People always send me questions about volunteering abroad. In addition to telling them about what we’re doing in Bangkok, I stress two points: 1) Be Prepared by educating yourself about what you’re getting into and 2) Get Connected with people who have been to the places you’re going or are doing what you want to do. That’s why I’ve been so enthused to share The Underground Guide to International Volunteering. I’ve spent a while going through it and it touches all topics I get quizzed on so often.

Why should I? Where should I go? Should I pay? Why is it expensive? Where does the money go? Which companies would you recommend? Do I need a visa?

Now those answers are in one organized place.

“The aim for this guide is to answer your questions, instill you with confidence, and make you excited to head off on a volunteering project abroad.” -Kirsty

My favorite part of the guide? The interviews. The guide is packed full of people from all over who have participated in giving their time volunteering. I’m featured in the section on building your own volunteer experience, but it’s encouraging to hear about what others were doing in places so distant and interesting. They offer insightful looks into the challenges and the rewards of what you may encounter when you set out on your adventure.

I found the guide packed full of helpful content and it’s obvious the amount of hard work Kirsty did to put the book together. I mentioned a few weeks ago that part of Kirsty’s goal is to use the e-guide to fundraise for Hands on Disaster Response and to help fund her post-earthquake return to volunteering in devastated Haiti. You can get a copy of the guide with a donation of $14. So if you’re curious about volunteering or know someone who is, I highly recommend it and the money goes right back into inspiring the powerful stories you’ll read about.

Get more on this topic. Listen in this Sunday 5pm EST to hear more about my experiences volunteering abroad. I’ll be interviewed by Megan Schiebe of Global Humanitarian Discussions. If you don’t catch it live you can still follow the link to hear the recording later.

~Dwight

The waiting room is full and tense. There is a mixture or people from all backgrounds, packed together in a long but narrow corridor. They sit or stand shoulder to shoulder, but are worlds apart. I sit and hypothesize about that distance. Whether it’s the language barriers or the weight of solemn helplessness to aid loved ones that keeps people eerily quiet, I’m not sure. Then I sit and reflect on a few scenes I just witnessed coming in that seem to indicate the latter. A stream of shirtless, handcuffed Burmese men waiting with heavy eyes. Giant paddy wagons parked outside used in raids to arrest the people–our people–or people like them anyway.

“They sit or stand shoulder to shoulder, but are worlds apart.”

The paper work is done. And not a moment too soon, my sulking is abruptly interrupted by yelling in Thai. I understand and jump to my feet with the others. The command is followed by something broken and harsh, resembling English. I handover my passport for a locker key and crush my belongings inside. No camera and no phones is emphasized in the Thai commands over the importance of no metal or sharp objects. Is any connection to the outside a threat? I swallow that thought while they pat me down and carelessly molest the packages of food I’ve brought. Hands are waved and I wander over to the portable fence.

“I loathe this fence.”

Some of the detainees are already out and the searching and murmuring escalates. There is another row of port-o-fences partitioning the detainees from our fence with a meter or so in between, that at first impression seems to be a mile. The rest is a dysfunctional airport scene. Some elation, greetings, and smiles. The volume of the people shouting between the fences intensifies.

I loathe this fence.

It separates people in a different way than when we were outside. It is the physical personification of the same solemn helplessness I felt then. Damned fence. It doesn’t save me from the obvious desperation of the people on the other side, the heat of the sun, nor the stench from the toilets in the nearby cells.

I press my fingers through the fence and lean on it because I can see her now. “Mr. Noname!” she shouts.

I reply, “Happy Birthday.”

“Today there were enough volunteers to reunite her whole family during the visiting hour. We’re proud.”

She’s been here since the raids last October. Only a few months ago she was a regular attendant of the Saturday morning classes at the Bangkok Refugee Center, practicing her English with me, quizzing the other volunteers about the US, and teaming up with her friends to guess my name. When they couldn’t pry it out of me I was dubbed Mr. Noname. Today there were enough volunteers to reunite her whole family during the visiting hour. We’re proud.

Her smile is noticeably bigger than mine. She’s a teenager today. The other volunteers gather around the fence on our side. I glance around self consciously. Back to the dysfunctional airport scene. Back to the sign behind me that reads, “Don’t trow anything.” And finally, back to the fence. I join the others in crooning the happy birthday song through it. Later, they point over to the food supplies we brought, including bottled water and birthday cupcakes freshly smushed from the search.

