Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I thought all you world travelers and future world travelers would like this video. It seems like Matt from the video may have traveled to more places than our founder Dr. Peter Slowe but I would wager that Peter is probably a much better dancer.

Just wondered if anyone had some interesting celebrations for New Year they have encountered around the world.

I have encountered New Year in the UK on most occasions and enjoyed it in a pub which is always good fun if a bit predictable.

I had a slightly surreal New Year in Moldova one year where we gradually celebrated across Europe celebrating Midnight in Moscow, Midnight in Chisinau followed by Midnight in London. This was all done watching a slightly fuzzy black and white television. I think the fuzz was from the television although looking back on the traditional Moldovan vodka toasts it might have been the alcohol.

Another strange one was in Mexico. Having arrived from the UK the day before I would have been quite keen to have had an early night but the Mexicans and an infamous ex-volunteer Elliott Stollar had other ideas. We went to an organised party before beating a piñata which dropped sweets all over the floor. We then followed Mexican tradition and counted down the twelve rings of midnight whilst eating grapes.

- Ian Birbeck

Sornavel, a member of our Travel Team, has just returned from representing Tamil Nadu at India’s National Tennikoit Championship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennikoit.

He finished second in the Men’s event and third in the Mixed Doubles event.

He is a superstar in the India office!

If you wish, you can pass your congratulations to him by sending an email to
travel@projects-abroad.org.

- Greg Thomson

Sornavel in action!

Students at the Conakry airport (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

Although we don’t work in the country of Guinea in West Africa, I came across this story and had to put something up about it on the blog. The Associated Press released a story that was picked up by newspapers, both big and small, around the world about school children heading to Conakry’s international airport at night because it is the only place where they’ll always find lights to study by.

Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and only about one fifth of the countries 10 million people have access to electricity and those who do often experience frequent power outages. It is exam season now and students flock to the lights of the airport so they continue to study into the night.

The Lede, a blog of the New York Times, put it best as the scene “transmutes what would be an ominous scene in an American suburb - a horde of kids milling around a parking lot at all hours - into one of resourcefulness and hope in Africa.”

While students in the developed world have new books, libraries and free, compulsory education, such a scene also highlights the enormous hurdles kids have to access education in the developing world. It is certainly something to think about and a prime example of how education and teaching is one way volunteers can make a true impact in local communities.

Do any volunteers or alumni remember situations like this where students went above and beyond to gain access to education?