Many of our ‘International Summers’ programs offer the chance to participate in community service excursions. (See optional excursions for each trip to sign up for these exciting programs). We offer a wide variety of activities that will help to make a difference.
Some of the amazing projects executed in 2009 include:
Costa Rica
While studying in Costa Rica, students have the opportunity to see local high school settings while teaching students English language skills. Students prepare lessons as a group and then deliver them to small groups of students their own age. Both Blyth and local students find this to be a rewarding and memorable experience.
Egypt
Taking time away from studies and touring, students have a chance to put smiles on the faces of children at Cairo’s Children’s Cancer Hospital. After a tour of the hospital, students work with patients on a craft activity in one of the hospital’s playrooms allowing them to interact and brighten the day of the children.
France
For this experience, students journey to one of Paris’ beautiful cathedrals where they work with other volunteers to make and serve mission lunches. Carrying on this 20 year tradition, students help to prepare and serve hot nutritious lunches to those in need in a restaurant-style, dignified manner. This allows the diners an opportunity to socialize with friends and gives them the respect that they need and deserve.
Galapagos
This community service project involves two parts – a school renovation project and working with the tortoise salvation program. Students begin the program by helping local kids through painting and spackling walls and fixing floors in small local schools. They then head to the tortoise centre to help those striving to preserve this endangered species. Students aid the organization by participating in tasks such as monitoring eggs, preserving habitat, and measuring or feeding baby and adult tortoises.
Greece
Students step up in Greece to help with a local Social Youth Development organization that is dedicated to a wide field of social and cultural activities including bettering the environment and working with kids in order to offer them better future choices. As volunteers, students engage with local youth while working on environmental and social projects.
Hawaii
For this community service project, students promote recycling in order to address the over-use of limited landfill sites on the islands. Working in collaboration with Kalaheo School and local environmental groups, students process a container delivery of expired beverages that are then shipped to Oahu for recycling and redemption. Profit from redemption helps to pay for the program and the rest goes back to Kalaheo School; thus, this project not only helps to recycle but also serves as a fundraiser for the local school.
Los Angeles
Students join the ranks of celebrities like Fergie who volunteer to prepare food at Project Angel Food. This organization prepares approximately 1600 meals a day for children, women and men who are affected by cancer, HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses and, for whatever reason, they do not have the ability to make or afford food themselves. After a brief orientation that outlines the meaning behind the work, students prepare meals with head chiefs that will be delivered to those in need.
New Zealand
Two community service opportunities have been available to students in New Zealand. Joining the Regional Parks Team for some voluntary environmental work near Christchurch, students help with an environmental clean up at Spencer Park. Moving on to the scenic landscape of beautiful downtown Queenstown, students give back to the local community while working for the Parks and Recreational department on a wilding trees control group project. Both of these outdoor programs capture the spirit of New Zealand while allowing students the opportunity to positively impact the environment.
Rome
Rome’s WWF organization works to preserve 130 nationally protected wildlife areas. This community service opportunity involves traveling to the closest oasis – this is the term given to their protected wild lands – to work on the many tasks that are crucial to maintaining the protected land such as cleaning beaches, counting and monitoring migrating birds, constructing bird’s nests and building paths and fences through parklands.