The family perspective: Creating lasting bonds on a ME to WE Volunteer Adventure
When nine-year-old Maguire Maloney and his sister Finnley, 8, learned they were travelling to Kenya with their parents, they were excited to see what the country really looked like outside of the movies. As a family, the Maloneys fundraised to build a classroom in Laila, a community that sits on the open grassland of the Maasai Mara. Eager to understand how their efforts had actually helped local children access an education, Maguire and Finnley were surprised at what they saw. They met local children—just a few years younger—and visited their school. They noticed many differences: smaller classrooms, students in bare feet and a library with dusty books.
“We got to meet the kids and there was a huge celebration and dancing to thank us for the classroom,” said Finnley. “These kids are so happy. It made me feel happy and loved.”
During the celebration, two men handed their mother a goat as a gesture of thanks. Maguire and Finnley named it Laila, after the community. Maguire said the event made him think about his own classroom back home.
“I’m really grateful we have a big school,” he said. “Our life is so much easier.”
Another highlight of the trip was going on Safari to see stunning views of the Maasai Mara landscape and encounter Kenya’s Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos.
“One of my favourite memories was being on safari” added Maguire. “We saw so many animals and even watched a baby wildebeest learn how to stand, walk and then run!”
With Maasai warriors as their guides, the family learned about traditional Maasai ways of life on morning walks, including weapons used to hunt animals and plants used for medicine. It was a trip unlike any other they’d experienced and through it all, Maguire and Finnley were happy to have their parents at their side.
“I felt that we really bonded on the trip because when we saw something amazing, we were able to share it with our family,” said Finnley.
Looking to connect with your family on a one-of-a-kind ME to WE Volunteer Adventure? Discover a new culture and make a difference together! Contact us to find out more.
Travel Photo Diary: India’s Holi Festival of Colours
Embracing a colourful life
What does it feel like to have coloured powder caked in your hair, stain your clothes, clog your ears and stuck between your teeth? It’s magical. This year, we were fortunate to head on a ME to WE Trip to India during one the country’s most popular festivals: Holi.
The Holi festival is about happiness, renewal and celebrates the beginning of spring. This sentiment carries over into all aspects of life, celebrating the joy and happiness of all things NEW and even the renewal of relationships. It was this feeling that rang true most with our group as we bonded through the experience, deepening our friendship on a whole new level!
When we joined the crowd for the first night of the festival—called Fire Holi because of the burning of straw structures and fireworks in the city square—we saw it as a unique chance to meet locals and learn more about the Indian culture. Everyone was incredibly friendly and eager to explain the rituals and myths behind the festival.
Photos by: Shauna Boshier
The second day of the festival is called Play Holi and was definitely our most favourite. We purchased bags of colour from market stalls and joined the crowd again. Smearing colour on strangers’ faces was a bit out of the norm for us, but the mood was fun and we quickly found it easy to exchange a few Hindi phrases mixed with English.
Photos by: Shauna Boshier
Our group ventured through the streets, dipping our hands in the powder and covering anyone we encountered with colour—mostly each other! At one point, we all grabbed arms and said how incredible it was—we were in India, thousands of miles from home and on an adventure of a lifetime together. It was a moment we would never forget.
Photo by: Shauna Boshier
The crowd at the base of the temple looked as though a rainbow had showered all over them. Everywhere we looked was plastered with colour—streets, cars, cows and more! It made us realize how amazing it would be to experience this all the time, and we wanted to bring this world of colour and excitement into our lives at home. We promised each other we would continue to honour our friendships when we returned to North America and spread this new sense of vibrancy everywhere.
Photo by: Shauna Boshier
No one wears colour quite as well as this cow, a scared animal in India.
Photo by: Shauna Boshier
Our wanderlust spirit was definitely sparked in India and we’re so excited to connect with more amazing cultures on another ME to WE Trip! Interested in joining the ride? Find out more!
When you choose a ME to WE Artisans piece for your mom, it’s so much more than just a gift—it’s wrapped up in a story of love, empowerment, and new possibilities.
