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Jen, a Yale public health student, in Hanoi
Jennifer DuMond is currently finishing the first year of her MS in Public Health at Yale University, focusing on epidemiology and global health. Before starting at Yale, she spent eight weeks at the “Promoting HIV/AIDS awareness” Volunteer Abroad project in Hanoi. Having worked as a research associate at UC-San Francisco, as a volunteer she analyzed data and wrote reports on public health issues in Vietnam. This summer Jennifer will take on a different UBELONG challenge: she is spending two months volunteering at the “assisting in public health education” project in Ghana. Just two weeks before flying to Accra, she shares her experience in Hanoi last summer.
What motivated you to seek a volunteer opportunity in Hanoi?
I had been looking for international volunteer opportunities for a while. I was looking for flexible and low-cost volunteer opportunities in the field of public health during the summer to prepare myself before entering Yale. I could not find the right organization until UBELONG co-founder Raul Roman contacted me on Facebook. I did my research on UBELONG and decided that the HIV/AIDS project in Hanoi was exactly what I was looking for.
What was most frustrating or challenging to you during your volunteer placement?
When I first arrived at my hosting organization in Hanoi they did not have a clear idea of what I was capable of doing. At the beginning I was asked to edit documents, which wasn’t particularly satisfying to me. However, pretty soon I was asked to analyze survey data on female sex workers and write a research report. There were lots of mistakes in data collection and data entry and I did not have much help because everyone at the office was busy. I was left to figure out the analysis with a problematic dataset. It was a challenging assignment but I learned a lot from it.
I was struck by the concept of time in Vietnam. It’s very different from what I am used to. For example, my host organization did not have strict expectations about what time in the morning we were to arrive at the office. Things are not always carefully planned out and unexpected events often cause delays.
What did you learn about yourself during your experience?
I learned a lot about my ability to face new situations and not be terrified by it. When I arrived at the San Francisco airport I was really scared. However, by the time I landed in Hanoi I decided to take things as they came and I convinced myself that everything would work out. I found patience within myself to see good even in the most frustrating situations. I always tried to see the positive side of things, unlike other volunteers who did not understand the culture and felt disrespected, or complained about things like traffic or dirty streets. I focused on learning as much about the local culture as I could and being open-minded about all the new possibilities that opened up to me in Hanoi.
Over forty UBELONG volunteers from all over the world offer testimonials on their life changing experiences volunteering on UBELONG projects. Read their words and be inspired to step out of your comfort zone, share your talent and volunteer abroad. Check out: http://www.ubelong.org/our-community/testimonials
Stephen, a Cornell health student, becomes a UBELONG volunteer in Ecuador:
Stephen Allegra is a student at Cornell University majoring in Human Development. Beginning in June he spent eight weeks participating in UBELONG’s “medical assistance” and “forest and marine conservation” Immersion projects in the Coastal Forest. He has travelled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and has been part of medical mission trips to Mexico, Honduras and the Philippines.
What motivated you to seek a volunteer opportunity in the Coastal Forest?
One of the requirements of my global health program at school is to participate in a real-world medical experience. I wanted to witness healthcare in a developing country and felt that this would be a great way to do so. I liked the UBELONG mission and its focus on local communities, and thought Ecuador would be a great place to work. I knew a little bit about its history and environment, and had a strong desire to see that part of the world.
What was most frustrating or challenging to you during your volunteering placement?
Speaking Spanish was the most challenging aspect of the trip. Especially at the beginning, I found it very difficult to communicate with the local staff at the clinic. I was able to take a more active role as a volunteer as my Spanish improved, but I would suggest that any non-Spanish speaking volunteer study the language as much as possible beforehand. It’s not impossible, as you’ll learn Spanish quickly, but it’s a challenge.
The environment project is also very physical, which is great but you need to be ready for it. During the first few days, I was sore and sunburned from working in the fields. My hands were also quite beat up. But I’m not complaining because to be out and working every day was an incredible experience.
From what you observed during your experience, what were the three most important characteristics of a successful international volunteer?
