Global Citizens Network

HARAMBEE (Issue 2)

…the Swahili word meaning “unite” or “work together”

The Electronic Newsletter for Global Citizens from Global Citizens Network

HARAMBEE offers information, news, resources and opinions for people who identify themselves as global citizens and seek to uphold values of peace, justice, cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation. Published by Global Citizens Network. Writer: Rita Johnson, June, 2005.

GCN Trips are Still Available!

Tentative Trip Schedule for 2006

Sign up NOW to Hold Your Space for a 2006 Trip at Current Trip Prices

Thailand and Peru: Exploring the Possibilities

Your Stories are Important – Rememory them!

Miscellaneous news
a. Continuing Education Units for teachers
b. Regional hubs established
c. Upcoming Global Gatherings

7. Thanks for Everything You Do

1. GCN Trips are Still Available!
Anxious for a GCN experience this year? Consider taking your family! Take advantage of the special rates for children (half trip cost for 8-12 year olds) and returning volunteers ($50 off!).

Check these out…

Guatemala
Peru
Arizona
Thailand
Nepal
Mexico
Mexico
($1250)
($1450)
($650)
($1750)
($1950)
($1150)
($1400) July 5-19
August 5-20
September 16-24
October 2-16
October 16 – Nov. 6
October 21-30
November 11-22

3 openings
5 openings
2 openings
4 openings
3 openings
4 openings
Special trip in conjunction with OLLI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of MN

For specifics, check out the GCN website at www.globalcitizens.org. or call us at 651-644-0960 or 800-644-9292.

2. Tentative Trip Schedule for 2006

Kenya (Maili Tatu)
Tanzania (Kilomeni)
Mexico (Chicueyaco)
Mexico (Xiloxochico)
Arizona (Rock Point)
Washington (LaPush)
New Mexico (Tohatchi)
Guatamala (Sansirisay)
Kenya (Maili Tatu)
Peru (Huapo)
Tanzania (Kilomeni)
Washington (LaPush)
Kentucky (Lucky Fork)
Arizona (Rock Point)
Nepal (Jampaling)
Thailand (Chiang Rai) 12/28/05-1/11/06*
1/15-1/29*
1/7-1/15
3/25-4/2
4/8-4/15
6/17-6/25
6/17-6/25
7/7-7/22
7/7-7/28
7/21-8/6
8/3-8/24
8/5-8/13
Fall dates to be determined
9/9-9/17
10/15-10/31*
11/2-11/18*

Please Note: The first date of the trip is the day the team meets at the airport in the country/state where the site is located. The last date of the trip is the date the team leaves the site.

* Volunteers can take 2 week trip or both 2 week trips at discount for 2nd
****************************************************************
•Returned volunteer discount is $50.
•Trip dates may vary slightly based on flight availability.
•The trip costs include most in-country costs, a donation to the community project, training materials, travel medical insurance for international trips and a portion of our program costs. Airfare is additional.
•Children’s rates: ages 8-12 travel at 1/2 trip cost.
•All trip-related expenses are tax-deductible in the U.S.
****************************************************************

3.Sign up NOW to Hold Your Space for a 2006 Trip at Current Trip Prices!
We anticipate a price increase for 2006 trips will be announced on September 1. Volunteers who complete the registration process for 2006 trips before September 1, 2005, (including the $200 deposit for each volunteer) will travel at 2005 prices.

4.Thailand and Peru: Exploring the Possibilities
Exploratory trips…a unique experience for GCN volunteers! The first (exploratory) team to visit a potential site plays an important role for GCN. They are there to learn about the host organization, hear about the potential project(s), meet people from surrounding communities and make recommendations to GCN through their team leader about the feasibility of the sites and projects. Although they are often involved in some kind of work at the invitation of the community, they typically don’t put a lot of focus on the work. Rather they are about the possibilities.

A trip of this kind requires a lot of flexibility on the part of the volunteers. It offers more freedom to see the land, peoples and villages in the area, and less opportunity to develop the close relationships that a 2-3 week “regular” work trip to one village provides. The benefit of having volunteers on an exploratory trip is that the village can see what kind of people come on trips, what their intentions are and how the team interacts with the community. The volunteers also help the team leader identify the preferred location, project or community.

This year’s exploratory trips are scheduled for the northern province of Chiang Rai Thailand, Tarapoto, Peru and (in development) Lucky Fork, Owsley County, Kentucky. Check out our web site for the details and then join us on one of these trips for a first-hand look at possibilities.

5.Your Stories are Important –Rememory them!
Many peoples have strong traditions of elders passing on important stories to their youth. These stories serve to preserve the culture and bind people together in deeply-treasured ways. Once you’ve been on a GCN trip, you graduate to “elder” status, no matter what your age! You can help extend our network by telling your stories from past trips to anyone who’ll listen, sending them to us, and by contacting a local news organization to publish them. As Chloe, my granddaughter says, “I have a good rememory!” We encourage you to ‘rememory’ your special times and broaden the network of global citizens throughout the world!

6a. Continuing Education Units for teachers traveling with GCN
If you’re a teacher and need Continuing Education Units to maintain your certification, why not earn them while traveling with GCN? You COULD go to a conference or spend summer in a classroom, but doesn’t it sound more exciting to visit a primary school and sing with Maasai children under an acacia tree near Mount Kilimanjaro, or practice your Spanish with children in Guatemala who laugh at your pronunciation, or greet the morning sun from a Navajo hogan in New Mexico? It’s possible that you can earn up to ten (10) CEU hours per GCN week. Call Eden for the details. 651-644-0960 or 800-644-9292

6b. Regional hubs established
Have you wondered about connecting with GCN volunteers from your part of the country? Regional Coordinators are established in different parts of the country to talk with volunteers, past, present and future. Contact the office to get in touch with Regional Coordinators in Colorado, Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Bay Area California.

For upcoming events in your area, call your coordinator or Eden at 651-644-0960 or 800-644-9292.

6c. Upcoming Global Gatherings
* Denver, Colorado July 9 GCN office for location

* St. Paul, Minnesota July 16 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Everest on Grand, 1278 Grand Avenue
St Paul
$11.00 Nepali and Tibetan cuisine buffet
focus on Nepal and Thailand projects

7. Thanks for everything you do…the GCN Board and Eden Thank You for the many ways you support GCN and

We hope to see you on a trip soon! Remember:
Returning volunteers receive a $50.00 discount!

Global Citizens Network sends short-term teams of volunteers to rural communities around the world where participants immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of the community. Each volunteer team is led by an experienced team leader and partners with a local grassroots organization active in meeting local needs.

Global Citizens Network Staff:
Eden Rock, Executive Director

Global Citizens Network Board Members:
Rita Johnson, President
Kristi Papenfuss, Vice President
Jan Smith, Secretary
Jeff Theisen, Treasurer
Paul Ernst
Mila Bernal
Mohamed Gobana
Carol North