Hello PHPG enthusiasts!
As one of People Helping People Global’s newest interns, I
will be living in Nicaragua from mid-May through August 2012. And I couldn’t be
more excited! The more I learn about PHPG, the more I feel as though my values
align with those of the organization, and the more passionate I become about helping this amazing cause.
As an undergraduate student at Skidmore College, I am
dedicated to the study of Anthropology and Latin American Studies, both in the
classroom and in my extracurricular activities. While building an academic
foundation in fields that will aid me in my pursuit of international community
development, I have found external outlets to apply all that I have learned
from my professors, and to gain field experience. In an effort to improve the
lives of my neighbors, I am currently administering needs-assessment surveys to
the residents of local mobile home communities so that the Saratoga County
Economic Opportunity Council can improve and broaden their services. I am also
volunteering at a medium security correctional facility as a workshop leader to
open up dialogue among inmates on issues such as employment, stress management,
conflict resolution, and family reintegration. These opportunities have awarded
me the chance to work with unrepresented and undervalued populations living
right next door, and soon (although not soon enough), I’ll learn how to do the
same in Nicaragua.
While my micro-lending internship with PHPG in Nicaragua
will be a new and exciting experience, I am no stranger to the non-profit
sector. From my collaboration with many different NGOs while living in Mexico,
Peru, Ghana, and the United States, I have learned a good bit about how different
organizations function. And People Helping People Global already strikes
me as one of the most organized, well-intentioned, and efficient NGOs that I
have encountered thus far. Their dedication to promoting sustainability,
empowerment, and cultural pride is refreshing and inspiring. I can’t wait to
meet everyone and to be a part of this incredible mission.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward
to helping others to make a difference in their lives through People Helping
People Global.
Take care,
Phoebe