Working with ME to WE Artisans is just the beginning of the journey many mamas take to transform not only their own lives, the well-being of their families, communities and the world. Earning a sustainable income opens up a world of possibility and paves the way for a mama to:
Send her kids to school
On average, six children—and with the support of the community, helping them attend high school and university, too!
Grow a home garden
Supplying food for up to seven family members
Invest in her home
Including improvements like stone walls and aluminum roofing
Start a small business
Buying goats or chickens to make a profit on eggs or milk
Pass on her beading tradition and skills to future generations
More than a provider, a mama is a leader—she teaches and inspires the next generation. She guides tomorrow’s leaders by sharing her skills and wisdom. Through her innovation and leadership, a mama helps to create a better tomorrow for her community: whether it’s by building her savings to invest in her family’s future, or giving her children the knowledge and skills to reach their full potential. This Mother’s Day, you’re helping make that transformation possible for more than 1,000 mamas in Kenya.
Here, leaders from all over the world come together, each ready to take their passion for world change to the next level. Days are spent exploring the incredible landscape (which senior speaker and leadership facilitator Emily Summers describes as “magical”!), diving headfirst into daily life on a ranch, and delving into pressing local issues.
Every activity and every day at Windsong is an experience in itself, each giving leaders the skills and inspiration to lead local and global change.
“Whether you’re learning about the land and food security or migration issues, there’s a connection back to the environment and the ways we interact with the world,” says Emily.
Head to Windsong’s outdoor patio on a warm summer evening, and you just might find a group of Take Action Camp campers deep in discussion, sharing stories from their day volunteering at Boys and Girls Club. Fellow campers spent the day at other local organizations, learning about local issues and finding out how they can make a difference in their own communities at home.
Tomorrow morning, everyone’s looking forward to helping out with chores around the ranch. This may sound boring but it’s definitely far from it! In Arizona, living off the land is the name of the game, whether you’re collecting eggs, helping feed the resident horses and goats or harvesting fresh veggies from the garden. All meals at Windsong include ingredients grown right on the ranch!
“In Arizona, you can live the ME to WE philosophy every day in every action you take—from the food you harvest, to the way you conserve water, to the volunteer projects in the community,” says Erin Blanding, Director of Operations in California and Arizona. “Everything has a positive impact on the planet and people.”
Visit Windsong at the beginning of another week, and you may run into another group of young leaders, these ones ready to take the next step on their leadership journey. It’s time for Advanced Leadership Training—which is a brand new program this summer! This group’s time at Windsong will be spent developing their personal leadership styles to become strong leaders in any group—whether it’s a sports team, school club or in the workplace. One of the most unforgettable experiences of the week will be a desert camping adventure at Ravens-Way Wild Journeys, where the leaders will work together as a team to learn real-life survival skills.
Finally, another group you’ll run into at Windsong are these rockstar leaders taking part in Advanced Facilitation Training! Each will have a chance to design and facilitate a social justice workshop based on an issue they’re passionate about, then receive extensive and personal feedback from some of ME to WE’s most senior facilitators.
Five reasons ME to WE Trips to China this summer are going to be amazing!
1. There’s never been a ME to WE Trip like this before.
For the first time, travellers will have a chance not just to visit Free The Children communities and meet community members there, but also spend time with Chinese youth who are travelling on their own ME to WE Trip. Connect with and volunteer alongside these youth who live across the world from you, but have the same goal of making a difference! Gain a new perspective on what “being the change” is like for these youth, and learn about what the ME to WE movement is like in China.
2. These trips are about creating connections across cultures.
You’ll get to know your peers from Beijing or Shanghai, learn about Chinese life and culture, and share your own culture with your new friends. Together, you’ll be immersed into Chinese culture as you explore the country and learn more about its rich history. Visit a Free The Children community together, where you’ll meet and work alongside local community members. Your new friends will be able to help you navigate the cultural divide, whether they’re helping translate or helping you practice your Mandarin.