First, be patient. It’s a different place than what you’re used to and you need to let yourself adapt. In another country, it’s important to remember that the culture is different. Persevere and don’t be frustrated if things are not as you expected.
Second, learn from other people. From the other volunteers to the locals, you meet so many amazing people with a variety of backgrounds. For example, I loved going on trips to explore the surrounding areas and to meet the local people. I was really curious and intent on speaking with them, and I think that helped make my experience such a good one.
Third, try to learn Spanish. Even though you only need the basics to get by, it’s worthwhile to be able to speak with the locals in their language. It was wonderful to be invited by the locals to watch soccer and go to bonfires with them, and if you can speak Spanish you’ll integrate so much more.
What kind of impact did you have on the community?
I was only there for a short time, but I still think I made some lasting impact. First, I respected the local culture and showed how much I wanted to help, which leaves a favorable impression of Americans.
I also worked with a Peace Corps volunteer to implement three sets of sexual education workshops within the local community. These activities were very important as HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy are widespread. Although sexual education is part of the public school curriculum, most teachers don’t feel comfortable teaching it and usually skip it. We recruited and organized local teenagers to meet us so we could discuss the social and physical repercussions of being sexually active. Additionally, we talked about themes like contraception and family planning. Even the local staff was surprised at how well the workshops went. For most of the teenagers it was their first time anybody spoke to them about sexual education. They asked a lot of questions and were genuinely interested. I think the fact that we were also young people made an impact on them as well; we were models they could relate to.
With the environment project, I think our biggest impact was speaking to the local community about trash removal. The area is so beautiful, but people just leave their garbage everywhere. We did some beach clean-ups and talked to the people about what we were doing and why. I think education takes time, but if this work continues in the future, people will change their perception towards the environment.
How did the people in your host community perceive the role of international volunteers like you?
They were very welcoming. Many of them are used to volunteers and extremely thankful for our work. They see how we’re helping and many times people came up to us to express their thanks.
What did you learn about yourself during your experience?
I was coming from my life at school where everything is so busy and fast-paced. I thought I could make an impact right away. But I learned that making a difference in Ecuador, or anywhere for that matter, takes time. You need to listen and be patient. You need to slow down and work with the local people, you can’t impose on their culture.
UBELONG Cambodia volunteers Devon and Joao offer feedback on their experience:
Devon Albert, USA -Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Immersion, caring for orphans, 2 weeks (Spring 2011)
Working with UBELONG was by far the best decision when I wanted to adventure across the world to help others and learn about another culture. The affordability of the projects made it possible to explore this opportunity and then Cedric and Raul helped me choose a project that was going to fit with my skill set and time-frame of travel. Even traveling solo, I felt extremely safe and prepared from my safety briefing and knowing that UBELONG has strong partnerships and makes frequent visits to their placements. UBELONG's passion for helping others, knowledge of travel and development, and care for their volunteers is truly an inspiration for me to continue learning and to strive to make an impact on people across the world.
Joao Sigora, Brazil - Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Immersion, NGO support, 5 weeks (Winter 2011)
I couldn't be happier with my decision of volunteering in Cambodia through UBELONG. When you decide to undertake such a journey, you want to feel you're dealing with people who know what they are doing. And UBELONG does. They provided me with the necessary support, advice and enthusiasm during both pre- and post-departure process, allowing me to make the most of my volunteer experience. Before departure, I received a comprehensive Preparation Briefing and had a safety meeting with my mentor, which really helped me prepare for the trip. None of the volunteers from other organizations I met had anything remotely similar to that. I especially like the fact that UBELONG has a philosophy behind its programs. They talk not only about helping others, but also about stepping out of your comfort zone, building emotional strength and achieving personal growth. I think that helped me keep my mind always open and watch out for the changes that this volunteer experience was operating in myself -- when maybe the natural reaction would be staying on the defensive side.
Heather Buffo is an eighteen-year-old woman from Shaker Heights, Ohio who took a gap year before starting her freshman year at Harvard University. In February she spent four weeks on UBELONG’s “forest conservation and sustainable farming” project in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands and in April one week in UBELONG’s “assisting at an after-school center” project in Cusco, Peru. Prior to her gap year she had travelled throughout the United States and visited countries in Europe and Asia. UBELONG had the opportunity to interview this bright, caring and engaging young individual upon her return home.
