The stars of Eikomena

I paid another quick visit to Moldova.

Projects Abroad sponsors an A Division football team there, called Eikomena. We have a UEFA coach, Victor Afansiev – known by his first name and patronymic “Victor Ivanovich”. He’s pretty good at cajoling, encouraging and developing our team and the results this season so far have been okay.

We will be putting in a link on the Moldovan pages of our website to the new team site in due course. In the meantime, volunteers or interested colleagues can train with Eikomena. They can really become part of a live working European football team. At the same time, there are plenty of opportunities for training kids because Victor Ivanovich is also deputy head of a children’s sports academy in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital.

You can follow our team and Moldova’s Divizia A on Soccerway here and you can wish our team good luck for their next two matches against Sheriff on 4th October and against Floreni on 20th October. Please feel free to email the five English-speaking members of the team:

Peter Radu wwwbelenikii@mail.ru
Vitaly Bulala vbulala@gmail.com
Dmitrii Plamadeala kaka55@bk.ru
Stas: stass_mun@yahoo.com
Viorel Catrinici viorel89@mail.ru

Chisinau is where the team and our office and Moldovan colleagues are all based. It’s pronounced “Kishy-Now” and it’s a nice city of about half a million people. I really like the centre, a leafy provincial capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and largely unspoiled. The Second World War – the Moldovans fought on both sides – passed it by although there was a huge battle on the Prut River a few miles west. Then Moldova joined the Soviet Union and they built a lot of tower blocks. But still, the Latin-Slav mix, the copious red wine (and the odd vodka) and the excellent local sausages all serve to soften the sharp edges. Chisinau can be quite relaxing.

Peter Slowe
1st October 2007

Karen Panum Thisted, our Programme Advisor in Denmark

By Karen Panum Thisted

Working as a Projects Abroad volunteer in 2005, first Mexico and then Peru for two months respectively, was a huge experience for me! I dare to day that anyone having volunteered abroad will agree with me that it is a unique experience to live and work in another culture. But not only was my experience with Projects Abroad amazing, it also encouraged me to expose this unique opportunity to other people. Thus, when I returned from my travels I was eager to pass Projects Abroad’s opportunities on to other people, young as well as old. I accidentally, but very fortunately, met the director of Projects Abroad, Peter Slowe, while volunteering in Mexico and I kept in touch with him. A few years later he contacted me and said that a new contact person for Denmark was needed. And here I am!

My first priority was translating the English web page into Danish, a process which began shortly after I started. It turned out to be more extensive that expected, a 120 hour long task – very interesting, but very tough and challenging as well! (You can see all of Karen’s hard work at www.projects-abroad.dk)

I also went to the United Kingdom to visit the Projects Abroad Headquarters and all our employees there. I met everyone at the office and I was introduced to our data system as well as many of our procedures.

Currently, my job consists of answering e-mails and calls from Danish prospects, updating the Danish web page and advertising campaigns – and generally staying updated of the changes in our organisation and projects.

I love working in an international environment and I like having the high degree of responsibility as I have for the Danish marketing. But most of all I love working for a concept that I believe in.
The best part is sending volunteers out in developing countries knowing that they will gain similar experiences as the ones I gained myself.

Faye leading a presentation

By Faye Stickings,

The past few months has seen the introduction of a new venture for the UK team of Projects Abroad – Projects Abroad Information Evenings.

Whilst the numbers at our Open Days across the country are always high, it seemed unfair that for a few, it meant travelling the width of the country to find out more. So, we have set out to bring these events closer to the public, by holding smaller regional events throughout the year. In the past few months we have held Information Evenings in Durham, Cardiff and Manchester. The events are much smaller than our usual Open Days; no classic Peter Slowe style speeches (or even a cup of coffee and a choccie biccie unfortunately), but they allow a more informal meet ‘n’ greet style session to take place. It gives our potential volunteers a chance to fire questions at our staff members on a one-to-one basis and meet some of our past volunteers.

Information Evenings will now be run throughout the year in the UK in the following cities – Durham, Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bath, so for any of you looking to meet us, please keep checking here for a date near you.

By Emma McWhinney and Melody Remnant

Thailand is different to home in so many ways. Our time at Ban Klong Hang School has provided countless examples of ways in which the institution of school varies considerably from country to country.

Ban Klong Haeng school is located minutes from Ao Nang, the main tourist strip in the region. Despite the overwhelming presence of tourists in the area the students were fascinated by our presence at their school. The first few lessons were nothing more than photo opportunities for the students, intermingled with some basic getting to know you.

Teaching the older students (12-15 year olds) was most certainly a challenge. Whilst it is easy for us to see how beneficial it is to be multilingual, some of the students lacked motivation and were generally disengaged when it came to English (especially written English). However some of the most rewarding moments of our stay here so far have been associated with these same disengaged students. Seeing the transformation in both the behaviour and ability of countless individuals has truly made us feel like our effort and persistence has made a difference in their lives.