3. You’ll help make an impact that’s local and global.
Volunteer alongside your Chinese travel companions in a community partnered with our charity partner, Free The Children. Teach English at a primary school, or work on a development project like building a classroom or well. Every project supports Free The Children’s holistic and sustainable development model. You’ll be making an impact on a global level, while your Chinese peers give back locally. Everyone will leave the experience having gained a greater understanding of sustainability and development, and feeling inspired to keep making a difference at home—wherever home may be!
4. It’s full of adventure!
You’ll travel through urban and rural China, discovering new places and having new experiences every day! Explore contrasting landscapes, each stunning in their own way—from the bustling metropolitan of Beijing or Shanghai, to rural mountain villages and lush green landscapes. Witness the vast contrast between urban and rural life in China and discover how this relates to issues such as access to resources, including education, health care and clean water.
5. You’ll experience something new every day.
Bond with new friends and take part in fun leadership activities together. Volunteer in a Free The Children community as you immerse yourself in Chinese culture and practice your skills in Mandarin. Visit the city of Shaolin, where you’ll get to know kids at an orphanage, and learn the arts of Kung Fu and meditation from Shaolin Monks. And walk the Great Wall of China or set out on an unforgettable mountain hike. On this trip, every day is an adventure.
We just got some exciting news about Kenya’s Kisaruni All Girls Secondary School and couldn’t wait to share it with you! January’s graduating class recently took the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam. The results are in, and Kisaruni ranked number one out of 112 schools in Narok County!
This exam is taken by all students graduating from secondary school in Kenya, and it determines students’ eligibility for post-secondary education. Students’ results are also compared with others across the country, and this year, two of our graduates achieved incredible results that broke records! Meet Salome and Marcella.
Salome Maroko, superstar student
We’re so proud of Salome! Salome is the first girl in Narok County to earn an overall A grade on her secondary school exams. Now, she’s hoping to earn a university scholarship so she can continue her studies and become a doctor.
Salome has come a long way to get where she is now. She grew up in the rural community of Oloosiyoi with her parents and four siblings. Her parents are subsistence farmers, but when droughts hit and their crops failed, they found it difficult to provide for their family’s basic needs. On school holidays, Salome and her sister had to work at neighbouring farms to earn extra money for uniforms, books and school supplies. It wasn’t always easy, but Salome managed to graduate primary school and earn a place at Kisaruni, which gave her a chance at a secondary education she may not have otherwise been able to access.
“Everyone in my community was so happy when they found out about my results!” says Salome. “I went to visit my primary school and the children ran toward me when they saw me coming.”
Marcella Sang, future journalist
Marcella is another recent Kisaruni grad you just have to meet! In her exams, Marcella was one of just 36 students across all of Kenya who scored an A or A- in English, and is also the first student in Narok County to earn an A in English.
Marcella grew up in the rural community of Pimbiniet and is one of 11 children. She holds the honour of being the first in her family to graduate high school. Like her classmate Salome, Marcella also had to overcome obstacles to finish primary school. Her parents struggled to provide Marcella with all the supplies she needed for school. But Marcella worked hard, and received top marks in her primary school exams before being accepted at Kisaruni. Someday, she hopes to become a journalist.
“This school has changed my life completely,” says Marcella. “I have gained leadership skills and I have excelled in academics. When I started Kisaruni, I was shy and not able to address people in public. That’s changed—I have a voice now.”
Education is transformative—Marcella and Salome’s stories are proof of that. Stories like theirs remind us of why we do the work we do at ME to WE. We’re so proud of the entire Kisaruni graduating class, and look forward to seeing their accomplishments in the years to come.
These amazing results would not have been possible if not for the support of our partners, whether you’re an individual adult, youth, educator or group, we can’t thank you enough. If you’re inspired to continue being a part of the change, we invite you to visit Kisaruni and other similar projects—you can meet students like Marcella and Salome, and work towards sustainable change alongside a Free The Children community. Learn more here or fill out our contact form to speak to someone on our team today.
ME to WE speaker and seasoned traveller Spencer West takes over the blog this week to look back on some of his most memorable moments on ME to WE Trips.