The time is up. We wave goodbye to the beaming new teenager. I leave ashamed a little for comparing her birthday to ones I had. Or maybe from being unable to fully mirror her beautiful smile. But I’m thankful and positive–there’s no better way I could have spent my morning.

Join

This is just one of the many stories from the visits we’re making to IDC. It was built to temporarily house foreigners and migrants who overstayed visas or found themselves on the wrong side of Thai law. Thus it can often be quite crowded, without all the amenities of a normal prison. Many refugee families who are arrested end up there regardless of their status with the UN and with little recourse. Twice a week volunteers gather to visit, reunite the families, and bring supplies. Please consider donating or visiting with us while you’re in Bangkok.

Here’s a quote from Ryan who had to stay there a week before his family was resettled to the US:

“In IDC, people are short of everything…. They need most basic supplies, such as carbohydrates, vitamins, drinking water, and hygiene necessities. I know it’s gonna be really hard for yourself to make much different in these people’s life, but with more people actively involving in your program, I believe a lot of people’s life will be better.”

Other Good Ways to Go to Jail

There are other groups going into prisons and providing services to inmates. For example, the Christian Prison Ministry Foundation works with prisoners nearing release. In addition to giving religious guidance to inmates, they provide a series of educational classes to prepare participants to succeed once reintegrated back into society. CPMF is doing everything from art classes to running a halfway house for inmates. Get involved by volunteering to share a skill, especially if you have an interest in helping people rebuild their lives.

Get Uncomfortable

I understand that for many, visiting jails and detention centers aren’t the types of attractions you normally think of when you’re planning your trip to Thailand. I sure didn’t. But when you get in the habit of making yourself available to serve others, you’ll learn to love the adventure that is packaged with making a difference in people’s lives.

-Dwight

This holiday has also reminded me that everyday I am fortunate to be surrounded by courageous, inspirational women. They are key to the achievements of ISOS. To give you an idea, I went back and looked through our list of volunteers. It seems that for every 10 volunteers who join Sanuk My Saturday, 8 of them are female. The list didn’t include the all female teaching team, led by Chris, there every weekend. That’s a wake up call for two reasons. First, because I realize I need to do a better job of challenging some guys to come out and commit to helping these kids. They are desperate for the positive male attention they don’t get at home. Secondly, that I’d be an idiot to neglect to wish all the women reading a Happy International Women’s Day and send a sincere thank you for all you do.

-Dwight

#10 – Painting

Confession: I didn’t paint anything.

All of the art was done by refugees living in Bangkok. This was the first big In Search of Sanuk project of 2009 and gave us a big running start for the year. We raised almost 60,000 baht for the Bangkok Refugee Center and had travel photographer Gavin Gough there to document it. For a look back see his photo blog: Picture from my mind” Art Exhibition in aid of the Bangkok Refugee Centre

Hindsight: We didn’t know at the time how much of a difference we were making. Unfortunately, a lot of 2009 was a rough year for refugees here as arrests have increased and services decreased.

#9 – Writing

Confession: This was very hit and miss.

The lesson here is perseverance–something I’m still learning.  I’m lucky to have a had a great encouragement in the way of an awesome community of bloggers Cody Mckibben has introduced me to. Everyone has been really welcoming and willing to share advice. I don’t take that for granted. Not everyone will invite you into their community when your ideas are unconventional.

Hindsight: One milestone was getting a chance to write an article for Cnngo. However, blogging is hard work and it took me a while to find my voice. The biggest challenge is balancing all you’re doing, with keeping people who care about your cause informed and involved.

#8 – Dating Miss Universe

Confession: This doesn’t actually happen until December 28th.

You thought I would quit after meeting Michelle Yeoh earlier this year? Nope. This time I’ve won an auction for a date with Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005. Proceeds from the auction, of course, are going to build a medical clinic in Mae Sot near the Burma border. It’s a tough job I have, but I can’t complain!

Foresight: This really exemplifies what kind of random episodes which spring up when you’re willing to extend yourself for worthy causes. Whatever happens on this date, it’s already been successful. Through all the communicating with the organizers, I have already gotten a commitment from them to donate medicine to get all the kids at our teaching project checked up. Sorry Natalie, but that made me jump up and down a little more than the dinner plans.

