zveřejněné: 26./26/2019 | 26. srpna 2019
Když jsem založil svou neziskovou nadaci pro objevování a cestovní vzdělávání mládeže (Flyte), mým cílem bylo zpřístupnit celosvětové cestování mládeži s nízkými příjmy po celé zemi, která je nesmírně vášnivá a moudrá, ale nikdy by neměla šanci na to, že by to nikdy nemělo šanci jinak cestovat do zahraničí.
Začátkem tohoto roku jsme zvýšili 15 000 dolarů, abychom poslali skupinu mladých lidí z Vizualizace akademie do Kolumbie.
Nachází se v Oaklandu v Kalifornii a Akademie Vizualizuje akademii využívá důmyslný projektový objevovací design, který zaručuje, že jeho stážisté-většina, z nichž online pod linií utrpení-jsou připraveni pro postsekundární vzdělávání i mimo něj. (Většina z nich jsou přistěhovalci z první generace a také budou první v jejich domácnosti, aby šli na vysokou školu.)
Minulý měsíc se vrátili ze svého zajímavého výletu do země, takže jsem si přál sdílet několik toho, co dělali, stejně jako se naučili, takže můžete vidět, čeho vaše podpora dosáhla. Pro mnoho studentů to bylo poprvé v jedné zemi a netřeba dodávat, že na ně mělo obrovský účinek.
Naše skupina začala v Bogotě, kde se vyšplhali na vrchol Cerro de Monserrate a prozkoumali Plaza Bolívar, kde Jeremy, instruktor vedoucí výlet, poskytl průřezovou přednášku o Simonovi Bolívarovi, kolumbijské historii během let medikačního kartelu, roky, stejně jako design kolem nich. Rovněž se vydali na pouliční uměleckou cestu vedenou dvěma regionálními umělci, na nichž objevili vše o uměleckých metodách i o politickém klimatu, které vyvolalo řadu kusů, které viděli.
Stážisté okamžitě začali vidět společné rysy mezi Oaklandem i Kolumbií. Darrilyn, patnáctiletá sophomore, poznamenala, že tato cesta, její poprvé ze země, „hodně změnila mé vnímání a předem představené pojmy Kolumbie, stejně jako jsem viděl, že je to mnohem jako dům než předtím myslel.” Rovněž „opravdu byla potěšena touto pěší cestou, protože mám rád umění a mám rád graffiti, protože je to nekonvenční umění, stejně jako vypráví příběh člověka.“
Poté skupina zamířila do Cartageny. Dostali ideální úvod do města na chůzi s naším partnerem, Context Travel, během kterého objevili hodně o historii Cartageny jako přístavu pro zotročené lidi. To rezonovalo se studenty, kteří přesně zdůraznili, jak nezbytné bylo pro mnohem více lidí mít tyto znalosti. Kai, jehož nový pas dostal na tuto cestu první razítko, si uvědomil, že „když lidé věří o Latinskou Ameriku, často nevěří lidem afrického původu“.
Myani, který má 17 let, stejně jako právě promoval na Akademii Vizualizace, byl podobně přesunut: „Je to inspirativní metodou, protože i když naši předkové byli zotročeni, udělali město, co to je. Jejich hodnotu můžete vidět pro komunitu. Přestože existuje utlačová konotace, protože byly zotročeny, převrátí ji a také z něj udělejte silnou lekci. Udělejte to své vlastní: Moji předci vyvinuli toto město. “
Kromě toho se účastníci ponořili do kolumbijské kuchyně tím, že se vydali na pouliční jídlo s připojením Cartageny. Vyzkoušeli cokoli z Ajiaco, jakož i arepas po Bandeja Paisa, Mango Biche, stejně jako sóda bublinkové gumy.
Jedním z vrcholů výletu bylo jít do Carriageny Barrio San Francisco s Alexem Rocha ze zkušenosti pravého Cartageny, jehož výlety jsou vyvíjeny tak, aby navázaly hlubší spojení s marginalizovanými čtvrtími Kolumbie. (Alexovo podnikání také působí jako sociální podnik, stejně jako výtěžek fondu pro regionální komunitu.) Naši účastníci měli šanci spojit se s několika z těchto mládí s aktivitami, jako je kreslení, tanec, také Jako fotbal, kromě pravdivých rozhovorů o jejich sdílených zkušenostech.
Aliza, sophomore i prezidentka Rady prosazování, která nikdy předtím USA neopustila, cítila, že to bylo vrcholem její cesty, protože byla schopna „vidět mladé a pochopit jejich atmosféru a přesně jak oni online každý den. “ Jany, kterému je sedmnáct a sloužila jako de-facto překladatelka našich španělsky mluvících rodičů, přesně ukázala, jak mladí lidé uspokojili „z toho, co mají, využívají to nejlepší. Jsou vděční, stejně jako pokorní, stejně jako vždy se snaží objevit něco pozitivního. “
Tayvion, a 14-year-old who likewise was traveling abroad for the very first time, had a deep conversation with one of the Colombian youngsters about authorities brutality. When Tayvion asked if they had guns, his new buddy replied, “Yes, however they never shoot.” having drawn parallels as well as distinctions with his own community, Tayvion shared his devastating realization: “It made me believe about how, for officers in the U.S.,their very first instinct is just to shoot.” (To me, that’s a unfortunate statement coming from a youngster as well as just shows you up much authorities violence is an daily truth for numerous people in this country.)
