From: Lorna
Date: Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Subject: Thank You
To: info@cosmicvolunteers.org

Dear Mr. Burke,

I am delighted that things went well for [my son] Jelani in Ghana. He benefited and grew from his veterinary work experiences and he enjoyed being with your coordinator and her family.

I was very nervous about this trip but it proved to be a good experience for both Jelani and me!

All the best to you and Cosmic Volunteers and thanks again.

Yours sincerely,
Lorna
(London)

From: Pam
Date: Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 2:24 AM
Subject: Re: Cosmic Volunteers / Pam
To: “Cosmic Volunteers”

Hi Scott!

I just wanted to let you know that I got home from India with no problems. Although it did take me a few days to really adjust to India, by the end of last week I must say I had an absolute great time.

My coordinators in India were both so helpful and friendly, even when I would call them both multiple times a day because I had called a richshaw wrong and had gotten lost. I was able to go to Haridwar on the weekend with the gappers from the UK, stayed in an ashram, and in general had an awesome time.

I’m actually missing India right now, even though I just got back. The food tastes almost bland in comparison and I balked at how expensive everything is back here.

I’m so glad I took the trip, and I really wish I had stayed longer.

-Pam

[Canadian high school student living in California]

Dear Scott,

Jambo!

Hannah, Grace, and I are having a great time here in Kenya. Our coordinator is wonderful. The children at the school are so intelligent and super cute. The school definitely needs a lot of work though. They are working on a new building for the primary kids and it’s coming along – slowly.

Today I took a break from helping out the teachers and instead helped install a door frame with one of the other volunteers. I felt quite accomplished when we finished.

This upcoming week I will be doing more physical labor – working on installing three more doors and such – while Grace and Hannah continue to help out in the classroom.

I hope all is well on your end. Let us know if you will be coming to visit! We will definitely keep in touch.

Thanks for everything.

Best,
Melissa

From: Anne Karam
Date: Thu, May 27, 2010 at 6:34 AM
Subject: Greetings from Vietnam!
To: “Cosmic @” <info@cosmicvolunteers.org>

Mr. Burke,

Greetings from Vietnam! We just wanted to check in and let you know how incredibly impressed we are with Cosmic Volunteers and how positive our experience in our volunteer placements has been so far. We have enjoyed every moment volunteering in the Buddhist Pagoda and at the orphanage. Both have been incredibly meaningful experiences so far.

Also, our Coordinator has been so wonderful and she has truly made our trip to Vietnam so peaceful and positive. She has taken such good care of us and she continues to guide us and help us. She has made herself so available to us and she truly has made the trip amazing for us.

We have been very pleased with Cosmic Volunteers and we wanted to tell you thank you! We are so sad that our trip is so short to Vietnam, but we are having an amazing experience thanks to Cosmic Volunteers.

Many thanks,

Anne, Rachel, Ryan, and Geales

The Jewish Post and News ran a story yesterday about Monty and Gerry, a retired couple from Winnipeg who volunteered in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in January 2010.

They participated in dual program, teaching English at both a children’s shelter as well as to Catholic Nuns. The latter is a new program, with Monty and Gerry as the first-ever participants!

Gerry at Children's Shelter

Monty with Catholic Nuns

Gerry at Children's Shelter

Gerry at Notre Dame Cathedral

Gerry with Catholic Nuns

—–

From the Jewish Post & News

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

WEDNESDAY, 05 MAY 2010 18:48

There used to be a T.V. show that began each episode with a view of New York City and an unseen announcer who would say, “There are eight million stories in the naked city. This is one of them.” Then as the plot unfolded, viewers would see how ordinary people could wind up having extraordinary adventures.

I agree with the premise of this show, that each of us has a “story” to tell and maybe even one worth writing about. So let me tell you the story of my friends Gerry and Monty Lomow, who were looking for a “snowbird vacation” and wound up with a lot more.

When Gerry and I met for lunch last fall, we talked of our winter getaway plans. I wondered if she and husband Monty were going to Florida or Palm Springs (two favorite snowbird destinations). Her answer surprised me.

“We’re traveling to Vietnam on a couples tour”, she said, “but we’re going two weeks early to work as volunteers in a girls’ orphanage.” This was a surprising piece of news, for although I had known the Lomows for years, I did not know that Monty had been an active volunteer in Winnipeg, working with adult immigrants in the ESL (now EAL – English as an Acquired Language) Program. It sounded like a great adventure, so I called Monty to learn more.

“We wanted a longer holiday”, he explained. “I had read about volunteer tourism and we thought it sounded like an interesting option. He googled the subject, and about 100 websites appeared. “Then it’s just a matter of choosing what suits your needs”, he said.

