This concept was one I wasn’t familiar with until I moved to Philadelphia to start my assignment. Food deserts are defined as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy […]
July
17
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.
posted by 1st1000days
I had this idea, lingering in my head, how I could avoid making this too personal and just take you with me on an inspirational six months journey where we address world challenges. The ones outside us. The ones that matter. Not mentioning the ridiculous things like fear of writing a blog. Nothing about my […]
July
13
Empowering Graduates with hearing impairments…….
posted by DocAJ
Before heading off on my field trip to Northern Uganda. I was invited to attend a workshop for graduates with hearing impairment in Mukono, on the outskirts of Kampala. Since this is a key project that I will be working on, Julius my CSU colleague suggested I accompany him so I could learn more. The […]
July
12
First Days in Rwanda
posted by walkersarj
I arrived in Kigali, Rwanda on July 5th to begin my GSK PULSE assignment with Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima (PIH/IMB). My immediate first impression was the open greeting offered by everyone I met, including the baggage claim representative dealing with my lost luggage (which arrived on day 2). The PIH/IMB team extended my warm […]
July
12
Cebu and Batangas…smiles, jeepneys and tricycles
posted by ingrid
Its been 10 days since I started with the team here at Smile Train Philippines and field trips have being a must for me to start understanding the organization´s model, mission, ways of working and challenges. I have felt welcomed, and I’ve received the most beautiful smiles from patients, families and the partner hospitals and […]
July
11
Tirrases: About Poverty & Hope | Sobre Pobreza y Esperanza
posted by carlafm506
Just a few weeks ago I remember talking with friends at GSK and my family about my Pulse assignment and working in Tirrases. I remember how their faces filled with concern about the district I was coming to. I could see in their faces all the words that they use to describe this community. And […]
July
10
Right in at the deep end – but I can float!
posted by DocAJ
The day before I left the UK, my NGO Supervisor made contact and asked me if I would be agreeable to a change of plan. Originally, I was due to arrive on Thursday followed by a few days to recover and adjust to my temporary home before a 2-week induction at the Kampala office of […]
July
10
Becoming Better
posted by MC
“Arriving at meaningful solutions is an inevitably slow and arduous process. Nonetheless, what I saw was: better is possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence, it takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all it takes a willingness to try.” Atul Gawande “Better,” by Dr. Atul Gawande, is an inspirational account which […]
July
10
From Celebrating Freedom to Settling in Freetown
posted by cheerfully-changing-margaret
Travelling to Sierra Leone to start my assignment with Partners In Health was quite a journey as I only gave myself one day in between arriving from my Philippine vacation and departing on my flight to Freetown. That one day was the 4th of July which is usually spent celebrating U.S. independence with fireworks […]
July
09
The basics of Life
posted by kirenvyas
We sometimes forget living in the western world how we take for granted the basics of being nourished and having the appropriate level of sanitation and cleanliness. This was never emphasised more to me than in the two project outcome reviews I attended where Save the Children have played a vital role in and collaborated […]
July
08
World Pride Weekend NYC
posted by Tisha Cromwell
The following isn’t necessarily a post about my Pulse experience per se. But, I think it was the universe linking Pulse to some ‘personal’ activities that my family planned. Sometimes the Universe screams at you and in this case reaffirmed why my PULSE assignment with Open for Business and promoting LGBT+ rights is absolutely the […]
July
05
So I am really doing this!
posted by DocAJ
Leaving the UK was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Maybe I’m just a sentimental soul, but despite knowing that Uganda will be an amazing experience, perhaps even the best of my career so far. I was still touched by leaving behind my loved ones, my friends, my work colleagues. I guess […]
July
04
My Volunteeting Journey
posted by ZinUnicef
By Zina BARRADA – Communication for Child Protection Associate @ UNICEF Ivory Coast Who am I? My name is Zina and I am Global Trade/Tender Capability Lead at GSK. I am as well GSK Job Plus Coach and Mindfulness Trainer. So, my complete job title can include ‘Mindful Facilitator Job Plus Coach’, and I like […]
June
30
Why am I here?
posted by ingrid
I departed Panama 9 days ago after a week filled with unexpected goodbye moments. It was charged with support and respect from peers, friends and family regarding my upcoming volunteering assignment. As an immigrant, saying goodbye to loved ones is always a challenge I normally turn away from, this time it was no different, nonetheless, […]
