Projects Abroad
Monday, January 2, 2017
TORONTO – February 1, 2017 – This year, international volunteer organization Projects Abroad is pleased to announce several new group volunteer programs for high school students. The new programs take place in the summer and are linked to established projects, so volunteers contribute to long-term goals that will continue to make an impact long after they have returned home. High School Specials are specifically designed for volunteers between the ages of 16-19, and provide them with the opportunity to explore the world and do something different in a safe and supervised environment.
The organization offers more than 50 different High School Specials, with programs focusing on various areas, such as Medicine & Health Care, Care & Community, Building, or Conservation, all based in developing countries around the world. This means that students have a wide choice in what they want to do and where they want to go. Participants can choose to go abroad for as many as four weeks, or the standard two weeks. Projects Abroad also offers three-week options for several projects. This option offers a balance for students who feel that two weeks abroad is too short, but cannot manage to fit a four-week program into their busy schedules.
Jenny Puyo, an Operations Manager for Projects Abroad, says that even in a period of two weeks, High School Special volunteers have a tangible impact on the communities where they work. "At our Care & Community placements, we often hear children conversing in more than one language, or reciting the entire alphabet, because of the classes they attended a year or two ago. Last year, more than 1000 people in Sri Lanka received basic medical care at outreaches where High School Special volunteers assisted. This is a great indicator of the difference that a teenage volunteer can make, travelling and volunteering with Projects Abroad."
Sister Joyceline, a local woman who works at an orphanage in Togo, is immensely grateful for the vegetable garden that Projects Abroad High School Special volunteers planted last summer. "It's working well and we've already started eating little tomatoes! We need to buy less and can save more," she says.
Puyo is enthusiastic about the new additions to the High School Specials roster. "The more opportunities we create for people to help those in need, the more opportunities we have to actively make a difference. We are excited to start seeing the impact from the new projects when they begin.
Here is a sample of the new High School Specials launching this summer:
Public Health in Belize
This project is ideal for students eager to gain practical experience in health care. Volunteers work on outreach programs in communities where access to basic medical services is difficult. They also have the opportunity to get involved with educational outreach and teach local people about various illnesses and the importance of staying healthy.
Human Rights in Ghana
This project is great for students who are interested in law and have a passion for human rights. Volunteers work at the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office alongside legal and human rights professionals, helping to raise awareness in local communities and observe cases.
Care & Community with French in Togo
Based in Lomé, Togo's capital city, this is a great project for anyone who wants to work with children and improve their French. Volunteers offer support at care facilities, while also contributing with hands-on renovation work, such as painting walls and planting vegetable gardens. During their stay, volunteers will also attend French classes to help strengthen their use of the language.
Popular programs, especially Care & Community and Medicine and Health Care, fill up quickly. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to reserve a place on the project of their choice. For information about volunteering for high school students with Projects Abroad, please visit www.projects-abroad.ca/