What motivated you to seek volunteer opportunities in Ecuador and Peru?
I decided to take a gap year before starting college to spend as much time as possible internationally. Having the time to travel extensively like I did is rare and I wanted to take advantage of it. I liked the projects in the Galapagos and Cusco because they would push me out of my comfort zone. I would still be supported, but I would be far from home in very different environments. For the Galapagos I also liked that I would be outside doing manual labor. It’s not every day you get to do that in such a beautiful place. Finally, the price of the projects was also very important. I spent a lot of time researching programs and UBELONG was the most affordable and appealing in general.
What was most frustrating or challenging to you during your volunteering placement?
In the Galapagos I wish I could have learned more Spanish. We lived in an intimate setting in the Galapagos and all the volunteers spoke English. I also felt that some of the volunteers were not there to fully experience being a volunteer, or simply not prepared for or ready to adapt to the challenges. They were not as set on working and learning about the local culture as I would have hoped. Perhaps they were too excited about being away from home in a place like the Galapagos. I don’t know, but I dealt with it fine and it never became an issue.
In Cusco I experienced some culture shock. It’s difficult to prepare for how dirty the children were. Some wore the same clothes every day or just switched outfits with each other. Many smelled bad. Also, I didn’t know the full story of their backgrounds, but I knew most came from very difficult homes. It was sad and very different from what I’m familiar with in the United States.
From what you observed during your experience, what were the three most important characteristics of a successful international volunteer?
First, be flexible. You have to be ready to work and willing to just do it. Don’t make excuses and be ready for whatever is thrown at you. It might be a little bit gross or it may seem disorganized, but you need to accept it.
Second, be patient. There’s a much slower pace of life in South America. Don’t expect to get as much done as you would expect to get done at home and understand that life is different. You have to adapt.
Third, learn about the local culture. Speak Spanish, learn salsa and try the food. Immerse yourself in how the local people live, it’s part of the experience.
What kind of impact did you have on the community?
In the Galapagos the environmental impact was not immediately apparent. I was only there for four weeks and conservation work takes time because of things like long planting times so it takes longer to notice a tangible change. However, in town it was clear how appreciative the people were towards volunteers. They thanked us for helping to maintain the beauty of their islands and truly appreciated our help.
In Cusco I was only there for a week, I had to leave early because of medical reasons, but I could still see in such a short time that the people who ran the project and the children in it really loved having us. Whether we were coloring or playing volleyball all the kids called us “profe”, which is short for teacher in Spanish. It’s a sign of respect. The children were happy when we were there and for a lot of them who came from difficult backgrounds that is a big change in their lives, even if it is just for a couple hours a day.
How did the people in your host communities perceive the role of international volunteers like you?
People in all the projects were really grateful and excited about us being there. In the Galapagos, when we told the locals we were volunteers on the island they lit up with excitement and always thanked us for our contribution. In Cusco we sat down with our project leader and talked about working together. She explained to us that we couldn’t move the earth, but that we could show the children love and respect. Our willingness and eagerness to help was recognized and appreciated. Outside of the projects people also respected us. In Cusco, which is full of tourists, people thought it was different to be a volunteer and they respected us for going there to make a difference and not just to see Machu Picchu. We were no longer tourists to them; we were people going out of our way to help improve the lives of the local people.
What did you learn about yourself during your experience?
I learned I could handle a lot more than I thought. I can adapt to situations. For example, kids are not my specialty and I was nervous and didn’t know how I would do in Cusco with the children in my project. But I ended up having so much fun playing with them and getting to know them. I stepped outside my comfort zone and I made a difference in peoples’ lives. It made me feel like a million dollars.
About UBELONG:
UBELONG offers safe and affordable volunteering opportunities in Asia, Latin America and Africa. It is based in Washington, DC and led by volunteers and leading professors determined to raise the bar in short-term international volunteering. Click here to read about UBELONG Volunteer Opportunities