Throughout this entire journey, the group took part in everyday reflections. They shared their experiences, discovered from one another, as well as bonded over exactly how they’d altered throughout the trip.
Joshua, a sophomore who had never even left California before this trip, stated that the most significant lessons he’d discovered were: “Do not take the things you have for granted. Do not be scared to try new things. Finally, don’t be frightened to discover about new people.”
Waldo, who is a junior, shared that, “we ought to be open-minded about other cultures as well as people ’cause we may discover some similarities between us as well as them. We shouldn’t judge a people or culture based on their past alone.”
These new experiences not only shifted their mindset, however they likewise made the trainees believe about their future as well as goals. Yasmeen told us, “I have a great deal of dreams. There are so numerous benefits in the US, as well as I’m not going to squander my time. I ought to travel much more as well as discover about different cultures.”
In addition to the understanding that she gained, Veronica shared that her “goals are to assist my neighborhood with any type of of the work that I do. I believe this trip is going to assist me accomplish that since I’ve realized exactly how similar my neighborhood is with the neighborhood of Cartagena. We can utilize other cities from different countries to assist each other with the problems we are going through.”
Similarly, Ronald, a trainee who was thrilled to relay his experiences with his stepmom (who’s from Colombia), shared that “this trip made me open-minded to different cultures as well as makes me suggest solidarity within neighborhoods in Oakland.”
And, in a quote I particularly love, Darrilyn stated of her time in Colombia: “My really hopes as well as dreams are to be a political analyst as well as to travel the world. This trip showed me there is no worry to travel.”
This is why FLYTE exists: to produce moments as well as lessons such as this for trainees so they can see the world outside their borders as well as dream big.
The experiences these trainees had in Colombia left an indelible mark on them. many of them had never been on a airplane before their trip to Colombia. Not only did they discover about the culture as well as history of one more country however they likewise found exactly how a neighborhood can increase up in times of adversity.
On the last days of their trip, the trainees started planning exactly how they’re going to take action back home. one of their concepts was to produce a mural, much like the ones they saw in Colombia, to inform others about exactly how Oakland continues to conquer its struggles.
Because of this trip, these youth now have a bigger comprehending of the world as well as the power they each have to modification it for the better.
***
And, so, our objective continues!
I want to say thanks to you for assisting make this happen! It takes an entire network of passionate individuals as well as companies to run one of these trips, as well as we wished to celebrate a few of our partners who made this trip such an unforgettable experience for our students:
World Nomads, which contributed all of our travel insurance. understanding that they had us covered for any type of unforeseen circumstances, like lost luggage, provided us such peace of mind.
Selian Hostel in Cartegena for offering trips as well as breakfast for the trainees totally free of charge.
Javier from MYGHT travel, who made the daunting process of booking flights for a group of 20+ a seamless as well as stress-free experience.
Context Travel, which dealt with us to craft unique, immersive experiences (at a discount!) for our students.
Alex Rocha from Experience genuine Cartagena for opening up his neighborhood to us as well as offering us with a deep connection to the fantastic people of Barrio San Francisco.
Bluffworks, one of our newest business partners, which covered the costs of three trainees to take this journey of a lifetime.
Allyson as well as the team from wikiHow, who highlighted us on their platform as well as sponsored one trainee on this trip.
The worldwide TEFL Academy, for contributing 50% of the proceeds from its instruct Abroad film celebration to FLYTE.
Lo & Sons, for matching donations during our wildly successful #GivingTuesday campaign as well as sharing our story with their audience.
Lia from useful Wanderlust, who paid her own method to join the trip as well as caught so numerous amazing pictures as well as videos. She was likewise the mastermind behind FLYTE’s IG stories during the trip! We like exactly how she was able to file the students’ experiencein such an authentic, powerful, as well as unintrusive way.
Last, however definitely not least, numerous thanks to the countless you that contributed to FLYTE. Your generosity throughout the years has sent 70 trainees on life-changing journeys abroad. The effect of these trips extends beyond just these youth. since of you, the wave of positive modification will ripple with their neighborhoods as well as the world at large. With them taking the lead, I understand without a question that our future is bright. say thanks to you all for making such an immeasurable impact!
As the world develops walls, we’re assisting tear them down as well as showing a new generation that there is much more that brings us together than tears us apart.
If you want to discover much more about FLYTE as well as exactly how you can assist send much more trainees abroad, click right here for much more information.
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