Learning your second language- English- is quite difficult when everybody is speaking your native tongue. It is even much harder to learn it when you are facing an irate English speaking client. Spanish professionals then should learn English in an environment that is conducive for really absorbing the language. A friendly and healthy interaction is a great factor in really understanding the language.

And what is more exciting is to really learn it from volunteers who does not only study the language but speaks it. Learning the English language in books and language tapes are just indeed different when you heard it in front of you- dynamic, live, and answering back, laughing back and questioning back, and of course can be requested to repeat it back.

There is a program in Spain where in they accept volunteers and the only qualification is that the volunteer speaks fluent English. The program is called Pueblo English. The native Spaniards are not allowed to speak the native language in this place to really push them to learn new English words to express thy self and wants.

The program really started the hard way as most good intentions programs. The getting of volunteers is just one of the many problems. How could you lure English speaking people to help other human being? Yes, but answers came from no where. Several English people of diverse age range come in to help the program grow.

The beautiful scenery and enchanting place in Spain lure so many English speaking people. Those people who also would like to learn the Spanish language are also attracted to the program.

“Please meet Annie…and her songs.”

They say we have to volunteer to make a difference in their life but not on my case. I volunteered to be changed. My life was changed when I meet Annie on an orphanage. So she is an ordinary 6 years old child who sung lullabies for younger children. Her voice would fill the place with love. Annie is a very smart and intelligent six years old child. I learned my first Russian from her. She would guide younger orphaned children and teach them how to read and write and sing lullabies while the other attendants are busy with chores in the house.

When I volunteered, we used to sing lullabies together. I taught her nursery songs from my English country and she taught me her Russian songs. We are a partner- Annie and I. I even wrote to my mom and suggested to adopt Annie. I want to bring Annie home.

Looking for this orphanage is not easy. It seems that Europe has lost all these orphanage centers. Yet an organization helped me and I land on an orphanage in Eastern Europe. That is where I meet Annie. How I wish you could meet Annie!

And then one day the orphanage halls and hallways seem so quite without the echoes of Annie’s songs. She is sick. She is in the hospital. Annie is a cancer victim. She has not known her parents for she was left by her parents in the town hospital.

She died in my arms while I am singing lullabies. She died hearing my songs. I volunteered to change lives. Annie changed mine. I never regretted I volunteered abroad.
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Volunteers are needed world wide especially by organizations that cater to issues like education development, health care in poverty stricken places. Volunteers are not a mandatory act but a free choice. A choice to give back to society in our own little ways!

Volunteerism does not have to be paying to help, or working for free though in some cases it exists. Like in some volunteers in the Northern part of the globe pay their travel expenses, accommodation and food to be able to help. That is how they take volunteerism by heart.

As world leaders take note of the importance of volunteerism worldwide, they had made organizations that would cater to the spirit of volunteerism. The EVS or the European Voluntary Service is an EU program that gives opportunities to young people to volunteer abroad.

The EVS projects also need connecting organizations to implement their volunteerism venture. A sending and receiving organization and a volunteer are needed. What is great about these programs in Europe is that the European Commission will assist the volunteers financially. Insurance and travel cost are provided and even a monthly allowance is given to volunteers.

Volunteerism is a tough venture yet AVS made it a little easier with their volunteerism program.

Ecuador opens its doorways to the volunteers. Lending ones big heart, spending money to make a difference is noble act. Yet, getting ones hand dirty for a cause of an innocent child is more than heroic. Just a look on those innocent eyes left by parents and alone with care takers would really melt our hearts and barriers away from us.

Indeed, in Quito, Ecuador volunteers are welcomed with praises and thankfulness. For these volunteers are ready to opens ones heart for the orphans, disabled and impoverished children.

Get those hands working and getting callused everyday as wide-set eyes looked upon you with wonder and love as you pound every nail to their would be homes. Or bask in their toothless smiles as they watch you swathe paint on their would-be classroom. Or perhaps bath one parentless baby innocent with the realities of his existence.

Yes! These children have suffered the hard realities of life in Quito, Ecuador. Yet, an organization would soften these realities through you- a volunteer.

Let us make life a little easier if not totally better. Your two gentle hands getting dirty and callused could make one smile worth while. Find little hopes and little dreams and make them come true in Quito, Ecuador.

Volunteering abroad does not have to be in big ways. Some of us got scared in volunteering for we think that we are not qualified to volunteer. In that aspect we are wrong. Little efforts like painting a school, teaching kids the art of drawing and more also counts. We don’t have to be an expert in anything to volunteer. We don’t have to be a doctor, nurse, teacher or any professional to be able to let other know that we care.

What we need to have is one big heart and the sincerity to really help and share what we have. We can do a lot in volunteering abroad

Small ways that really counts! Painting orphanage building in Ukraine may sound tame for an activity abroad but for the people who own the house that is indeed a great help.

Perhaps you would like to give your two hand and build footbridges in Canada would also mean a great help for the Canadians. Perchance build footbridges somewhere in the Philippines used by small school children as they cross the river to go to school.

Maybe, volunteer with refugees in Vietnam, China, Korea or Belgium. Or perhaps take care with orphan babies in an orphanage center and give love freely. Or to just simply offer to carry them as they lack the nurturing touch of a mother.

Wasn’t it great to offer help because we are capable of it? Free love, nurturing touch, boundless smile, inhibited help- are we gonna hold it back for those who needs it the most?

There are so many things to do in volunteering abroad. Volunteering abroad is not all a philanthropic decision. Volunteering abroad destinations is so big and varied.

One attention-grabbing volunteer work is to join the best scientist in the field in the undying-quest to comprehend human lineage.

Join the excavation team in Cueva Victoria, Spain in unraveling the past. The team is lead by Lluis Gibert Beotas who is studying the beginning and geologic past of the cave. In this cave, fossils of human remains and 54 vertebrates are found and thought to be more than 1 million years old. Though the fossils recovered are few they are considered to be the oldest in the history of Western Europe. Thus, this research hopes to provide information and insights about the time the first human migrated from Africa to Europe.

Volunteers will be trained to dig sediments unsettled by mining, map the remains, and remove fossils and artifacts. He will also catalogue, number and clean the finds and sieve the sediments for microfossils.
Volunteers will have to work in Cueva Victoria which has six very spacious rooms, 2 kilometers of galleries. He will be trained to focus on finding for fossils in the Sala Union, the main room, which is attached to the outside and filled with light from the sun coming through the holes. Working hours are early in the morning and evening. The hottest hours of the day are designed for swims, siestas and lunch.

Accommodations are in a restored 100 year old house or in a little house adjacent to the big house. It includes a pool and garden. Volunteers will be assigned in large rooms for two or three occupants per room while bathroom are shared by other occupants. The staff will prepare the meal and served it in the garden. Evening work and lectures are also done in the garden.

It will start on July 1 to 14, 2008, July 19 to August 1, 2008, September 2 to September15, 2008 with $2,846 contribution for a meaningful 14 days in the heart of Southern Spain.