They chose to go with Cosmic Volunteers, a U.S. – based, non-profit organization, that offers volunteer programs abroad in 14 countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Volunteers can work in schools, hospitals, orphanages, with women’s groups, on newspapers, at HIV/AIDs clinics or with other organizations who ask for their assistance. According to Cosmic’s website, volunteers do not require special skills or experience just,” a desire to reach out to those in need in non-western countries”.

Cosmic assists in finding appropriate accommodations (the Lomows found a charming, well-priced hotel on their own), and give advice on food, transportation, communications, health and safety in the host country. Each volunteer pays a fee (depending on the destination), part of which is given as a donation to the organization, and also covers the services of an “on-the-ground” coordinator.

Monty and Gerry were interested in immersing themselves in Vietnamese culture in an urban setting. They chose to volunteer at a girl’s shelter located in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Their job would be to teach English to 25 girls, ranging in age from seven to fifteen years old, at the Mai Am Ba Chieu Orphanage.

Armed with a few ESL textbooks and some educational games and toys, bought at their own expense from Scholar’s Choice, the Lomows left for their Vietnam adventure on January 9th.

They were met at the airport by their coordinator, who introduced them to the Orphanage staff and then left! The couple found the orphanage to be a clean, airy and pleasant place, and those who lived there surprisingly optimistic, well-directed and eager to learn.

However despite the fact that the girls could read English, few, if any, could speak it. Undaunted, the couple “waded in”. “When you’re left on your own, you figure it out”, Monty said. The girls were very musical and loved to sing the English lyrics to the popular songs that were programmed into the home’s electric piano. Gerry printed and distributed song sheets for sing-alongs (“Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne” were special favorites!). The couple noticed badminton nets in the back yard, bought racquets and organized a tournament. Using family pictures of winter scenes, and maps and puzzles, they taught about Canada.

After morning sessions with the girls (who attended public school in the afternoon), the Lomows explored the city, stopping to buy dual language books and maps. On one shopping trip, they found DVDs of all the “High School Musical” movies for “their girls”. At night they visited friends they knew in the city, or had dinner at one of the many restaurants.

In fact, Gerry and Monty were doing so well, that the founder of Cosmic Volunteers contacted them and asked if they could also teach English to nuns. They agreed. As a result, the Lomows pioneered a new volunteer opportunity now offered by Cosmic – “Teaching English to Nuns, Buddhist Priests and Monks in Vietnam”.

On the final day of their two weeks at Mai Am Ba Chieu, Gerry and Monty threw a farewell party, complete with a fancy chocolate cake and individual silver bracelets for each girl. They had become attached to their charges and left with mixed feelings. “ It’s an emotional thing. You wonder what will happen to them. Although we were pooped when it was over, I got huge pleasure out of it. It was a warm, wonderful, terrific experience!” Gerry said.

Monty concurs. “I would recommend volunteer tourism highly!” In fact, he is looking into new destinations.

So to paraphrase the T.V. show, there are 600,000 stories in this prairie city. This has been one of the best of them!

Madeline, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, volunteered in Delhi, India for seven weeks with an HIV/AIDS organization in February/March 2010:

(Feb 6, 2010):
“So far, I have worked on some small projects – a grant proposal and an information packet about HIV to hand out at outreach events.  I also spend a lot of time playing with the kids from the Care Home, which is really nice.  I don’t know if I’ll ever work in an office that gets infiltrated by children every day.  It’s been a really great experience, so far.”

(May 2, 2010):
“…I arrived home safely…I had a really great experience abroad (can’t believe it’s over already!), so thank you for helping me accomplish that!”

Scott Burke visited the Chua Dieuphap Buddhist Orphanage today. It’s located in the Dong Nai Province in southeast Vietnam, about one hour from Ho Chi Minh City.

The orphanage houses 160+ children, about 20 of whom are severely physically disabled.

The children, many of whom have never met a westerner before, were delightful to be around.

Scott with 4 month old twin boys

Kids Playing

Reclining Buddha

Dragon

Monk walking her way around shelter

The students at Elsa High are leaving Vietnam today. Here is our group photo, taken at the park on Pham Ngu Lao Street in District 1, across from the Liberty 4 Hotel.

Elsa High departs Vietnam

Mr. Vincent and Mr. Lawrence led the awards party last night with their usual wit and thoughtfulness.

The party took place at the Jewish Chabad House in Ho Chi Minh, which prepared all of the meals for students and staff during the entire trip. Chabad also served as home base for Shabbat and many of the groups’ prayer and reflection sessions for the trip.

Mr. Vincent and Mr. Lawrence holding court

Tom (right) receives an award

Mr. Lawrence presents gift to Mr. Burke (right)

Nicole receives an award