retired_senegalg

Has anyone ever done anything like volunteering for a month or go in the summer for the UN or a charity or something in a third world nation? I've just been thinking that it might be an interesting way to spend a month or so next July but have ab****ely no idea how to go about looking into it, organising it etc. I've looked on the UN website but there don't seem to be any opportunities for unqualified teenagers to go out and lend a hand or something.

retired_jhr2211

do you know how tough both physically and emotionally that something like that is?

retired_senegalg

no, that's why I want to look into it as opposed to commit to it tonight

retired_laticia3

Precisely.

However, if you do go ahead with it, well done, you are a true credit to this world. :thup:

retired_senegalg

Part of the reason why it interests me is that I've never actually had the opportunity to burst my middle class, London bubble if you see what I mean. Incidentally Kris, have you got any experience of this that you'd care to share? It would be really interesting to hear other people's stories...

retired_jhr2211

Fair play if you want to do it, I couldn't hack the dying babies (and mothers at childbirth) and the severe poverty.

Ive seen enough poverty in the past month with a visit back to my wifes birthplace (Jamaica) during the hurricane to last me a lifetime. Yes , outside the touristy areas it really is bad.

People don't deserve to live like that and we, as an affluent country, should be ashamed to allow it to happen.

retired_kishnata

A few years ago, a friend/work collegue of mine raised quite a bit through charity events, and then with the proceeds he and some friends went to somewhere in Africa and set up a water supply to a village.

I had great admiration for him for doing that.

retired_jhr2211

Jamaica is a third world country, believe it or not, we think of palm trees and sandy shores when downtown kingston and spanish town are among some of the worst places Ive ever been to.

That and some of the most heart wrenching , because people young (as 10) and old (as 70) welcomed us and offered us food that they obviously set aside for a special meal. seeing young people in the blue mountains exploited for the coffee industry and then two days later hurricane dean hitting us and wiping out their livelyhood made me thing.

Hardly going to get any compensation, instead they'll go back to their family who will live off the meagre bit of land they own whilst not affording the education fees.

tbh , although the JLP promise free education, I doubt they will be better than the PNP.

retired_Angela Adams

Yeah I'm planning to do some of this crap this summer. Only for the CV mind, get in and out ASAP, don't want to be catching no lurgies.

retired_ks reddy

If he didn't pay a couple of grand to go there and do that, stop admiring him and poke him right in the eye instead.