| Growing up in Canada has afforded me a wealth of | | | | large and also wanted to help in creating services, or |
| travel possibilities and the desire to experience and | | | | working within existing organizations, which would |
| educate others around the world. Almost anywhere I | | | | provide the opportunity to change society and daily |
| could dream of travelling to for a holiday or city | | | | life for the better. |
| break is at my fingertips. | | | | There are many organizations which enable people |
| When I think about where I would like to go, my | | | | from all over the world to assist governments and |
| main areas of interest consist of cultural experiences, | | | | charities abroad to implement programs designed to |
| history, opportunities for hands on learning and full | | | | infrom and educate the general public. The |
| immersion. Of course sandy beaches and relaxation | | | | unfortunate thing about these agencies is that |
| appeal to me also but the idea of spending all my | | | | anyone who wishes to take part in their services |
| time in another country without seeing anything aside | | | | must first pay a fee of up to but not including $2000 |
| from beach bunnies, crashing waves and children | | | | USD. This agency fee is not inclusive of |
| making sand castles is short lived. | | | | accommodation, travelling expenses, food or drink. |
| I have travelled to three countries far away from | | | | Most often this fee doesn't even include your flight |
| my homeland to sample life as part of the working | | | | or cost of achieving the proper travel documentation. |
| class. I held employment and contributed to society | | | | A substantial amount of graduate students, gap year |
| while gaining experience, advice and additional | | | | students, retirees and people searching for a change |
| qualifications. | | | | and purpose feel a need to travel and assist abroad |
| I didn't want to be just another ignorant tourist | | | | in a variety of programs. These people are often |
| whose purpose for being in the area is only to see | | | | unable to carry through with their dreams because |
| the most reported sights and buy the local memoirs | | | | they don't have the funds to do so. |
| of a town they have only glimpsed. I wanted to | | | | It would be great to see a program offered to the |
| assimilate myself into the daily life of the people | | | | public by the government whereby these active and |
| surrounding me and experience all of the ups and | | | | eager individuals can receive some form of financial |
| downs the average person has to deal with daily. | | | | partnership. Such a difference can be made all ove |
| I wanted to have my eyes wide open to the | | | | rthe world if more people were able to spread their |
| poverty and conditions affecting the population at | | | | love, knowledge and kindness. |