Volunteer Trip Abroad to Kenya!

Ashlyn Weir Start Date: Jun 25, 2023 - End Date: Mar 24, 2024
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip

My Travel Story

by: Ashlyn Weir Start Date: Jun 25, 2023 - End Date: Mar 24, 2024
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
It's been a long term dream of mine to one day have the ability to travel abroad doing what makes me happy. I held it off for so long because of fear. I'm only seventeen years old and have just recently moved out of the state I was raised in by my wonderful parents to begin a new chapter of my life. I've found myself catching onto independents, self control, as well as a drive for this dream I thought would never have came true. I'm beginning to discover more about the world and how to map it out correctly and I'm hoping to learn so much more when I travel to Kenya to fulfill that dream. While in kenya I will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to work with children in completely different situations as I was in as a child. Helping the children in poverty from the little things like putting them onto the latest fashion trends. To the bigger things that mean more such as feeding, cooking, cleaning, and keeping the children active and their heart's healthy. Something I looked forward to the most personally, is the chance to meet the citizens of Kenya while learning about the culture and their lifestyle. I, not alone, will strive to help them learn as well and show them an easier way to live without taking life for granted, no matter the circumstances they might be in. I chose Kenya to be the country I will volunteer in because of the massive inequality in wealth distributions, poverty levels, human rights aspects, and more. I will be there to assist women and children with daily task that can always need improvement like Introducing new opportunities for income. 
A time I will never forget is when I had the opportunity to travel to Ensenada, Mexico with my family at a very young age. I remember my family not being too fond of the place because it was just so different from the daily living that we are used to, but I found myself catching interest to it. I enjoyed walking the streets and I learned so much from it. There were people doing whatever they could to make their money and live, and although it was completely different from how I was raised, I new immediately, that was my passion. To be able to one day do everything I can to help humans in poverty. I know that this is somewhere I belong. I planned to move across America at such a young age with no idea what I was meant to do in my future. The day I left, I knew that if I could do this, who knows how far I can go, so I applied to participate in the Kenya program with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ). I was accepted! This is why I would more than appreciate the help raising money to afford this once in a lifetime opportunity. Any and every dollar helps. If not, I hope you took something out of this description and learned something new. If you ever truly feel like you have no purpose, take that completely unrelated chance, and you might find it there. Don't give up, thank you!