Hello Everyone,

July 2009

It has been a busy month at Changing Worlds despite the fact that it is holiday time we seem to be inundated with enquiries – which I guess is good!

We have been very busy briefing people about their future trips – we have people going to Australia, China, Dubai, India, Kenya and New Zealand this coming September.

New Brochure

Shirley has been busy this month getting the new brochure designed and printed. As with all these things it tends to take longer to get completed than anticipated.

However it is now complete and the eagle eyed amongst you will recognise two new destinations added to our growing portfolio.

You can now download the new brochure at:

http://www.changingworlds.co.uk/DataStore/Cms/Accounts/1/BinaryObject/Images/brochure-button.gif

I hope you think it’s been worth the wait – we do!

Brazil

Changing Worlds has been approached by Bill and Cecilia Thomson asked for volunteer help from us.

Bill and Cecilia set up a crèche for poor Brazilian children in memory of their daughter Julia who was tragically killed in a road accident.

The crèche is based in a small town called Canavieiras on the coast of southern Brazil.

I will be going out to investigate further next month and will keep you informed.

South Africa

As a keen sportsman I am pleased to add this wonderful country to our list of destinations.

We are going to be sending people to two contrasting locations – Umtata in Eastern Province and Lydenburg to the north.

We are sending volunteers to teach sports (notably soccer, rugby, cricket) and English language to local children. The schools (children and staff) are very keen to accept volunteers from the UK.

Thanks

Jemma from Ghana has safely returned from her placement in Kumasi in Ghana. She writes in her e-mail:

‘Hi David,
 
I've got settled in from being away from Ghana now and would just like to say that I had a really amazing time. The whole thing was a great experience and I've got some links with my teachers in Ghana now and hope to go back there one day. Francis is really great and often helped me out when ever he could I really think he's a rare find. I would recommend the trip to anybody, I think I've matured as a person made new friends and managed to loose a stone so result all round.
 
Thanks for a really really great time!
 
Jemma Collins’

Jemma can be contacted at: jemmarules8@hotmail.com

Nick just had a ball in Nakuru, Kenya and writes:

Hi David,
 
Firstly i just want to apologise for never replying to this email below. I never actually saw it and only just found it when i was searching for your email address. But ye sure anything i say in emails you can use for your blog or another things as i really want to help karanja get more volunteers as i know he really enjoys having us out there.
 
Now I’m finally at home it has finally sunk in that i have left and may not see some of the friends or kids that i met again although i do plan to return next year. It really was the best six months of my life and i have no regrets about any of it. You meet some amazing friends, the kids provide you with such entertainment and karanja and his extended family really are some of the nicest people i have ever met. I think it is fair to say that i got to know karanja, mary and john better then many of the other volunteers and i can say that putting the kids aside they are the people i miss the most. The numerous nights out i had beating karanja and john at pool really were some of most fun and relaxing ways to spend the evenings and i can never remember a bad night with them. They are all now good friends and i really can’t wait to see them again.
 
As for the placements, although i have to be honest at times they can make you sad or challenge you, especially when a child tells you about a problem or something similar, they really are all amazing. Naka primary and Pistis academy the two places i worked at have provided me with some of the best moments of my life and saving goodbye to them was one of the worst. The kids are all so nice and in a selfish way when you do something nice to does make you feel very happy inside to see their happiness.
 
The other people that made my time such an amazing experience were my host family. Nancy and her children were alll so welcoming and i find i have made really good friends there (especially with Eustace, the son, and Nywera, the daughter). They all went out of the way to make us feel welcome and happy and i know its often said but very quickly it felt like another home. I really felt very lucky to experience an African family and i will definitely keep in touch with them as they are an amazing family.
 
Finally i just want to thank you. Without the support and planning of all of the staff in the UK none of this could have been possible. Maybe my view is slightly biased because of karanja but i can honestly say i dont think there would be a better gap year company then changing worlds. I am truly thankful for all you guys did making this possible and there is anything i can do in the future (talks or whatever) please let me know as i would be more than happy to help. Please also pass on my thanks to Shirley and everyone else involved.
 
Thanks again
 
Nick’

Nick can be contacted at: nick_aspinall@hotmail.co.uk

Health updates

Richard Oliver at the Year Out group has been keeping us updated on various health issues:

On the swine flu issue click on:

http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/h1n1.htm

On cholera click on:

http://www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/cholera_030809.htm

This is particularly relevant to people going to East Africa.

Fund raising

We have been introduced to a new website that is proving very helpful for fund raising ideas.

Jo Freeman gave us this link:

http://www.how2fundraise.org/

That’s about it for now!

Regards

David