Emergency Flight Ticket Fund

Zackary Lyons Start Date: Aug 10, 2021 - End Date: Dec 9, 2021
  • France
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Swiss

My Travel Story

by: Zackary Lyons Start Date: Aug 10, 2021 - End Date: Dec 9, 2021
**EMERGENCY UPDATE**

Matheus and Zackary have an emergency involving paying for a flight to Matheus home in Brazil. They missed their flights due to unannounced COVID-19 regulations with the airlines. After 14+ hours of calling and multiple efforts to request a refund, they are being forced to buy a new ticket to Brazil. They are currently unable to afford a ticket with their current funds and are asking for help. However, this being an incident involving a misunderstanding on their part, they are understanding that they are at fault. As such, if you want to help, and wish for them to repay, please click the donor reward option for repayment! They are understanding of the request and are beyond grateful regardless.

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Two best friends, Matheus and Zackary, are Sociology majors studying at Berea College. They adore their major and learning how to be more effective in social programs in their communities. Zackary is entering his 4th year of college, and Matheus is entering his 3rd year of college. Both decided to take a gap semester, travel to Europe for the first time, and work in Self-Sustainable communities. As to gather the knowledge and resources they need to help develop their communities.

Zackary has already traveled to Morocco to volunteer and teach English at the "British Language Academy," a growing English school focused on reaching poor students and hiring teachers from lower-economic backgrounds. Mr. Harim, the school's Director, started the program by himself and established schools in Casablanca, Berrechid, and El Jadida, and soon in Tangiers. Zackary volunteered at this school for 3 months while doing field research on Moroccan Islamic Feminism for his Major. When finished with classes, Zackary began traveling throughout Morocco, engaging in cultural exchange with locals during the Islamic holiday Ramadan. He gained experience and insights that countered the American beliefs of Islam that have propagated throughout the media for decades. He spent another two months in Morocco, helping in various projects in Essaouria, and engaging with locals and other travelers. Learning how to support and build growing grass-root projects.

Matheus has been serving the Madison county region for the last 3 years. Being an active volunteer at the Berea Fire Department and a student advisor for incoming international and domestic students. Providing support and relief programs during COVID for the local students and faculty. Matheus has shown that with a positive mindset and a love for helping others, you can turn a difficult period into a period of growth and community.

Together, Zackary and Matheus plan to replicate the Moroccan experience in Europe. Aiming to gather skills, knowledge, and connections that are needed for their majors. All the while, gathering the experience from various Self-sustaining communities, in which they will bring home and help their communities combat social issues such as unclean water, food deserts, lack of financial opportunities, project developments, and racial inequality within Appalachia.

Choosing Europe seems a poor choice to look for sustainable communities; however, countries such as France and Germany are currently experiencing a surge in Self-sustaining community development projects that need volunteers. These projects run on volunteers and donations from local and international interests. Europe hosts a similar environment to Appalachia, which is vital in transferring construction, farming, and restoration techniques needed for Zackary and Matheus' region.

This trip will be the foundation of Zackary's Thesis paper and how Self-sustaining communities can prosper within the United States with the spread of accurate and reliable information and techniques. Zackary wants to use the idea of Self-Sustaining communities as a solution for the current Climate Crisis that is grasping the world and how regions such as Appalachia can be a powerful example of a transitional economy for many other communities within the U.S.

Matheus is using this trip as his first experiment over the ideas and theories that he has been studying for 3 years. Matheus sees Social Science as a field that requires not only classroom lessons but also field experience. As the ideas are only useful if they can be properly applied to the described communities. This trip will be his first chance to receive field experience for his Major and provide the inspiration he will need for his future educational career.

As of now, this is the framework that Matheus and Zackary will be using to achieve their goals for volunteering experience!

*Fly to Bordeaux, France, and connect with friends who are Environmental Engineer students
*Gather local connections for their regions of Brittany and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
*Apply to local ecological communities through a platform called Workaway (Zackary used this in Morocco to find volunteer opportunities)
*Change location every 3-4 weeks depending on circumstances and experience opportunities
*Work at farms through WWOOF if finances become a problem while still gathering ecological farming experience!
*Rinse and Repeat these steps throughout Western/Central Europe.

I hope this gives you confidence in our direction. Though we understand that this may be vague for many. We have analyzed Zacakry's experiences in Morocco and confirmed together that making concrete plans when traveling through small volunteer organizations can be risky. As plans can change rather quickly and abruptly at the organization or within the traveler's situation. So, we are going to leave room for adaptation and flexibility in case accidents, conflicts, or emergencies occur during our movement. As well as, giving us the opportunity to change what associations we attend if the circumstances are not reflecting our goals.
  • France
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Swiss

Updates

12

  • Thank You For Your Help!!

    Thank you for your help!!
    Regardless of the name! We are extremely thankful for your help Anonymous! I hope you follow this account to see the updates and the value of your donation! Lots of love!

  • Thank You Shageldi!

    Thank you Shageldi!
    Thank you so much Shageldi for your help! I hope you are healing quickly from your oral surgery! Let me know how your travels and study this semester go!! Lots of love!

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