#7 – Traveling

Confession: I now am in the habit of going somewhere and looking for ways to help. You don’t have to travel to do that.

When I first met my mentor, Marc Gold, the idea of traveling to do good was still novel to me. This year I have met and joined quite a few traveling philanthropists. I hope this is a sign that there is a growing trend of people realizing how rewarding it can be to spend your holiday helping others. Some memories that stick out are the slum kids in Denpasar, a restaurant employing street kids in Vientienne, teaching in the Thai countryside, visits to orphanages in Bali and on the border of Burma.

Hindsight: You can go looking for trouble, but you may not be prepared for what you find.

#6 Drinking

Confession: I wish I had been told earlier that you can sure sculpt a nice event, but it’s better to build a strong community.

Through both the Bangkok Tweetup and a larger party we organized this year called LUSH, we have really pioneered the idea of cause focused events in Bangkok. Some people come out for a great cause. Some people come out for a great party. Most people come for the community that enjoys both. In any case, we don’t discriminate. In addition to funneling money to our Sanuk My Saturday project and numerous other groups, we’re well known in the city for breaking bar records and having to send our sad faced supporters home after cleaning out all the spirits.

Hindsight: This was a great idea because we casually exposed people to our project that we couldn’t otherwise drag to come volunteer with us. Yes, you can reach people with something besides gala dinners in the grand ballroom.

#5 Basketball

Confession: No unwanted stress ever came from the little people. It’s the big ones I have trouble dealing with.

Some where along the road in these shenanigans a friend offered tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters. The Globetrotters hadn’t been to Bangkok since the sixties and I saw them perform in Atlanta when I was about twelve. So I got to feel kinda like a dad when I showed up at the arena with kids from our teaching project in tow. We had a section of the arena reserved for us (the other group they did this for was the US embassy) and all the volunteers who also tagging along.

Hindsight: This would not have been possible without all the people who attended the Bangkok Tweetup, drank and gave. The tickets were free, but we had to cover transportation, snacks and dinner for all the kids.

#4 Tweeting

Confession: Any meal is a happy meal. I can do gourmet too.

Cnngo caught up with me eating on the street earlier this year to tell the city who hasn’t caught on to twitter what you already knew— that I’m addicted to the internet and volunteering. Take a look at the article: Bangkok’s fun-seeking, volunteering, tweeting American

Hindsight: A more accurate headline would have been Bangkok’s handsome, single, fun seeking internet addict volunteers to be attacked by kids whenever he leaves the house.

#3 Thrilling The World

Confession: I’m not to blame for this one!

I had just finished the Twestival global event, when In Search of Sanuk supporter Lola Rainey said we had to learn the moves to Thriller. In true zombie form, I admittedly dragged my feet at first. Lola, however, took the reigns and round up a great group of dancers to not only participate in breaking the world record for largest simultaneous dance, but also perform in front of hundreds (zombies keep their cool even when the wrong music is played haha), raising over $1,000 for the Bangkok Refugee Center. A touching moment in this adventure was when another friend, Shimona Kee performed Michael Jackson’s Heal the World in front of a huge audience at Bangkok’s Central World.

Hindsight: Surround yourself with change makers and don’t pout too much if they put you to work.

#2 Booty Shaking

Confession: I thought my butt would be more famous by now.

The reason this one is ranked so high is because of the sheer spontaneity of it. I led a group of volunteers from visiting an elderly home to relax in the park. It was there that we stumbled over one man’s magic hips and captured what we still secretly hope will make us youtube stars one day (only 3,000 views so far). So it didn’t make my butt famous, but it is the one moment that has generated more laughter than any other this year.

Hindsight: Should have found the man in that video and invited him to some of our parties.

#1 Begging

Confession: I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

In 2009 I beg, borrowed, and generally pestered people I’m close to. This really runs the gamut from convincing Cody to get involved, to asking Shimona to sing in front of hundreds, to getting an entire section of the arena reserved for our kids and volunteers. Forget the amount of money we raised. We have really challenged people’s thinking about what it means to give back and surprised some needy groups with funding that wouldn’t have otherwise reached them. People are beginning to believe they have something to contribute. That’s powerful. For that I thank everyone following along and on the ground here participating.

Hindsight: If you can’t convince your friends, who then?

I own Bangkok.

