Clarissa's Volunteering in Uganda!!

Clarissa Carvalho Start Date: Mar 20, 2016 - End Date: Jun 12, 2016
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip

My Travel Story

by: Clarissa Carvalho Start Date: Mar 20, 2016 - End Date: Jun 12, 2016
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip
Hello my friends and family!!

I have been given the wonderful opportunity to volunteer in Uganda this June with Pangea Educational Development! 

I have a passion for teaching. I currently tutor all the levels of Spanish at Wayne State University, and I also teach piano to elementary school students. I have taught the STEM subjects in the inner city Detroit Public Schools as well as English to foreign exchange students at my university. 

Education is the one and only thing that can never be taken away from somebody once they have it. It's a beautiful thing. But, a person must first have the opportunity to obtain an education. 

Pangea Educational Development (PED) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that partners with Ugandan schools to develop sustainable education. 

My favorite part about this organization is that PED not only provides support, but more importantly, works towards EMPOWERING schools to become financially self-sustainable through projects that equip each school with the tools to manage their programs in the future. 

I chose to volunteer in Uganda because there is no stability in their current education system. Secondly, some PED students were abducted and forced to fight as child soldiers, others have been left as orphans or vulnerable young people living in a post-crisis state scarred by years of war. Yet, these students still have the drive to learn, to improve, get an education, and have the best life that they can. The PED volunteers and I want to give them their best chance. 

During the time in Uganda, the PED volunteers and I will be educating students as well as teachers in educational technology and the use of computers. We will also be constructing a library, which includes painting, furniture building, organizing books, and creating systems and processes for best utilizing the space.

I will be graduating from university this May, and I want to give back, to share my education with as many people as I possibly can. I am so excited to travel to Africa this summer, and can't wait to share my adventures with you all!

With your financial support we can make an investment, big or small, that helps aid Ugandan students and our world for future successes. 

-Clarissa

Updates

4

  • The $1000 Mark!

    Hi everyone!! I'm thrilled to announce that I have officially surpassed the $1,000 mark with the cash donations plus the donations to this campaign page! Thank you so much for your continued support, I would not be able to fulfill this dream without you all.

  • First Meeting!

    This week I had my first Skype meeting with one of the volunteer coordinators of the trip, Jessica. She's wonderful. We talked about where I would be living, what a day in the life of a volunteer would be like, the food we were going to prepare and eat, and also the bunch of immunizations and medications I would have to take before I leave. If anyone has any questions about my travel or stay or activities while abroad, please feel free to ask! I'd be more than happy to share with you!

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