High School Student Volunteers Abroad to Discover His True Potential
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) September 17, 2014 -- It’s rare to find a 17 year old high school student that has the courage to volunteer abroad in a foreign land. While most students from his high school were probably lazing away their summer back in the United States, Keenan Beaudette spent his summer break in Nepal working with orphan children and constructing a garden.
On his high school volunteer abroad program, customized especially for him by Cross-Continental, Keenan gained valuable international experience and earned volunteer hours. He was able to get involved in two different projects abroad: an orphanage project and a garden construction project at a local school. In the attached video (http://youtu.be/pGMHoA-yh28), Keenan showcases the authentic Nepali experience in Asia.
Talking about the international volunteer experience, Keenan says, “During my stay here, I have been more than pleased with the accommodations and organization/planning done by the CrossContinental team. My host family was extremely hospitable." He continues, "This [experience] was very rewarding and memorable."
Departing on an international trip to volunteer in an unfamiliar country can be as nerve-wrecking as it is exciting. Such trips are especially rewarding for impressionable teenage students who may be influenced from all their experiences. However difficult it may be for parents of such students who embark on this exciting journey of cultural discovery, it is nevertheless an experience of a lifetime.
Recognizing this, Sheila, Keenan’s mother allowed her son to take his trip with the continued guidance and support of the Cross-Continental family, and she appears very satisfied. All praises, she states: “Keenan had a phenomenal experience in Nepal. He was very moved by the children at the orphanage during his first two weeks and he absolutely LOVED his host family that he spent his second 2 weeks with."
Sheila also expresses sincere appreciation to the international coordinator Jenn Leslie, "As a mom, it was not easy sending my 17 yr old son half way around the world on such a big undertaking, but having you at the helm made me feel so much better and I can’t thank you enough for that! You were always very professional, informative, understanding and very pleasant. I would highly recommend your organization to anyone looking into an experience like this."
Any teenager who volunteers on an international level develops a lasting appreciation for all the opportunities to be had in the developed world. Keenan shares, "I learned to value education. In the US, education is a given and it's easy to take for granted. But here, you know, kids are walking 5 miles just to get to school on their own with no government mandate. That opened my eyes."
Teenagers like Keenan are able to discover their true potential as individuals, and have the opportunity to explore their capacity to adapt and evolve in an unknown environment. They can develop a lasting cultural understanding, they can make new friends, connect with new people and make memories that will stay with them for years to come.
Appreciating the efforts of Cross-Continental Solutions for organizing a trip that fulfilled his requirements and exceeded his expectations, Keenan says, “ CrossContinental was able to create a custom plan for my stay based on my feedback. All of the logistics and home-stays were set up. The affordable fees were well worth it as they were able to set up a solid structure for my stay in Nepal.”
An organization like Cross-Continental Solutions caters to each individual student, intern or volunteer based on their needs and interests. Their international internships and volunteer abroad programs are designed to offer deep cultural immersion.
Access free resources or plan a life-changing trip at https://www.CrossContinental.org.
About CrossContinental.org:
Cross-Continental Solutions provides affordable yet flexible international learning programs, including volunteer abroad, intern abroad, cultural immersion, language study, and gap year programs. International internships can even be taken for university credit. A large variety of work placement options are available such as: Teaching, Healthcare, Community Development, Business Coaching, HIV work, Care-giving, Orphanage Work, Journalism, Photography, Wildlife, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Microfinance, Tourism, Marketing, and more. Programs are available at many locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. By living and working side by side with locals, participants gain an exceptional cross-cultural experience and the opportunity to truly make a difference. For more details, visit CrossContinental.org.
Jian Leslie, Cross-Continental Solutions Inc., http://www.CrossContinental.org, +1 (604) 700-6096, [email protected]
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