Hey friends! I am so excited to take over the blog and tell you all about my top ten ME to WE Trip memories. It took a while to choose just 10! Over the years I’ve met so many inspiring people, seen dozens of unique landscapes and worked on a diverse range of development projects. One of my favourite parts of travelling is meeting dedicated youth, like you, who take the time to fly across the globe and get their hands dirty. If you want to learn more and meet some staff and trip alumni, be sure to come out to your city’s stop on the ME to WE Trips Tour! So here’s my top ten:
1. The numbers
When I went on my first ME to WE Trip in 2008, I never imagined what it would lead to! I think the only word to describe the numbers surrounding my trips is EPIC: More than 15 trips to visit four continents, five countries, 10 communities and hundreds of new friends!
2. My favourite landscape
No matter where I am in the world or what kind of a day I’m having, I can close my eyes and picture this one clearing in Kenya. It’s right near our Bogani camp and overlooks the Maasai Mara, with rolling hills and farmland stretching out as far as you can see. As you look across the landscape, you’ll notice the light green roofs of Free The Children schools dotted across the landscape, and hear the tinkling of bells from herds of goats and cattle. And in the middle of this clearing is a giant acacia tree that must be more than 100 years old. It’s the perfect spot to take in the sunset, with the sky’s stunning reds, yellows, oranges and pinks filtering through the branches.
3. One of the most inspirational people I’ve met
When I was visiting the new Empowerment Centre in Kenya, I noticed one man among the crowd of mamas. His name was Daniel. Just like me, he has no legs and walks on his hands. I was moved by his story. When the empowerment centre first opened, mamas from the surrounding communities were invited to come and learn how to bead. Daniel came too, and he turned out to be the best beader there! He showed me that even on the other side of the world, people are breaking down barriers and stereotypes, redefining what is possible for themselves and others.
4. The weirdest food I’ve tried
Goat! It’s a delicacy in many parts of the world, only eaten on special occasions or for community celebrations.
5. The coolest cultural activity
It’s a tie between two: doing weapons training with Maasai warriors and beading with mamas. Both things are so much harder than they look! It’s always an honour when people let us into their lives to learn more about their culture.
6. A difficult moment
One of the most emotional moments for me was the first time I left Kenya in 2008, wondering if I would ever come back or see the community members again that I’d gotten to know throughout my trip. Though it had only been a few weeks, it felt like I had known my new friends for much longer. But I’ve been lucky to return to Kenya many, many times since then. Now when I leave, I know it’s never goodbye, just see you later.
7. A really cool action plan I heard about
One young woman who was a participant on one of my trips started this amazing fair trade website to provide consumers with information on where they could find fair trade products in their area. It’s such a unique idea and a cool way to help people live me to we every day!
8. One person I’ll always remember
The first time I went to Kenya, I met a young girl who, when talking about the loss of my legs, said “I didn’t know that things like this happened to white people, too.” That phrase changed my life. We both realised that we all face challenges, no matter where we live in the world.
9. An unforgettable moment
On my first trip to Kenya, a Maasai warrior, Wilson, chose a Maasai name for me: Olopiro. It’s the Swahli word for the wind that lifts up a bird, and it reminds me of a Barbra Streisand song I’m always singing, A Piece of Sky. “If you can fly, then you can soar.”
10. Where to next?
India! I’m headed there this summer and can’t wait to join more trip participants on the experience of a lifetime and take in all India has to offer, from samosa-making to morning yoga to exploring temples and palaces. I’m so excited to reunite with friends I’ve made in communities across Rajasthan, and see the progress on the volunteer projects I’ve worked on in Rajasthan over the years.
What will make your top ten list? Find out on a ME to WE Trip. Join us on the ME to WE Trips Tour to learn more.
Our newest ME to WE Trip destination, the Dominican Republic, offers an experience that’s like no other trip! We caught up with a few of our travellers and a ME to WE facilitator from a trip to the Dominican to find out what makes the trip so awesome and an experience you don’t want to miss.