Keep repeating that, replacing Bangkok with the community you live in.

I own [ _____ ].

I’ve renewed my perspective on ownership after hanging out at and visiting so many orphanages. Do you know what little you can claim as your own when you have thirty brothers and sisters? You better believe that when your bed is one of the twenty in a room, “mine” and “not yours” become the words kids hurl right before they throw fists. That’s because exerting ownership over something, changes our outlook. If you can’t relate to what it must be like to live with so many siblings, then you’re from the same privileged background as me, where we learn to own a lot of stuff, but only exert passionate ownership over a few things.

“When your bed is one of twenty in a room, ‘mine’ and ‘not yours’ are fighting words.”

It’s time to operate in the entitlement that ownership of our community brings. This means changing the way we perceive and aim to solve problems. I will always remember driving through downtown Atlanta and among the litter and debris that had accumulated in the gutter was a chunk of cardboard that read:

Another Atlanta Mess

I laughed. But now I realize that it’s not enough to only see problems. We need to claim responsibility for problems in our communities and most importantly, we MUST see ourselves as powerful. In Bangkok, Another Atlanta Mess is the equivalent of the saying, This is Thailand. Sure, it’s our favorite way to curse the air and nod in agreement that surely every deity and monk in the nearby temple must hate us for things to have gone wrong so well. BUT the commonality in both phrases is the implied sense of impotence we concede to every time we mutter them.

Did you forget I own Bangkok?

I am not impotent. I can’t accept the This is Thailand mentality and mire in the belief that the color of my skin or the color of my passport disqualifies me as an agent of change.

No. Street begging elephants aren’t ok with me.

“I can’t accept the ‘this is Thailand’ mentality and mire in the belief that the color of my skin or the color of my passport disqualifies me.”

No. Losing count of the number of sex workers you pass walking home is not just part of the normal daily routine.

No. I won’t be satisfied until the same little boy I see so often bent in half clutching a 7-11 cup has a better option than begging in the rain.

How have we been numbed to those hurting in our communities? Are we so afraid of responsibility that a global crisis won’t move us as quickly as a facebook status update?

To be effective leaders we have to own and teach each other to take ownership of our communities.

I own [ _____ ].

Claim it and unite with others doing the same.

Where is your city? Where is your community? Wake up, take ownership and throw your hand in.

~Dwight

In case you missed the first part of this post, Couch Surfing With Hope, Introducing Tita Silver, GK is an organization in the Philippines that is building houses with hope. They help the poorest of the poor in the Philippines by giving people not only a living structure, but a new, hopeful perspective on life. I have been to only a fraction of Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages, but the Iriga Character Village in the Bicol region of the Philippines was an astonishing example of how hope is being infused into even the hardest to reach communities.

I caught a 1.5 hour bus from Naga City to the sleepy and ultra humid bus terminal in Iriga City. A local volunteer with GK accidentally, but essentially bumped into me at the terminal and was heading in the same direction towards the village and let me tag along.

The GK Character village is located roughly 20 minutes (7 km) from the Iriga City proper (rather difficult to find if you are a newbie). It is accessible by riding the Filipino version of a tuk-tuk, known as the tricycle. This monstrosity is a motorcycle with a makeshift pedicab welded together with something like a bike tire making up the third wheel. In Bicol they fit 10-12 riders, a miracle in mechanics which I have yet to understand.

I was greeted by smiling people and happy children, willing to show me around their village even if they did not feel comfortable speaking English or talking at all. One of the boys from the village took the liberty to find an umbrella and personally carried it above my head, shielding me from the rainy season as we walked up the hill. At the top, we inhaled the view of the village, the flowers, and the dominating Mt. Iriga in the background.

As with couch surfing in Manila’s Payatas, GK Jack and Jill, and GK Libmanan (all GK village sites), the folks at GK Character village were hospitable, giving, and genuinely cared for my concerns.

A homeowner, Tita Norma (who was always cheerful, far right), graciously provided me with meals and cooked a glorious array of fresh Bicolano garden produced vegetables in fresh coconut milk and rice. For breakfast I was treated to a dazzling mix of various wonderful tasting Filipino breakfast dishes such as fried noodles with vinegar, fried rice, egg, and Filipino pancake.

Just like in Bangkok where little things make a difference, and in Bali with Dwight at the house of life, I was inspired again by the graciousness of people who have very little, but are happy and willing to share.

