I started this blog because I figured it would be the easiest way to update those who are interested about what I will doing in Fiji this summer.
To start off I'll give a little background about why I will be in Fiji. I have been wanting to do a humanitarian-type service thing overseas for a long time and stumbled upon HELP International (http://help-international.org) at a career fair at school a year ago. I did some research and decided this organization would be the best fit for me for a few reasons. First off, a lot of LDS students go and I knew I would be able to go to church while participating. Secondly, it seemed like a pretty good deal cost-wise compared to other organizations I was looking at. It just so happens that I want to be involved in international development, fighting poverty, and travel the world, so this type of opportunity was just what I was looking for in an internship.
Now to add a few good words about HELP, because it is the main reason I am going there. HELP International is a non-profit organization based in Provo, UT that sends college-age volunteers to several developing countries throughout the world each summer (as of right now Peru, El Salvador, Fiji, Thailand, Uganda, India, Tanzania, and Belize). The purpose of HELP is to empower individuals while developing sustainable projects that will help the individuals in these countries improve their standard of living and rise out of poverty.
When most people hear I'm going to Fiji they say a couple of things: "Where is Fiji exactly?" I had that thought when I was deciding which country to choose. I knew it was a tropical island somewhere in the world. I found out it is north of New Zealand, about two inches above it on the map I looked at, if that helps at all. There are two main islands, and hundreds of smaller surrounding ones. The second thing, actually probably the first because most people won't or don't want to admit they don't know where Fiji is at, people say is "That will be fun," because they, like I, picture a tropical island, laying in the sun, swimming in warm water, doing fun touristy stuff. I will have a chance to do that a little but the bulk of my time will be spent serving people in the poor villages.VolunTourism is what it is called sometimes. About a quarter of the Fijian people try to survive on less than a dollar a day. These are the people I will be interacting with as the other volunteers and I teach them valuable skills to help them improve their standard of living.
I am stoked, excited, ecstatic, happy, whatever word you want to use to have this opportunity. I hope you can share in the experience I have, and hopefully, one day I'll be reading about your adventures.
