Readers respond on 'volunteer vacations'

Our leader was not more than 20 years old, and the entire team, except for me and my co-workers, comprised a group of students from the University of Pennsylvania. It was a mix of young men and women. I was stunned to see how dedicated they were to helping. These young folks were hard at work and not complaining one bit. And believe me, there was much to complain about. It was hot, humid, and the smell was unbelievable.

My co-workers and I were the old guys on the job (see large photo), but the group accepted us right off the bat – we were big and strong, and there were some heavy things to move.

It was the hardest work I had done in years, and without question it was the dirtiest, but it was so insufficient. These people needed help and the best we could do was a little cleaning.

The students from Penn were unbelievable – in fact, their efforts have changed my view of that generation. They are hard-working, caring people who will do whatever they can to help others.

– Curt Edge [Chief Information Officer, First Church of Christ, Scientist], Boston, Mass., USA

(Note: The Monitor asked the following reader to elaborate on her experience.)

I went [to El Salvador] with a friend whose church had organized a trip to help. We joined Central American Mission. We were actually the 19th team that had come down to help with rebuilding. We stayed in a mission complex that had bedrooms and a kitchen for us. It was well organized, and we were kept busy with traveling and building. Sometimes we didn't have hot water for showers or we had to wait for food or e-mail. It was not always comfortable, but the 29 people from the US learned to get along, to be patient, and to do without.

When I came back to the US, not only was I more appreciative of all that I had, it changed my life forever because my family and I now live in Croatia working for an NGO and helping people who have had fewer opportunities.

– Rebecca Javorksy, Osijek, Croatia

In the fall of 2005, after leaving my job (and at the age of 45), I went abroad for three months to volunteer. Assigned to work in an orphanage, the first days were chaotic. The children had enough energy to dribble a thousand soccer balls.

Before arriving in Costa Rica, I had worried about fitting in, assuming that other volunteers would be recent high school and college graduates.

Sharing bunk beds, bathrooms, and showers with a battalion of young females seemed formidable. However, within the first week, I fell into a rhythm, enjoying the budding companionship of my younger colleagues.

I miss the children at the orphanage and think about them often. If you have ever considered a volunteer-travel experience, go; you'll come back changed!

– Julie Germano, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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