Why did you decide to volunteer with Projects Abroad in Ethiopia?
Graham: A friend came in to work one day with a Projects Abroad program book. I’ve previously never thought or heard about volunteering overseas before, when I first heard about Projects Abroad. Intrigued, I went home that night and researched all the organizations that offered volunteer placements overseas.
Through all the research that was done, Projects Abroad closely aligned what I was looking for in terms of support, the destinations and placements offered, and the mission and values. They were also one of the only organizations I researched that offered both support at home, and in your destination.
While the prices were a little steep for a high school student, there was already great value added in that I felt the price was worth it. One of the great things that really stood out to me when deciding, was the backing and benefits of booking my flights through the Projects Abroad travel team.
As soon as I applied, I was warmly greeted by the Ethiopian Program Manager. In the email, he gave me a quick rundown about Ethiopia, information about what I was going to experience and further details regarding my placement. Which quite frankly, eased any concerns or anxiety I had about my decision.
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Graham: On a school day, I would eat breakfast in my room before joining the teachers outside for morning drop-off. This would be a time where you would find me interacting with the children, assisting with parent drop-offs, and getting the teachers prepared for the day.
At flag raising, we would sing the national anthem and start the day on a positive note by singing an upbeat song. Once all the grades were dismissed from flag raising, I would rotate between two classes in the morning. I read to the children, worked with the teachers to help students who were struggling, and provided help wherever else as needed. Depending on the grade level, recess was at different scheduled times throughout the morning. During this time, I would play with a new group of kids each day. Whether it was tag, hide and seek, or playing on the jungle gym.
After having lunch back in my room, I would join the teachers in the classroom for supervision. In the afternoon, I rotated between the classes again until the end of the school day.
In the evenings and on the weekends, I would venture out on my own or with the other volunteer I lived with. I usually would take the minibus into the city to explore, or head down to my local café for some coffee and a good book. Trips to the Merkato (the Market), social activities with the other volunteers, and just wondering around the city were some of the favorite activities to do on my free time.
I also journaled every day, which I highly recommend to anyone who travels for an extended period of time.
How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?
Graham: My trip to Ethiopia inspired me to be more open-minded and understanding of new cultures. It was also a huge step outside of my comfort zone, which has since quenched my thirst for similar experiences.
It was also a very eye-opening experience, as I feel we are all too self-involved and don’t appreciate the beauty in the ordinary. Ethiopians have this way about them where nothing seems to really impact them. If it won’t matter in an hour or a day, it just slides off them like water on a duck. This trip also reaffirmed my belief that there is goodness inside of everything, but sometimes you just have to look a little harder or a little deeper to find it.
Since coming back, I’ve been trying to show deeper appreciation for the everyday, even if it is mundane. Our lives should not consist of materialistic objects, but rather the experiences and memories we share with one another. To this day, Ethiopia and the experiences that shaped me gets carried with me wherever I go. This experience not only helped me better understand myself, but it also helped me to understand the educational direction I want to go in after I graduate from post-secondary.