Living in the rainforests of Siberut off the coast of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia is a small society of indigenous people, the Mentawai. Keeping the world as they know it is the goal of the Mentawai Cultural Ecotourism Association (MCEA). The tribal elders are teaching the young Mentawai how to better understand, respect and appreciate their own culture, which has been under attack for years and is in danger of disappearing.
By learning about their ancient cultures the Metawai become better tourist guides, being able to provide tourists with a understanding of this indigenous culture. The Native Planet organization is helping to empower their society by developing a global and cultural tourism strategy to implement sustainable economic alternatives; make the world aware of the Mentawai culture; secure international support; and in addition develop a managed tourism plan.
Native Planet has introduced some unique volunteer opportunities by offering volunteer bicycling adventures to raise funds. Through ride4areason.org they offer exciting bicycling adventures. The Native Planet Classic, is held in the breathtaking North Cascades available for both cyclists and non-cyclists. The pledges raised during this bicycling adventure provides more than 75% of the funding for on-site malaria control and other projects in Indonesia. Bicycling tours are also available in France, all benefiting Native Planet and indigenous peoples. Read more »
Occasionally Voluntology receives requests for help from small organizations that are located in remote villages in distressed areas. Some of these communities had been devastated by roving bands of terrorists, by disease or other conditions that have decimated the community.
By the virtue of a single individual or a small group of people, with a lot of energy and heart, who are working hard to return their communities to some sort of normalcy. Rebuilding homes, restoring some commercialism, creating medical facilities, and building resources to educate their children.
Each situation is specific to that community, so there are no absolute rules one can be guided by. I will share a few of those situations:
A medical organization in India was in the process of developing a brochure. They sent a working copy to Voluntology for information. I found that their knowledge of the English language, spelling and grammar was lacking. I reviewed their brochure, took the time to rewrite it, corrected their spelling and grammar. My changes were all accepted and they had a better written brochure.
A small village in Uganda desperately needs volunteers to teach their children in secondary school. Read more »
Brycen, Age 4, was born with pulmonary atresia, a rare heart defect. His first heart surgery was done when he was only two days old.
One of Brycen’s nurses encouraged his parents to contact “Make-A-Wish.” Two volunteer wish granters responded, and when they asked Brycen what he would like if he could wish for anything, he said, “A Baseball Field!” When asked why, he said, “Because I need a field that no one can kick me off of.”
350 birds and animals live comfortably and as normal as possible at the Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Warwickshire, UK, where love abounds. Their home is getting a bit small for all the wildlife currently living there and they need a larger home. To raise money they have launched a Charity Appeal – “Every Penny Counts.”
When I became aware of Jasmine’s story I immediately fell in love with her … you will too!
A DOG NAMED JASMINE
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished and had clearly been abused. Read more »
No one can survive very long without eating. Food and water deprivation is one of the worst disasters in the world, killing millions of people every year.
The Culinary Corps is doing its part to enrich lives and fortify communities through food-focused volunteer programs, by pulling together culinary professionals and students in frontline food-based humanitarian aid built upon a community’s own culinary heritage and nonprofit network.
Through their short-term volunteer programs, skilled culinary volunteers work in under-served communities, working closely with local leaders and culinary luminaries.
Since March 2007 they have completed seven trips. Six trips were held in New Orleans, and their last completed volunteer outreach trip was held in February 2010 in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Twelve exceptional culinary professionals volunteered for culinary service while learning about the cuisine of Puerto Rico.
Throughout American history charitable giving has never been the exclusive province of wealthy people, people from all walks of life have given generously for charitable causes, indeed the most generous Americans today, are the working poor, who give the most to charity as a proportion of their income.
Historically people did not donate money because of societal guilt, or by urging Read more »
I certainly am encouraged that this is actually the case.
MINE, the newest film showing the love of humans for their animals, is now being shown amongst one of the worst disasters (Katrina) in United States history. The movie explores how tragedy can intensify the bond between the original owners, rescuers, and adoptive parents. MINE is a compelling, character-driven story that challenges us to see the way we treat animals in our society as a reflection of how we treat ourselves – and each other.
Here’s the trailer for the movie, it’s heartbreaking when you see beloved pets abandoned because of a disaster. Read more »
Volunteer your time to give back to the park trails you love. Spend a week working on trails in spectacular national parks, forests and other public lands across America. Choose from amongst a 4, 7, or 10 day adventure. You’ll join a trail crew of 6 to 15 volunteers who share your passion for keeping the trails open, safe and enjoyable. Bring your own gear, get really dirty, and meet other wonderful volunteers while exploring America’s wildlands. Read more »
Congratulations to HandsOn of Greater Phoenix. Their 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration was their biggest event ever!
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon was one of the co-hosts of their first-ever Virtual Town Hall, held in seven cities across the country. Live interviews and footage were shown from a large clean-up project at South Mountain Park.
HandsOn of Greater Phoenix needs volunteers to help:
Make blankets for homeless teens
Swim with disabled youth
Prepare meals for homeless men, women, and children
provide educational programs for young children in shelters
Grand Canyon Trust offers free volunteer vacations at the Grand Canyon. The Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the United States. The Grand Canyon is located in the northwestern area of Arizona, and is impressive for its deep canyon, unusual and rugged landscape, and the abundance of native animals.
ABOUT LEVI
Levi Hastings, a 10-year-old from Phoenix found out about National Public Lands Day from Junior National Geographic magazine and convinced his mom to let him sign up for a project with the Grand Canyon Trust that he found on the web. Neither of them had ever gone camping before, but his mom Theresa was excited to provide new experiences for her son and was enthusiastic about the unknown adventure herself. They were among 10 other volunteers who traveled to the west side of the Kaibab Plateau just north of the Grand Canyon National Park to help plant native seeds that will eventually improve winter forage for the mule deer.
Theresa and Levi deepened their new connection to the Colorado Plateau by returning again this year. Levi initiated a recycling program at his home and reminds his family about resource conservation. The trips have made a difference in the lives of these wonderful volunteers and we can’t thank them enough. The Grand Canyon Trust Volunteer Program is proud to provide these opportunities to a great community of dedicated volunteers: first-timers and veterans alike. Read more »
Living in the rainforests of Siberut off the coast of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia is a small society of indigenous people, the Mentawai. Keeping the world as they know it is the goal of the Mentawai Cultural Ecotourism Association (MCEA). The tribal elders are teaching the young Mentawai how to better understand, respect and appreciate their own culture, which has been under attack for years and is in danger of disappearing.
better tourist guides, being able to provide tourists with a understanding of this indigenous culture. The Native Planet organization is helping to empower their society by developing a global and cultural tourism strategy to implement sustainable economic alternatives; make the world aware of the Mentawai culture; secure international support; and in addition develop a managed tourism plan.
Brycen, Age 4, was born with pulmonary atresia, a rare heart defect. His first heart surgery was done when he was only two days old.
The 
Volunteer your time to give back to the park trails you love. Spend a week working on trails in spectacular national parks, forests and other public lands across America. Choose from amongst a 4, 7, or 10 day adventure. You’ll join a trail crew of 6 to 15 volunteers who share your passion for keeping the trails open, safe and enjoyable. Bring your own gear, get really dirty, and meet other wonderful volunteers while exploring America’s wildlands. 