|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Living for others has always been a personal attribute of mine; I have forever been motivated by the positive effect we can have on others' lives. This principle has inspired me to become more involved in my community and to dedicate the next several months to fundraising and preparation to go on an international volunteer journey to Costa Rica. The Project: Working with YCI's partner organization Reto Juvenil Internacional, I will be spending three weeks in the small village of Santa Maria de Dota. With my team of seven other volunteers from across Canada, I will be involved in activities focused on economic and social development. This includes leadership development of the local youth, environmental and waste management education, English and computer instruction, building projects, awareness of inequality in the workplace, Youth and Women's Action Conferences, building or improving basic infrastructure (health posts, schools), and other activities and workshops to promote leadership and improve self-esteem. I will be living in very modest, shared accommodations in Santa Maria de Dota with my team. I have heard from previous volunteers that it is a very humbling setting, as the house may be very basic, have no or poor plumbing, lots of insects, and meager insulation. The rural village has about 12,000 people and is very quiet, with one soccer field, a church, one café, and lots of coffee farms. They say you can hear the coffee drying! I am excited to meet the locals and experience every aspect of their community and culture. About Me: I am a business student at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC with a focus in Human Resources Management. I am currently completing a second work term with the City of Kelowna in the HR department as the Co-op Human Resources Assistant. This has been a very rewarding and educational experience for me, and has fostered my decision in pursuing a career in HR. I am a self-starter, dedicated, and creative person and I thrive with a challenge. I love meeting new people, and look forward to building friendships and sharing experiences of a lifetime with the people I will be working with in Costa Rica. I have never been on an airplane, or travelled internationally, so this excursion will put me outside of my comfort zone. I am prepared to face the challenges of this opportunity; including but not limited to language barriers, few amenities, lack of internet and technology, intense physical labour, extreme climate, mosquitoes, scorpions, culture shock, and lots of fundraising! In preparation, I will be hosting awareness and fundraising events. In addition to the program costs (the $2500 shown here), I must also raise money to pay for all expenses such as airfare, insurance, vaccinations, transportation, equipment, travel documents, and other expenses associated with volunteering internationally. My goal is to raise $7250 to cover all costs. Please help me develop leaders in Costa Rica, educate on environmental issues, and promote economic and social development. Be a part of the positive change I wish to be in our world.
|
 |
89 TIG profile views
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About Me
Friends
Active Rank: #1250
Chae Ratzlaff's Content
