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So you wanna be…a Volunteer?
Annalisa Lazzaro
Volunteer - Habitat for Humanity
Q. Who are you volunteering with and where?
A. I’m going to Lesotho in southern Africa with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program.
Q. What does your volunteer work involve involve? Give us a rundown of what you do in a typical day.
A. Habitat for Humanity works with families and volunteers to build decent, affordable homes for people in need. The Global Village program sends groups of volunteers to countries around the world to build homes and experience the local culture.
Every day is different, depending on where your group goes, but in Lesotho we’ll be waking up early and eating breakfast at our hotel before traveling to the work site. My group will be building homes in the town.
After the workday, we’ll stop back at the hostel for showers and dinner and then do some kind of cultural activity, like visiting a church or school (if we can stay awake!)
Q. What’s the best thing about your volunteering overseas?
A. I love to travel, and working alongside the future homeowners lets me see the country in a way that I couldn’t experience as a tourist. It also makes me really grateful for what I have - I always come back with a new appreciating of hot showers and microwave pizza!
Q. Any downsides?
A. This isn’t luxury travel! You might not have electricity or running water. But that’s part of the adventure. You have to have a sense of humour about it and not get frustrated when your bus has to stop for sheep in the road.
Q. How did you get involved?
A. I’ve worked with Habitat for Humanity on a lot of local projects around New York, so I was already familiar with what they did, and I liked their philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout.” When I found out about the Global Village programme, I kept checking the website until I found the trip I wanted to join.
Q. Did you study / do you need to study?
A. You don’t need any specific skills to work with Habitat (not even construction), but you should have some background knowledge about the place you’re visiting. It helps you get more out of the experience, and I think it’s respectful of the culture to make the effort to learn some of the language and customs.
Q. What qualities do you admire most in a person?
A. I’m impressed by people who can handle any situation without getting flustered or frustrated or scared.
Q. Can you pass on 3 tips for success to teenage girls?
A. Don’t be afraid to do things on your own. People are sometimes surprised that I do things alone, like travelling or taking a class or trying a new sport. But you meet some interesting people that way!
If you can find a way to travel, do it. Spending time outside my own country has made me see the world in a different way, be more understanding of differences, and appreciate what I have at home.
If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. You get out of things what you put into them - whether it’s work, school, or a sport.
For info about Habitat for Humanity’s New Zealand projects check out their website www.habitat.org.nz
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I would love to do volunteer work to help rehabilitate animals who have been hurt or help stop animal cruelty and the dolphin and whale killing in Japan! Posted by POWERBALLIN25 "on" 08/13 "at"01:03 AM |
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I done Voluntary work since i was like 8, through girl guides, but i really want to go overseas and help! Posted by Xxc0rtxX "on" 08/12 "at"02:42 PM |
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Want* Posted by Xxc0rtxX "on" 08/12 "at"02:41 PM |
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one day i wan to be able to do stuff like this! Posted by Xxc0rtxX "on" 08/12 "at"02:40 PM |
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sorry last one i promise, lol…well done am so inspired and impressed, i really am. Posted by tkennard "on" 08/12 "at"01:58 PM |
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and i hope oneday i can be just like you… Posted by tkennard "on" 08/12 "at"01:58 PM |
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*hugz* to you i think you are an amazing person Posted by tkennard "on" 08/12 "at"01:57 PM |
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fantastic…well done gurl, thats awesome Posted by tkennard "on" 08/12 "at"01:57 PM |
Best of the rest
