When I was asked to write an article on educational programs I thought this was going to be a piece of cake since I have been designing them for over a decade. My only problem was on deciding what to write about first. So I sat down and wrote a list about which programs I considered to be the most rewarding. That same evening I had been invited to the 20^th year anniversary of the Elix volunteer organization and was planning to go and see what it was all about.

I really did not know what to expect because I had not dealt with volunteer programs before in the past; but I pretty much anticipated a pleasant and polite plea for contribution, funding and support. I was wrong.

As I listened to the panel of speakers something began to happen inside of me. I felt a part of me which I hadn’t felt for a very long time begin to re-emerge. It was that curiosity driven child inside, the part of me that had only good intentions and faith in mankind and above all there was hope, timidly peeking through.

These very bright, articulate, sensitive, positive and socially aware young men and women who had gathered that evening to share their experiences and thoughts with us succeeded in convincing me that through volunteering you can make a difference, you can change the world even with the smallest, seemingly insignificant task because you are making the strongest statement to your family, your community and your world around you that you care so much that you are willing to invest your precious time, effort and goodwill to help someone else without expecting anything in return.

But here’s the catch; at the end of your experience you will find that you have acquired so much; treasures that strengthen and chisel your character. You will find that you have had a positive life changing experience and that is priceless.

My mind drifted to my two teenage children who were probably home watching some silly program on television. I thought of the many discussions we have had on the state of our world, on the apathy of modern society and of the heinous crimes committed daily against man and his environment. Yes we donate to charity, we recycle some of our waste products and practice sound energy conservation principles but I know that they do not really believe that they are doing enough to make a difference. It really saddens me when I see a sense of helplessness in their eyes. They no longer believe that we can make this world a better place. And that is something that all of us must vow to change. We owe our children and all the children of the world a brighter tomorrow.

That is why we must make a dedicated effort to educate our children to think and act differently. To inspire them to take action and not to fear breaking out of their protective social cocoon. Now more than ever in these changing and often troubling times it is of utmost importance to set their compass straight and point them in the right direction.

But what exactly is a volunteer program, how does it work and who is it for?

A volunteer program is the offering of free service which is organized by a local or international organization to different parts of the world. Activities are numerous and vary from environmental protection, protection of cultural heritage, social responsibility, helping underdeveloped rural communities and offering free education services to the local population. These programs are for every one of all ages. There are programs specifically designed for younger students, for families and for seniors. They can last anywhere from 2 days to a whole year. The programs are not for free, there is usually a participation fee and each volunteer must pay for his own travel expenses.

But they are so much more. The most important part of the experience takes place before departure and after you come home, not during the experience itself. The overall motivation to volunteer stems from a need to ignite a sense of social responsibility and activism as well as from a desire to learn about a new country and culture. It is a way to gain new perspectives of the world we live in. This is an intense and highly rewarding experience which offers many opportunities such as:

• focusing on meaningful global concerns that day- to- day life can’t accommodate
• living and working in a group
• visiting new places
• getting to know new ways of life
• making friends from all over the world
• expanding our understanding of other cultures and helping to create a greater solidarity among the world’s peoples
• volunteer service can change the volunteer while it is helping others, and thus can be a catalyst for social change

Here are just a few of the experiences expressed by volunteers;

“I saw growth and change in myself as well as feelings and thoughts that I never imagined I would have.”

“It’s not about being somewhere geographically…rather, it’s about connecting you with the common core of humanity.”

For many once is never enough and volunteering for them becomes a lifetime activity. You gain something different with each experience. It is hard work but it is never boring and you will have the satisfaction in knowing that you are giving and receiving at the same time. You will discover new parts of yourself, make new friends and acquire the sense of belonging to a global community. Investing yourself, immersing in other cultures, listening and bringing hope and then acting on what you know is right will change you and therefore your impact on society could be so much more than you had ever hoped or imagined.

There is no return ticket because you never return to the same place. T.S Eliot wrote:

“We must not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time. “

As I continued to watch those kids telling their stories on how volunteering changed and shaped their lives I swelled with pride as if they were mine and I realized that in a way they were mine and yours and that we are all one and the same at the end of the day and our actions have a collective effect in the long term.

I left that evening changed as well and feeling high as a kite. The genuine smiles, sounds of laughter and shining faces around me testified that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. No dose of Prozac, no artificial substance can ever make you feel like that. I thought to myself that these people who volunteer, who rise above their egos and their petty wants in life; those who give freely with so much careless enthusiasm will never waste a day, a minute, a second feeling depressed, lost and alone. Their compass is fixed for life.

What better education can we hope for our children to achieve? In this way we can re-fortify the conviction in them and in us that we do have the power to change the world. Not by moving mountains but pebble by pebble at a time.