In the words of one of my favorite philosophers Alain de Botton,

“If is is true that love is a pursuit in others of qualities we lack in ourselves, then in our love of someone from another country, one ambition may be to weld ourselves more closely to values missing from our own culture.”

Being immersed with locals in the Philippines or anywhere gives us valuable exposure to different ways of life. I was inspired by moments spent visiting, joking around (Filipinos love to joke and laugh), listening to stories, and showing appreciation for what others do to uplift others.

Lets be thankful for what we have, grateful for what we can do, and content to weld ourselves to people with giving spirits. As with the makeshift pedicap, this model will carry us further on the road to happiness than we might expect. There is no better place to learn this than in a GK village.

~Migration Mark

We made a small donation on our visit and also bought enough fish to feed the house that night, BUT by far we were on the receiving end of the giving. Life House’s loving group of kids and staff openely welcomed us into the day’s activities. Take a look and leave a comment.

It’s follow friday. So to show your support please visit Betterplace.org where you can sign up to support Life House and many other great organizations. I hope you enjoyed the video. These kids really touched us and I hope you’ll be inspired (whether you’re in paradise or at home) to have fun helping others!

~Dwight

This is the idea behind Mark Wien’s Migrationology.com which questions, “Why vacation when you you can migration?” I pondered my personal migration and came up with this equation:

Vacation + Micro-philanthropy = Migrationology

I’ve realized that Migrationology is where vacation + micro-philanthropy meet. Because of this I wanted to offer Mark, his readers, and you 7 steps whereby you can transform your vacation into a migration. These ideas are powerful because they are small and rewarding steps that all of us can take, despite our destination. Please add to these suggestions and share your experiences by commenting below.

1 Attitude Adjustment – This one is clear after traveling with Mark for a short time. Don’t think of yourself as a tourist, think of yourself as a contributor-an investor. The secret to having a more rewarding vacation is simply to visualize your excursion as not only a getaway for you, but an opportunity to make real, sustainable change occur in smaller, less affluent economies. Ask yourself: How will my money be used in this community after I leave? How can my goals to relax and have fun merge with efforts to improve this community?

2 Educate Yourself – This is the easiest way to make an impact into the communities you enter. What issues plague the places you plan to visit? What are the strengths in these communities? What local initiatives exist? Are they sustainable? This knowledge will help you decide how best to give what you can offer and will serve as an arbitrator when you’re making your travel plans.

3 STOP Conquering – Travelers and tourists as a community have to end this mindset that we can travel to a place in a few days and consider ourselves as having “done” that city/country. This is incredibly naïve and arrogant. Evaluate your trip by different standards. You’ll notice that the most rewarding trips are not those where you moved to divide and conquer, seeing and doing as much as possible. On the contrary, they are the places you dreaded leaving and long to return to. Make sure this factors into how you perceive your migration.

4 Avoid the “lonely planet” mentality – This epidemic is closely related to the above mentioned “divide and conquer” mentality. Don’t fall into this trap. Use guidebooks as you would a guide, not a religious text. Using them loosely will allow them to be the doorway, not the pathway to your migration.

5 Go loco for locals – This is often your most untapped resource. This combined with the research you’ve done and what you know you can expect from your guidebook will lead to an adventure. If you’re doing it right, they’ll be plenty of confusion, ambguity, and laughter. Don’t worry, you’re prepared to manage language barriers and suppress your own cultural norms to really experience the people where you are.

6 Be frugal, not cheap – Being frugal means looking for ways to do things more affordably. This will allow you to devote a greater amount of what you planned to spend to invigorating local economies. When you’re out and about or hanging with the locals, be prepared to recognize ways that you can invest directly into the community. This may mean buying better school supplies or a bicycle to get to school. Everyone’s migration is different.

7 Brag – Tell others and don’t hold back. You’re allowed to embellish a little, but not too much. Mention how your once in a lifetime, never to be duplicated, off the beaten path, life enriching, philanthropic thriller of a migration has changed you and your perception of the world. Post updates on your blog. Submit it to be shared here also. Lets tell the world together.

-Dwight Turner
Editor, In Search of Sanuk

If you enjoyed this aricle please see our guest blog One Thing Leads To Another by expert micro-philanthropist Marc Gold.