Volunteering Abroad, Valuing Positivity
Volunteer: Erin Hallagan
Age: 23
From: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Gapper—between college and career
CCS Program Sites: Cartago, Costa Rica and Ayacucho, Peru
Why did you want to volunteer abroad?
My mom is a surgical technician, she goes to the Dominican Republic every year to do reconstructive surgery for people who can’t afford it. She would come back every year and tell her stories, and that was kind of the inspiration to get out and do it originally for me.
Why did you choose Cross-Cultural Solutions?
It was a big research project for me actually. I did a lot of research online, and after I read about it, I realized I wanted to have that cultural immersion as much as I wanted to volunteer, because they go really well together, and I think CCS had the best program for that, and after going twice, I still stand by that.
What was your favorite part about your experience?
The relationships that I made with the community, with the in-country staff, the other volunteers and the Partner Program I was at. They’re all just so special. I’m still in touch with the people I met all those years ago.
Describe your placement experience.
I would teach the kids numbers in English with games and sounds. We talked about what they wanted to do when they grow up, there was homework time for those that were in school. Every day was different, there was never a dull moment, but I never felt like I didn’t know what to do, and there was an activity table back at the Home-Base where I could get ideas on games and other things to do with them.
What did you learn about the community from volunteering?
I learned how to embrace simplicity. These are people who struggle to get in a meal a day, who may not be getting any education, who are struggling with things like abuse and neglect…and they are happy. They pick out the positive things, they find faith, and they find positivity. I’ve seen what’s out there and how to still face the day with a smile, and I got a really great taste of that. I learned how to implement that into my own everyday mentality and mantra.
Of all of the Cultural & Learning Activities, which was your favorite?
I really enjoyed the guest lecturers because they were people from the community who really understood why you were there and what you were doing, and that was like reinforcement. Many of the placements were very simple, you know, you come in and hang out with kids all day, and it can be hard to see the underlying issues behind the community. It was just nice to kind of hear it and understand it in a way coming from the community.
Describe your overall experience in three words.
Eye-opening, Motivational, Grounding
What, if anything, did you gain from the experience?
My mentality afterward just completely changed, I did become a different person. It’s probably the quickest change that ever happened in my life, I mean when I stepped off the plane, I was never going to be the same person as I was going in. I understand more about the world, and how life is bigger than my city, and my little bubble, and just the thought that I can make a difference. Knowing that if it’s just one interaction, one conversation, one kid—that makes a difference. And I’ve started to dedicate my life, to knowing I can make a difference.
Has your CCS experience changed your future plans in any way?
Yes absolutely. Like I said, it changed my life and the way that I look at the world and how I want to contribute to it. It created this burning itch inside of me, and it’s not going to stop, it’s been there for four years now. I have to help in any way I can, I have to embrace that humanitarian aspect of life. I think in a lot of people that feeling exists, it’s just a matter of waking it up, and that’s what CCS was for me, it just kind of woke me up.
