Guyana vs. Tanzania
Guyana
- Near Trinidad (visit family)
- In South America– the Amazon!
- Connect with heritage (at least 1/8th Guyanese)
- Very green (therefore, humid)
- Going in dry-ish season
- Exotic wildlife and flora (the little tree frogs!)
- Project is for 3 months
- Would have to take extra time from work to do optional travel
- But more time spent volunteering – probably more attractive for Master’s program
- High probability of rural living
- High probability of living with Amerindian communities
- Chance to be hermit-like! In a hammock!
- Electricity status very uncertain
- $3900+airfare to fundraise
- No teaching English really required
- No need to learn a new language
- Kaieteur Falls!
- Minimum-medium amount of gear to buy
- Familiar with main religion
- Culture reminds me of T’dad
- Have always wanted to go
- Humidity craps up camera
- Dealing with kids, youth, and adults
- Probably easier to achieve “living here” mindset
January 9 to April 2, 2012; Team of 4
Sectors: Education | Leadership Development | Health
• Increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, STI, sexual health and general hygiene of young people age 12-30.
• Mobilize young people and conduct sensitization workshops on health using community resources.
• Increase the numeracy and literacy skills of young people and adults in the local community.
• Provide teaching support to local schools that are understaffed.
• Work with in-school youth design and implement an after-school literacy program.
• In collaboration with local teachers and youth, develop culturally appropriate teaching aids to assist teachers.
• Conduct basic literacy training for out-of-school youth outside of normal working hours.
• Build the capacity of community leaders to develop and implement community interventions.
• Conduct leadership development training modules for in-school youth. Topics may include: effective communication techniques, basic human rights, the democratic process, team-building and planning exercises, and basic organization and mobilization techniques.
• Conduct leadership and management modules for out-of-school youth. Topics may include basic management, vocational training, communication and team building skills.
Money needed: via Trinidad (spend few days with grandparents); 3 months – $7800
Tanzania
- Away from people I know
- Africa!
- No known heritage connection
- Probably dry and dusty
- Going in mostly dry season
- Deserts and possible beaches!
- The Big 5!
- Project is for 2 months
- Have 1 month to do optional travel; no need to take extra time off
- GAP Adventures tour is $3800 for 14 days (Mt Kilimanjaro trek, Serengeti)
- Less time spent volunteering
- Zanzibar!
- Probably living in Morogoro or Arusha but possibility to get Zanzibar
- Urban living
- People, noise, garbage
- Power outages always a threat
- $3600+airfare to fundraise
- Teaching English and other things
- Need to learn some Swahili
- Medium amount of gear to buy
- Unfamiliar with main religion
- Unfamiliar with culture
- Supposedly crap food/bland/carb heavy
- Dust craps up camera
- Dealing with youth and adults
- Probably harder to achieve “living here” mindset; more of a “visitor” and “let’s go sightseeing”
January 16 –March 12, 2012; Team of 6
Sectors: Livelihoods | Education | Health
• Work with partners to conduct computer training (MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Internet) for marginalized out of school youth including youth with disabilities, youth living with HIV and recovering substance users
• Work with partners to organize health outreach events including SRH, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse to urban and rural areas
• Join with partners to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2012
• Research and develop programs on one or more of the following: youth entrepreneurs, business planning, microfinance and “how to start your own business”
• Work with partners to conduct foreign language and business skills classes including CV/resume development, English, French and Spanish for out of school and marginalized youth
• Along with the Program Manager, explore community initiatives, opportunities and activities to mobilize and engage local youth in formal and informal ways
• Strengthen the capacity of YCI’s partners on various areas including; human resources management, IT, financial management, proposal writing, monitoring and evaluation, and database development
Money needed: full 3 months (1 month for travel) - $12,000; via London (stay with Danyèle) 3 months – $8500; 2 months – $8000
Why I ultimately chose Guyana:
- it was my initial choice
- crap loads cheaper
- can kill 2 birds with one stone (gotta transfer in Trinidad anyway so may as well visit family)
- project is longer by a whole month
- project probably makes me look better and gives me the experience for when I apply to my master’s program
- when next would I get a chance to live with an Amerindian community? In the Amazon?