The teachers at Ban Klong Haeng were eager to find out about our lives at home and frequently offered us food and little treats. Our main teaching contact, Yu, spoke fantastic English and was always keen to ensure we felt welcome and comfortable. It’s fair to say that our presence brought much laughter to the staff room.

Despite the fact that our time at Ban Klong Haeng was short we feel that our assistance and the resources we brought with us were truly appreciated. Our creativity was constantly challenged as a result of the limited teaching materials. We therefore hope that future volunteers will strive to help the staff and students at Ban Klong Haeng in anyway possible.

You can learn more about Teaching in the beautiful country of Thailand here

Thai school children

By Kelsy Nelson, Program Advisor in our New York office and a recent visitor in Morocco

Hailing from the fashion Mecca of the United States (representin’ Brooklyn y’all!), it’s impossible to travel and not notice how ladies around the world make Tyra proud. For me, the most stressful part of packing is trying to be culturally sensitive while feeling comfortable in my clothes. So, as we beckon on spring and volunteers making bold fashion choices in our destination countries, I present you with the first ever Projects Abroad style guide:

*~*Rockin’ au Maroc*~*

Country Director Saad Rbiai and myself in the ferocious Projects Abroad Morocco office

1.) Head and Shoulders

I know the whole of North Africa can get pretty hot, but ladies keep those shoulders to yourself! I have to admit I was surprised with how liberal some Rabatonians dressed, though I would advise to strut conservatively on Mohammed V’s catwalk. Lightweight cardigans and button up shirts ensure you’re covered while staying fashion forward with layers.

2.) Scarves, Scarves, Scarves!

Keeping your chest covered is important for being respectful. Since turtlenecks probably aren’t everyone’s ideal outwear during the heat of summer, so full bodied scarves are a good alternative for dressing modestly. They’re useful for covering up shoulders, collar bones, or simply looking fabulous.

A volunteer utilizing the scarf method on a Teaching Project

3.) The Bottom Half

When it comes to pants, anything goes in Morocco. Loose pants are preferable in the hotter months, but if you want to go Sienna Miller style with skinny jeans, then more power to you. As far as skirts go, make sure they at least hit your knee (but longer is better). Short shorts are always a no.

4.) Footwear

Rabat is a very walkable city, so shoes you can wear for hours are important. Sneakers are a must, but having sturdy sandals for the warmer weather (and desert if you’re lucky enough to go) will come in useful. Maybe throw in a pair of fun flats for the volunteer socials.

n conclusion, keeping your sense of style while dressing for the culture of Morocco is easy as 1,2,3,4. As Hardy D. Jackson once said, “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” Word

Passport? Check. Plane tickets? Check. Guide Book? Check. Goofy photo of myself? Check

Our 2 week summer specials for High School students between the ages of 16-19 have been a big success since we introduced them four years ago and applications have set record numbers for this upcoming summer.

Programs range from Medicine in Argentina to Marine Conservation in Thailand, so there is something for everyone.

North Americans on several programs have the option of flying to their destination with a Projects Abroad staff member on an escorted flight from New York-JFK airport.

In Ghana, volunteers for the Care and Community and the Sports 2 week specials starting July 20th can fly with a staff member to Accra.

In Peru, volunteers for the Inca and Conservation 2 week specials starting August 3rd through August 16th can fly with Jessye, a Program Advisor in our New York office to Cusco and Puerto Maldonado.

If you are already signed up or plan on joining us on the Medicine or Veterinary Medicine summer specials in India starting July 20th, you could sit my row on the plane to Chennai. I promise I am not an armrest hog!

If you have any questions about the escorted flights for the 2008 2 week summer specials to Peru, India and Ghana, please give us a call at 1-888-839-3535.

A view of Terminal 4, New York-JFK airport

A street side shot of the office before the Open House began (we’re on top!)

Guests at the office

Yesterday, we in the Toronto office prepared for our first Open House BBQ and to great success! The office was bustling with perspective volunteers, parents, and friends from the moment our doors opened at 4pm. It was well worth the planning to see so many gathered with collective interests, similar goals and a desire to explore.

We were fortunate to have received generous donations for the BBQ and were able to raise awareness of our initiative to help in the refurbishment of Peruvian schools in the Sacred Valley.

The Journalism and Conservation Leaflets

Projects Abroad Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank the alumni and local businesses that helped make this event a success. Thanks in particular to our Romanian alumna, Illana and Maegan for manning the BBQ and bearing the weather!

We’re looking forward to hosting future events that share a similar goal and to meeting new volunteers and their families.

To all those who came, it was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to hearing of your adventures to come! Many thanks for a successful Open House!

-Kyra

We’ve got a weiner!

This video from the Projects Abroad Youtube Page is the new favorite in the US office. Which video should we feature next week?

A scene from our Care program in India