Fund a Summer of Service and Learning in Southeast Asia

I will be volunteering in Thailand and Laos this summer with Growth International Volunteer Excursions (GIVE). I am excited about the opportunity to learn about and give back to the world through this experience. I’m also looking forward to making a difference in my life as well as the lives of others.

GIVE focuses on sustainable community development in marginalized communities by assisting, educating, and empowering the local population. The core goal is to provide communities with the necessary infrastructure to foster sustainable growth.

The first part of my trip will train me on how to correctly identify and fix the most common types of coral damage, how to safely remove discarded fishing equipment from the reefs, and various methods to conduct reef health surveys. I am so excited to learn about marine life and help preserve a natural habitat I would otherwise never encounter. Our data collected from these days will be recorded in global scientific databases to help support marine research and conservation around the world!

In the second part of my trip, I will be heading over to Laos to learn about their culture and participate in their way of life, such as fishing with locals, bee-keeping, clam-digging, and brewing rice wine. I will have the opportunity to give back to their community by learning how to make local tools, handicrafts, as well as teaching English to local children. I will also be educated by Buddhist monks on their beliefs and meditative practices, taking part in many types of traditional ceremonies.

Of course we will also be exploring the natural beauty of these countries, hiking up mountain faces, rock climbing, and swimming in the waterfalls. I look forward to exploring the world and learning about people and cultures in a way I could only dream of through an opportunity such as this. I feel it will benefit me in my future growth and endeavors in the field of psychology and human behavior.

I would greatly appreciate a donation to help me serve others abroad this summer. Your contribution will go directly to the cost for me to volunteer: accommodations, food, in-country travel, materials, and costs associated with the volunteer projects. I have been working and saving up for this exciting trip but can’t make it a reality with the support of family and friends…

I have set up this GoFundMe to allow easy transferring, but direct payments such as check, wire, or Venmo [lineahfs] would be much appreciated due to the lack of taxation.

Thank you for your donation. I really appreciate you helping me volunteer in Thailand and Laos this summer. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me! Thank you for helping me to learn to protect our world and its inhabitants.