Monday, November 1, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Fall 2010 Intro
We are currently planning our next trip, which will take place in late April/early May. Look out for the application form, coming up in a week or so! Browse through this website to get a feel of what the outreach experience is like: what to expect, what you'll learn, and the positive impact that you can create on communities in need.
Your outreach team this year is:
Liz Huang: has been with SOS since January 2010 and was one of the coordinators of the August 2010 trip.
Jay Ryu: a participant on the August 2010 outreach trip and gained first hand experience going to Peru this summer.
Teresa Yeung: another Outreach coordinator of the August 2010 trip!
Your outreach team this year is:
Liz Huang: has been with SOS since January 2010 and was one of the coordinators of the August 2010 trip.
Jay Ryu: a participant on the August 2010 outreach trip and gained first hand experience going to Peru this summer.
Teresa Yeung: another Outreach coordinator of the August 2010 trip!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
trip summary
Waterloo SOS sent a team of 22 volunteers down to Peru for our second annual educational development project. It was an unforgettable experience for all involved!
We arrived in Lima (the capital of Peru) around 3:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, August 21. Lima is a vibrant metropolis on the Pacific coast home to almost 9 million people. Over the next day, we had the chance to explore the Barranco district near our hostel on foot, and the rest of the city through a bus tour. Highlights included a tour of Lima’s archaeological museum, with artefacts celebrating Incan and pre-Incan culture; a visit to the catacombs of the Basilica of San Francisco, featuring thousands of human bones and skulls; and a lovely buffet dinner of classic Peruvian dishes, including ceviche (national dish of fish cured in lime juice), causa (chicken/fish salad encased in potato), escabeche (fried fish tossed in lime juice or vinegar), and queso fresco (soft white cheese ubiquitous in Peru). We also had our first round of Pisco Sours, the national drink of Peru consisting of Pisco brandy, sugarcane syrup, lime juice, and egg white. More on Peruvian cuisine later!
After a three-hour delay, we flew to Cusco the following morning. Cusco is perched 11,200 feet up in the heart of the Andes Mountains. Until the Spanish conquest in 1533, Cusco was the capital of the thriving Inca Empire. Cusco is still home to a variety of surviving Incan sites, and as such its main industry is tourism.
We set off on a guided tour of the city and surrounding attractions, namely Saqsayhuaman; the remains of a fortified Incan complex in the shape of a puma), Pukapukara (an Incan military fortress), and Tambomachay (an Incan bath). In the evening, we explored Plaza de Armas, the central square of downtown Cusco. Over a dinner of alpaca tenderloin, trout, and lomo saltado (marinated beef), we met Jorge Sanabria. Along with his wife Jenny, Jorge runs Voluntarios Sin Fronteras (Volunteers Without Borders), also known as Awaiting Angels. Their NGO aims to increase educational opportunities for Peruvian children and young adults.
Upon arriving at the volunteer residence (Jenny’s and Jorge’s house) for the first time, we were pleasantly surprised to be living in relative luxury: four bedrooms, hot showers, and home-cooked lunches and dinners every day. The majority of our group managed to adjust to the abrupt change in elevation with few side effects, although some of our group members vomited and/or suffered from headaches the first night in Cusco (there was some unrelated diarrhea as well).
On Monday, August 23, our building project began. The goal of the project was threefold: to build a pronoi (kindergarten) for about 30 three to five year-old students; a technical sewing room to teach the trade to 16 to 25 year-olds; and an English language training centre for locals aged 15 to 24. We also planned to construct an office, storage room, and two washrooms to round out the complex.
We arrived at the worksite in the impoverished community of Tica Tica, on the outskirts of Cusco. By my crude estimation, the site was about 20 feet wide by 75 feet long; mostly barren save for a dilapidated brick wall, two empty rooms, and a makeshift washroom; and on a steep decline. The first day primarily consisted of gruelling levelling work: using pick axes and shovels to remove stone, cement, and dirt to flatten the terrain. On Tuesday, the wood frames for our three modules (schoolhouses) arrived. After placing the frames on their wooden foundations, we started varnishing the wood and painting the office and storage room.