The people
Meet Robert and Judy, who trip facilitator Andrew Jones describes as “the Beyoncé and Jay Z of the Dominican.” This power couple work tirelessly in the community of Asher to help improve access to education. On your trip, you’ll work alongside Robert, Judy and local community members to build a new school.
The community members
When you’re not busy volunteering on the build site, connect with local kids and teach each other games and songs. Even though you may not speak the same language, it doesn’t matter! Sometimes even a simple smile and high-five can go a long way.
“We all understood why we were on the trip and the importance of what we were doing,” says traveller Zeynep Guzide. “But meeting the kids made the experience more tangible. You realize that these are the kids that will benefit from the school you’re building, and that’s really awesome.”
The issues you’ll dive into
On a Dominican trip this summer, you’ll be joined by special guest Robin Wiszowaty. Not only is Robin our Projects Director in Kenya and the Dominican, she’s also a super inspiring WE Day speaker and author of the book My Maasai Life. Robin will lead a workshop for your group to share her experiences of living with a Maasai family in Kenya and her extensive knowledge on international development. Then, you’ll have a chance to experience it all firsthand as you volunteer alongside local communities on a school-building project. Many of the community members you’ll meet are Haitian citizens living in the Dominican. As you get to know them, you’ll learn more about migration and border issues and the unique challenges this poses to communities. Learn more about Robin’s trips to the Dominican here.
You’ll also take part in a fun activity to find out more about the impact of tourism on the Dominican and on the world, and what we can do to lighten our footprint as travellers.
“This is a really cool trip for anyone who’s really interested in learning more about international development and all the work that goes into it,” says Andrew. “You’ll get to see development work in its initial stages.”
The sights
Don’t forget your camera as you head out to explore the city of Sosúa and surrounding area—including a stunning cable car ride above the sea!
“You look out at the water and there are some points that you don’t know where the sky begins and the horizon ends,” says traveller Kim Hill-Tout. “It’s absolutely beautiful and there are so many trees.”
And…the inspiration
When you travel on a ME to WE Trip, you’ll return home having had an incredible, eye-opening experience that will stick with you for life. The Dominican is no exception.
“Seeing the amount of change that Robert and Judy have been able to bring to the community through education was astonishing,” says traveller Trent Irwin. “I knew education was a powerful thing to create social change, but I had no idea it was that powerful.”
Ready to check the Dominican Republic off your bucket list? Start planning here.
It’s not until you’re on the ground, visiting communities on a ME to WE Trip that it all makes sense. Every dollar raised for Free The Children has new meaning. Every fundraiser, every moment of preparation means so much more. The first moment you shake hands with a community member or high-five a kid, the first day you arrive at the build site to work side-by-side with communities on a development project—that’s when you know why you’re there. Here are some of our favourite stories of positive change, collected on trips across the globe.
Rhoda grew up in a small village in rural Kenya with her mom and seven younger brothers and sisters. She loved going to school. But sometimes, Rhoda’s mom couldn’t afford to pay for her daughter’s books, school supplies and uniforms. She was a farmer, and if it didn’t rain, she didn’t earn enough from her crops to pay for food for the family—let alone school supplies. Still, Rhoda was determined. Even though she sometimes wore the same uniform for years and had to share pencils with classmates, she completed primary school, getting top marks in every class. When she was 15, Rhoda started Grade 9 at Kisaruni All Girls Secondary School—the first all girls high school in the region, built in 2009 in partnership with Free The Children and local communities. Today, Rhoda dreams of becoming a doctor.
“I want to start to uplift our community.” – Rhoda
30-year-old Vardi used to spend her days throwing a rope and bucket into an open pit well to draw water for her children, who had nothing to drink while they were at school. But the well ran dry in summer months and was full of harmful pollutants the rest of the year—causing Vardi and her family to get sick and her children to miss school.
Then Vardi joined her friends and neighbours in building a new hand pump and water tank in the community, in partnership with Free The Children. This project gave more than 900 people access to clean water! Today, Vardi, her family, and the entire community are able to avoid waterborne illness and make sure that their children are all healthy enough to go to school.
