This is a really hard question for me. I would have to say when we had finished the library in Nepal. Local leaders, municipal leaders, and national leaders came to celebrate. The village performed dances and showed great appreciation for the library. Then when we opened it the excitement of the kids was so great! I know they will cherish and take great care of the library.
Staff Spotlight: Josh Atkinson
Title:
World Coordinator
Has been working for Village Book Builders for 2 years after being a volunteer on the Nepal program. He loves traveling and exploring new cultures.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
It has been an amazing experience. As a coordinator, I set up and organize all events and work done on the library for the trips that I lead. I have learned how to break cultural barriers. I have learned how to work with different people from different cultures and help them work together. It has been eye-opening to see new cultures and learn from them.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
One of the volunteers shared that she loved staying with a host family. She shared that as she spent time with them and ate with them, she was able to understand their culture better. She was so grateful for the opportunity to become a family with the Nepali people. To her, it was one of the most eye-opening experience.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would want to go on one of the literacy expeditions. These are some of the coolest immersion programs. You come to know the village and feel like family. There is a great sense of accomplishment as you work with the villages to build a library and teach the community how to be lifetime learners. You also get to see some of the local sites and come to love the place you serve in.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
One of the things that made our experience different is the cultural immersion experience. We don’t sugar coat experiences. Sometimes this can be hard, but you come out with a stronger love of the people and a feeling of accomplishment. We stay with host families and eat what they eat; we work alongside the village so that they feel like the village accomplishes something as well.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Accomplishment. At the end of the trip, the volunteers should feel accomplished. The villages we work with should feel accomplished. If that comes to fruition, it has been a success.
Our goal is to create reading cultures. If the village feels accomplished, they take ownership and work to gain education through books.