Volunteering for Life
Volunteer: Felipe Velez
Age: 46
From: Santa Monica, California
Occupation: Principal of a high school in Los Angeles
CCS Program Sites: New Delhi, India; Lima, Peru; Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Why did you want to volunteer abroad?
I had the itch for many, many years, I actually started in 1998. I always wanted to be exposed to different cultures — growing up in NYC with a Puerto Rican family, you learn a different language, and have a different culture. In 1983, I went to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to be an intern journalist. It was easy for me because I knew the language and a little about the culture. But I wanted to explore something more than the cultural aspect, I wanted to experience something that was more service-oriented, so I found CCS, which was called Project India then. And then I always wanted to volunteer again, but I couldn’t until 10 years later.
How is volunteering abroad different than other types of traveling?
I think the most significant part is that you get to penetrate, to experience a culture in a deeper way because you’re spending a lot of time with the same people. When I’m traveling in a different context, there’s not the same feeling. Also there’s the integrity and honor of knowing that you’re there to provide a service for others. And people are opening up to let you in because they know you’re there for a good purpose. It’s also different because of the Home-Base experience, it’s designed so you are exposed to different aspects of the culture. If you’re traveling in a different context, unless you’re actively searching for that, you’re not going to get it.
Why did you choose Cross-Cultural Solutions?
I chose Project India/CCS because I immediately sensed in the Mission Statement, in the Vision, in the way it was described, I sensed the beauty of the intention, of what Steve Rosenthal was trying to accomplish. I just got it, I felt it. I also felt an affinity to India at time. I love the music, Ghandi is one of my heroes, it also has a perception of being a very spiritual place.
What did you do as a volunteer?
In India, I taught at a middle school — English and geography. In Lima, I worked at a center for the elderly and did home visits. In Tanzania, I taught at an informal school. There, I had the students write a letter to President Obama. I had showed them a picture of me with President Obama because he came to visit my school in Los Angeles for a town hall meeting. I saw how excited the kids in Tanzania were about President Obama, so I had them think of what they wanted to say to him in a letter. Then I had them learn some English by translating it — it was all their ideas, their words, etc. And, I wanted to send their pictures with the letter as well. I just sent that letter to President Obama not too long ago.
As an alumnus who has traveled over the years with CCS, how would you say the organization has grown or changed?
In many ways. In one way, I think it’s significant the options that you have. CCS has done a phenomenal job in going out there and selecting organizations that truly need help. When I was in Lima at the elderly day center, I thought, what could be better as far as connecting with people? I felt then that I would support this organization until I die. In Tanzania I was equally as impressed with the volunteer placements. I don’t think any other organization has the same extensive network of volunteer options. And then the evolution of the Home-Base — the volunteer basically doesn’t have to do anything, but focus on volunteering.
As a professional in education, what do you think about volunteering abroad for students?
I am seriously thinking about a way to incorporate this into my students’ education, especially because my school is focused on global studies. It’s called the Los Angeles School of Global Studies, it’s part of a network called the New Technology Network, and what’s special about the way we approach learning and teaching is that we are project-based. It requires the students to think critically, use interpersonal communications, etc. We want them to be connecting what they learn to something real in the community. And these are the things you would need to be a successful volunteer, so I think it would be a natural fit.
Describe your overall experience in three words.
Transformational, Enlightening, Life-Affirming
You have been known to say that you will now volunteer every year for the rest of your life…explain why.
I am at a point in my life as a 46-year-old when I know that there are moments in your life that are just unforgettable. With CCS, I have always had those moments. I love my life, but I can’t see my life without volunteering, without having some type of service involved. Every year, I’m going to go somewhere with CCS. It just makes perfect sense, it’s what my life is supposed to be about. It just gives meaning, it gives meaning to my life to see that I can have an effect on people’s lives all across the world.