“Clean water is very important for our family and community. If our water is not clean, it is very harmful.” – Vardi
Edward and his cousins used to be in danger every time they walked to school. The only path followed weather-worn cliffs and swamps that overflowed in the rain. The 12-year-old once had to save his cousin from drowning in a flash flood that dragged her into a river.
Today, there are safe, new classrooms in El Trapiche—built by the community alongside Free The Children. And for Edward, his cousin and their friends, this means they can spend their days focused on learning, instead of the walk home.
“We will be safe. Now we just worry about getting excellent grades.” – Edward
In San Miguel—a remote community high in the Andes Mountains—there was no high school until very recently. And because the cost of travelling to another city to attend high school was so high, many students, especially girls, didn’t continue their education past Grade 8.
Today, San Miguel has a new high school, built in partnership with Free The Children. 18-year-old Ana Lucia is proud to be among the first generation to attend high school in her community. She’s also part of a girls’ club led by Free The Children, where she learns skills like sewing, leadership, and even how to raise pigs! She used money earned from selling her handcrafts to buy a piglet, which she plans to sell one day to earn money toward her school fees. One day, Ana Lucia dreams of going to university and starting her own clothing business.
“I will be the first one in the family that finishes high school!” –Ana Lucia, 18
On a ME to WE Trip, you can be a part of the change and visit communities like these! Find out more and book your volunteer trip at metowe.com/youthtrips.
We know those long summer days still seem ages away, but that gives us all the more reason to dream about summer camp! Here are 10 of our favourite things about camp.
1. Camp friends
We’re always sure to meet new friends with similar interests, and it’s always great reuniting with camp besties each year. We know our camp friends will always have our backs no matter what!
2. That campfire smell…
It brings us right back to those nights gathered around the campfire, telling scary stories and singing like no one was listening. And of course, nothing says summer quite like gooey marshmallow and chocolate smushed between two graham crackers.
3. MUSIC & DANCING… always.
Where else is it 100% acceptable to break into song at any moment? Not a day at camp goes by without some kind of campfire karaoke, jam-session or mid-afternoon guitar or ukulele sing-along.
4. Remember that place called outside?
Forget about hiding in the basement playing video games—at camp we’re outside all the time! There’s always something fun to do, from the ultimate game of Capture the Flag to a spirited cheer-off at the Minga Games.
5. Counsellors—aka the ultimate camp gurus
They’ve been there and done it all, and are an endless source of fun and knowledge—whether they’re chasing us with a water balloon or we’re swapping tips on changing the world.
6. Learning doesn’t feel like learning
From how to tie a friendship bracelet, rock a spoken word performance or gather supporters in our quest to make a difference, we know the things we learned at camp will stay with us for life.
7. Unplugging (?!)
It’s hard to imagine a world without Twitter, Instagram and Facebook—but that’s what happens at camp, and we LOVE every minute of it! We’re not worried about documenting every single moment online—we enjoy just living those moments.
8. Doing something different
One of the best parts of camp is stepping out of our everyday routine. At Take Action Camp, we even get to spend a day volunteering out in the community! It’s the coolest way to start making a difference before we even go home.
9. Life-long memories
Camp may only last for a week or two, but when we look back on our summer, it’s those weeks we’ll remember the most. We’ll carry reminders with us every day, whether it’s a silly photo, a tie-dye T-shirt or a knock-your-socks-off action plan.
10. Camp Magic
We’re always a bit sad at the end of camp, since soon enough we’ll be heading back to reality and back to school. But we love that feeling of inspiration we’re left with at the end! At Take Action Camp, you’ll even go home with a tangible action plan to do something super cool in your community (like organizing a food drive or putting together a performance to raise awareness of bullying—the possibilities are endless!). It’s the coolest way to keep that camp magic going year-round.
Want to learn more about camp? Join us and keep the summer vibes going at the ME to WE Trips and Camp Tour online or in a city near you. Meet fellow world-changers & ME to WE staff, hear inspiring stories and get all your questions answered!
