We Can All Start Somewhere

Brett Byrd Start Date: Apr 25, 2020 - End Date: Oct 24, 2020
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Palawan, Philippines

My Travel Story

by: Brett Byrd Start Date: Apr 25, 2020 - End Date: Oct 24, 2020
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
Thanks for stopping by, my name is Brett Byrd, I am 25yr old United States Marine Corps veteran who not only made the choice to serve his country but now I have taken it upon myself to try my best to serve the world. After my time in the Marine Corps, I began studying VFX and was a student at the Los Angeles Film School, where I began making small projects for content creators and small businesses alike free of charge. After losing my father at a young age and also my sister while I was away from home in the service, both due to complications with ALS aka Lou Garrison disease I had to dig deep to find my purpose again as I felt the world was crashing down around me. While in the military I was fortunate enough to travel a bit and experience the world, and upon realizing the world is so much bigger than California, throughout the next 3yrs, I plan to begin backpacking to different third world countries and volunteering among various organizations and humanitarian programs. I will be launching a YouTube channel to document and update all my friends, family, and supporters. It will be a channel where you can actively keep track of all my current and upcoming volunteer projects. The funds I am attempting to raise for these upcoming voyages are strictly for Camera equipment, travel expenses, a survival fund during the projects, and any emergency expenses that may arise.

I am taking it upon myself to go above and beyond the call of duty and provide a humble servitude to those that have had fewer opportunities to the right to proper education and life skills and attempt to enhance the quality of their lives as much as possible.

I am choosing to begin this journey in the pacific and attempting to impact as far as Africa and The Middle East.

"Why the pacific?' you may ask.

From May of 2013 - may of 2015 I had the opportunity to be stationed in Okinawa, Japan for two out of my fours years in the service and completely fell in love with their culture lifestyle and gean volunteering with the locals in my spare time from helping with things such as farming to urban and ocean cleanup.
While participating in the urban cleanup I had the chance to work with some of the local youth and while interacting with the locals and the youth I almost instantaneously realized that I can offer so much more to our world than just my visual effects and graphic design projects.

The organization I will be volunteering with is GoEco.org, the first project I would like to kick this journey off with is teaching the less fortunate kids of Palawan, the Philippines and the details are as following:

Program Highlights:
Live and volunteer on the beautiful island of Palawan
Help local school children enhance their English skills
Gain practical experience in teaching
Make learning English more fun by organizing fun, educational games
Explore the surrounding fishing villages and smaller islands during free weekends

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum One-Week Commitment):

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS). You and fellow volunteers will be picked up from the airport and taken to settle into the volunteer house in Palawan.

Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will receive an orientation, complete with a Philippine culture lesson, language lesson, tour of the area, a broom making or coconut leaf weaving workshop, and a cooking class!

Days 3-6, Tuesday- Friday: Rewarding volunteer work at the kindergarten.

Days 7-8, Saturday and Sunday: Volunteers staying only one week will depart on Saturday. The weekend is free for volunteers who are extending to spend how they wish.

Weeks 2-8: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free. Departures are on a Saturday.



Location of the Project: Palawan, Philippines
Project length: Min 1 week - Max 8 weeks
Transfers
Arrival Airport: Puerto Princesa International Airphighlights
Volunteer Work: Teach English in a local school

Age: 18 - 60

Number of Volunteers: Up to 20 international volunteers

Accommodations: Shared room in a volunteer house

Food: Three meals a day (excluding lunch on the weekends)
Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided upon arrival
Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included:
Flights, visa (if required), travel health insurance, daily transportation to and from the project site, personal expenses


The amounts I'm attempting to raise for this journey is roughly 6,000 dollars to cover all out of pocket expenses that vary from but is not limited too.

-Food
-Camera Equipment and lenses.
-The plane ticket to/from
-Recommended Clothing items
-Hygiene equipment
-Transportation Costs
-The Volunteer Expenses
-Room & Board
-Passport Renewal(Handled)
-Emergency Funds (in the event of an emergency)

"What will your contributions give you in return?"

I will personally add you to an email list keeping you updated on all purchases, movements, and exclusive behind the scenes content that will be unique to each sponsor, as well as personalized shout-outs in the uploaded YouTube videos as an advertisement opportunity for whatever company or business you wish to promote. In a 15-30 short at the end or beginning of each upload. As well as a custom T-shirt sent to you signed by me and some of the local children I will be volunteering with. Finally, you will be granted a VIP status giving you access to inside planning of future volunteer opportunities and possibly the chance to come along and get in on the action!

I understand that this is a steep request from another mammal floating along with the cosmos alongside you, and if you don't feel comfortable donating your hard-earned money maybe there's another way you can become a sponsor i.e supplying any of the gear list items or paying GoEco.org directly. For alternative measures such as the ones listed above freely free to email or shoot me a call or text. (info provided below)

I'm completely aware that all donations come from the heart and the amount is a tad bit steep. But in today's modern world I can understand how frustrating it can be to have prior commitments and not have the time or opportunity to give back so allow me to humbly help you, help the world. Allow me to be your ambassador across the globe spreading love and education to those who don't have the same opportunities as us who were fortunate enough to have grown up in the US of A. I have already taken the oath to protect our country and constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, now allow me to take the oath to give back to the human race as a whole and continue to do my part to make this crazy world we're living in a slightly better place.

In conclusion, I'd like to thank for your time, consideration, and potential investment in something greater than ourselves.

Respectfully,
Brett Byrd
B.byrd@lafilm.edu
(323) 272-5305
  • Palawan, Philippines