasi might have an answer to the question, or at least they would know where to look. "Cuida las plantas" is the morning’s traditional prayer: take care of plants and mother earth. Send both rain and sun. Water especially, "porque el agua està acabando", the water is going away. Indeed, this autumn was one of, if not the,...

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Sharing the experience

March 23, 2010

Las Sonrisas de los Niños, Honduras
Karin Schmidt

Hello everyone!Omprakash has made some changes to the website and this has encouraged me to update everyone on my experience this summer volunteering in Honduras with Las Sonrisas de los Ninos. My experience this summer without a doubt was one of my most memorable and influential experiences. I have family on the island of Utila off the coast of Honduras, but before this summer I had never explored the mainland of Honduras. Upon arriving in La Ceiba, it actually hit me that I was in Honduras and would spend the next month volunteering. I could have never imagined the relationships I would form with the kids, the leaders of the organization...

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Karibu Kenya with SOTENI International

March 18, 2010

Hi all!My name is Peter Mattson, and I am leaving for Kenya on February 1st, 2010 for three months under Omprakash's partner, SOTENI. Before entering Middlebury as a freshman, I decided to take a gap year and became a certified EMT in the fall. I also interned in December with the Institute of Human Virology, where I met the only board-certified infectious disease doctor in all of Kenya. As a result, I decided to go to the African country to volunteer under SOTENI for the spring term of my gap year.In Kaswahili, SOTENI means "all of us together," and is an organization that strives to reduce HIV and poverty in rural...

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India Book Distribution 2008

March 13, 2010

Omprakash,
Simone Schmidlkofer

  During June, July, and August of 2008, we organized and participated in the distribution of over 200,000 children’s books to different schools and libraries throughout India. The idea for this project was born during the previous summer, when conversations with many of our partners in India revealed a consistent desire to obtain high quality fiction and non-fiction books to supplement the official English-language curriculum. In autumn 2007, we discovered ...

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Volunteer teaching in India

March 04, 2010

SECMOL, India
Margaret Andrews

Volunteer teaching in India grew naturally for me from traveling there with organized tours. After a number of Indian tours, I came to feel that although I had seen the tourist highlights, I still knew little about the Indian people; I wanted to have some sort of sustained contact. At first, I volunteered through two well-known volunteer organizations. They provide security for the neophyte volunteer arranging for housing, transportation, and teaching placements. Their local staff listened to our frustrations and calmed our anxieties. My fellow volunteers provided a different sort of security. We spoke the same language literally and figuratively;...

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Working at Springdales Public School

March 04, 2010

Springdales, India
Jake Springer

My name is Jake Springer from Brunswick, Maine and I was an Omprakash volunteer working at Springdales Public School in Wakha-Mulbekh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Relying on generous friends and family here in the U.S. I was able to raise about $2000 for Springdales. Although I allowed for donations to be earmarked for certain projects, all of the money made its way into a general fund which the Principal and I distributed to cover the school's immediate needs.

An amazing life changing experience

March 04, 2010

La Escuelita de Esperanza, Costa Rica
Dominique Johnson

I just returned from an amazing life changing experience at La Escuelita and am a few days away from a semester abroad in Amsterdam. I am writing because while at La Escuelita I made a documentary style mini-movie that I am using to promote both La Escuelita and Omprakash to the schools and recreational centers I have been working with in Baltimore. I would like you all to view the video as I would love to brainstorm a way to make this documentary a success and begin to spread the word for continued and prosperous growth for both causes (granted you all like the video and see some potential). I would really love some feedback and can provide...

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Working with disadvantaged children in Kathmandu

March 04, 2010

Just One, Nepal
Alan Burns

Hi, my name is Alan Burns a multimedia student from Ireland and a recent applicant of an Opmrakash volunteer grant. I received $1500 to travel to Nepal to work for a small non-governmental organization call just-one, who works with disadvantaged children in Kathmandu.I was in Nepal for just over two months (4thjune- 11thAug), and I must say it was the best decision I have ever made. Volunteer work can change your entire outlook on life, and as long as it is approached in an open-minded non-patronizing fashion it can be one of the most positive decisions you can ever make. However, it is not for everyone so carefully decide if its right...

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Beginning the Development of a New School

March 04, 2010

Helping Hands, Peru
Vance Walstra

Through Omprakash, I was able to connect directly with Helping Hands of Cusco, Peru. After planning a volunteer project with Helping Hands, I was awarded a grant to travel to Peru. While in Peru, I was able to fundraise over $5,000 to begin the development of a new school. I also had the pleasure of traveling around the country and establishing more partnerships for Omprakash with various grass roots organizations who could benefit from such a relationship. I now continue to support Omprakash and the organizations in Peru by fundraising and talking with high-schools and colleges around the United States about service-learning and volunteering...

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