18 Months - Study and Action Program with A-Certificate

Someday I wanted to be out of my bubble, out of my comfort zone and I found One World Center (I did the 18 months program and I went to Mozambique for 6 months to work as a volunteer in “Food For Knowledge” project) that period changed my mind. I’m going to open my heart and tell you how much this experience change my life and let me be on a beautiful journey, which I won’t forget never.

Do you want to see the world with other eyes? I had been traveling in some countries as a tourist but I never imagined myself traveling and working as a volunteer in Africa, I never really see myself playing in the ground with kids who barely speak Português and they just talked in their native language (Xichangana) which I wasn’t able to understand; at that time I was getting into the community and thinking about How different is to share my time with them, as a modest people living in difficult circumstances because of the poverty and using all the resources they have to learn how to write the vowels. I was there learning from their culture, their customs, their happiness especially, their humble, their experiences which were teaching How beautiful is the life if you looking at from another angle. From the solidarity and humanitarian angle. I’ve learned this solidarity when I trained myself in the first period of the program in Michigan where the campus is, and where you are going to share many learnings that you maybe thought you will never need. That was an excellent cultural immersion and an experience that became more important for me to give than receive.

This program is about to grow up as a person, to get into humble personality comprehending another necessities, to be tolerant and open mind to learn from another culture and people who can teach you many things you don’t know even if you are older, to get into yourself and identify your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to help others and contribute making a difference in the world, to learn another languages, to share your life with others which have the same desires as you do, to be passion and do things from heart.

In this months I learned How to build playgrounds and I did it in poor schools where the kids never could imagine to have one; how to teach maths, Português, English in schools where the kids have barely their desks or in some cases just a board under the trees; where the teachers doesn’t have methods and equipments to educate with a good quality; where the population struggle with many diseases and lack of access to clean and potable water… There are many opportunities for you to be more productive, helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier and meaningful. I had the most wonderful time in Mozambique I can invite you to do it as well.

Actually, I didn’t tell you How beautiful are the Mozambican beaches, but this is something you have to see with your own eyes! Because always there is time to have fun in a country with the kind people that you are going to met there.

During the program, you will find yourself challenged in every situation, and this is an opportunity to make wonderful things happen.
Be yourself and show yourself, you will discover a beautiful trip.
Give yourself the opportunity to live an experience that complements your life completely and discover a new way of seeing the world.
Make friends from all parts of the world and share with them inside and outside the volunteer experience, the people you meet will help you grow and learn.
Thank you!

There are so many people who want to leave their normal life and their normal job. They don't feel comfortable with the monotony of regular life. They are looking for something different.

One World Center’s program took me out of my comfort zone and helped me know the world in a different way than traveling as a tourist. Through this experience, my work and time have added value. I am helping to build a better world through my actions while feeling myself grow to become a better human being.

As an international participant in the 18-Month Program, I traveled to two countries, two continents, two different cultures and histories. This program allowed me to explore both the United States and Mozambique. I saw the contrast between these worlds and learned for myself the reality of poverty around the World which added value to my experience working with communities in Africa.

For the first part of my program, I trained at One World Center’s campus in Michigan for six months before going to Mozambique. During my training, I learned about organic farming, history, climate change and other important subjects to understand the reality in Africa. There was special emphasis on learning to work with the community and fight poverty “shoulder to shoulder” with them instead of telling communities what to do.

In Africa, I had the opportunity to practice all the knowledge that I learned in the field. I worked in three schools helping provide better conditions for children and participated in school lunch programs. When I came back to the United States for the last six months of my program, I had the opportunity to share my experience in nine cities to empower people to help make our world better.

This was a unique experience because I stopped thinking, took a chance, and just started doing it.

I recommend this program to people who are looking to leave their normal lives. This is a real experience because you make things happen, feel the connection with the communities overseas, and learn more about cultures around the World. It will change your life.

I used to think that it is for only those who get prepared fully to help with the poor people.

Since I met this program, the answer of my doubt said "No"

We all are responsible to make a better world.

In a small picture, you're part of helping with the poor people as long as you considered the global issues like global warming and climate change where the poor suffer from those issues based on the examples of "Water conflict between Kenya and Ethiopia"

Every single thing we do may impact on hugely in the other side of the earth either good or bad.

Being aware what is going in the reality.

Thanks to this program you can try out a different lifestyle and learn a lot about other cultures, global issues and even yourself. Living in community is not always easy, but it definitely teaches us a lot about who we are, what is the power of a collective and how we can solve issues together.

The experience is challenging and rewarding.

Just do it!