Volunteer to Volunteer

Linda Szeto recently fired up the Village Volunteers group on Facebook. Over the past week, she and I have been trading questions and experiences, some of which I include here…
August 22

Hi Kim!
I went to Kenya through Village Volunteers this summer, and had the best time getting to know the people, environment, culture, languages, and most [...]

Kiva’s $10 Million Giveaway

Newlyweds Matt and Jessica Flannery mesh different life desires into a workable solution - for themselves AND for the greater good.

She wanted to learn micro-finance in Africa.
He wanted to devolop internet start-ups in Silicon Valley.
Together, and with friend Premal Shah, they created an easily accessible, no-fee, no-interest, micro-lending program.

KIVA which, in Swahili, means “unity,” more importantly means changing lives in impoverished countries for the [...]

What’s with the Name?

ALFAJIRI (Swahili): That time of day when morning light has begun to shine but the sun has not yet risen
For me, this symbolizes my limited but growing field of vision regarding the struggles of impoverished people.
My Mission
In this pre-dawn light, my waking mind seeks to understand the global issues surrounding poverty, and to implement sustainable economic and social solutions. There is much to learn before [...]

What Was I Thinking?

The last from my journal
on the train to Buffalo
August 1, 2007, 12:00 A.M.
Once I return from Africa, reading through my pre-trip expectations should prove interesting. I jot a few here with anticipation of a more poignant reality to come…

Heat, lots of it
Hot, humid, lingering odors - livestock, people, the lou
Mosquitoes
Immense, true and valuable joy for all triumphs great and small
The [...]

What’s a Girl to Do?

Continued from my journal
on the train to Buffalo
(with additional web editorial)
August 1, 2007, 11:00 A.M.
Yesterday, I stumbled upon an organization called Village Volunteers offering placements in Ghana, Kenya, India and Nepal. This last destination raised Tim’s eyebrows as he envisioned the view of Everest, but since I’m flying solo, I’m drawn more to Africa.  
When I graduated from high school, I dreamed of joining [...]

How it Began

A page from my journal
(with additional web editorial)
Rensselaer Train Station, NY
August 1, 2007, 9:15 A.M.
I’ve been reading my favorite book, Adventure Divas by Holly Morris, while waiting for the train but I’m too excited to get through a single sentence. I’m eager to visit my family, but I’m even more excited by the prospect of going to Africa next summer. Last night, my husband [...]