Work continued to progress quickly over the next two days, as we placed corrugated roofs on the modules and finished the varnishing and painting work. We also engaged in the complicated art of making cement, which involves mixing gravel and dry cement in the ratio of 40 shovels of the former to one bag of the latter, moving the pile back and forth 3-4 times to incorporate the dry ingredients, creating a ‘volcano’ in the pile and adding water, and continuing to add water until the proper consistency is achieved. The 100 pound buckets of cement were then poured to form the foundation of the washrooms, office, and storage room. On Friday, we began work on rock paths linking the various rooms, and we installed doors and locks on the modules.
Going to Peru without visiting Machu Picchu would have been sacrilege. Needless to say, we were extremely excited to travel to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Our trip began Saturday morning with a 2.5 hour bus ride to the town of Ollantaytambo, and then a 1.5 hour train ride through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs), the traditional jump-off point for Machu Picchu. Saturday afternoon and evening were spent enjoying the hot springs (maybe a little too much) and browsing through the 4-for-1 happy hour drink specials and 15 soles ($5.50) three-course dinner deals. Then it was early to bed in preparation for our 3:00 a.m. wake up Sunday morning.
The first tour buses to Machu Picchu arrive around 5:45 a.m. every morning. To beat the crowds, it is necessary to complete a hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu consisting of 1,094 vertical steps. After a taxing hour-long climb, we made it to the entrance gates in plenty of time to secure one of 400 coveted passes to climb the narrow Huayna Picchu, which overlooks the world-famous archaeological sites. Ironically, we didn’t end up scaling Huayna Picchu, but the accomplishment of making it to Machu Picchu on foot and being there for the sunrise was well worth it.
Machu Picchu was home to approximately 1,000 venerated members of Incan society from the 14th to 16th century. Fortunately, it was left virtually untouched by the Spanish during their conquest of Peru; 80% of the original complex is preserved. Machu Picchu was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham almost 400 years later, in 1911. It is quite the ‘site’ to see.
We explored the grounds by ourselves for an hour, and then went on a guided tour of the spectacular archaeological site for the rest of the morning. Machu Picchu is divided into several broad areas: an agricultural zone where thousands of different varieties of crops were cultivated; the ‘Sector of the Temples’, which contains many sacred buildings; a rock quarry; and a residential sector, just to name a few. Academics are still puzzled as to how the Incas created structures of such scale and intricate detail using relatively-primitive technology.
There was so much to see and learn throughout our tour, but there were several highlights that stood out in my mind. The Temple of the Sun was constructed so that, on the Summer Solstice, light will shine directly through the ‘Sun Gate’ in the surrounding mountains, into the window, and along the line formed by the raised altar within. Almost as impressive is the Temple of the Three Windows, formed out of massive blocks of stone and also devoted to the Incan Sun God. The interplay between sun and rock shows up in numerous other areas of the site, including the Intihuatana stone (thought to be a sundial) and this nameless rock, which casts a shadow in the shape of Chakana, the Inca cross. The most mind-blowing revelation about Machu Picchu for me was that, when you lay your head on your shoulder, the mountains surrounding the site resemble a face!
After getting our fill of history and ‘Wow!’ moments in the morning, we were ready for another strenuous climb. ‘Machu Picchu’ means ‘Old Mountain’ in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas, and literally refers to the tallest mountain surrounding the ruins. Distance-wise, the climb up Machu Picchu was shorter than the hike to the site that we completed earlier in the day. However, the path up Machu Picchu is virtually straight up the mountain. The steepness, combined with the heat of the mid-day sun, made this second climb much more difficult than the first.
Bypassing some llamas that initially blocked our path up the mountain, we set off for the top. Unlike in the first hike, rest breaks were certainly necessary (and appropriate, as the views during the climb were spectacular). We were told that the ascent would take about an hour and 20 minutes. You can imagine my surprise—and relief—when after 40 minutes, my ‘brother in climb’ Andrew and I saw the flag at the top of Machu Picchu peeking out over the trees. Five minutes and two removed t-shirts later, we were at the summit looking out over a 500 metre vertical drop to the Urubamba valley below. It was breathtaking in every sense of the word.
Over the next 70 minutes, the rest of our sweaty and exhausted group slowly trickled in. For all 22 of us to make it to the top was a great accomplishment and a testament to the determination and persistence of our team of volunteers.
Although not nearly as physically demanding, the hike down the mountain was much more precarious. There is no protection on the sides of the hiking path, so one misstep can spell disaster. Fortunately, using all four limbs at times, we all made it down safely.
After a wonderful night’s sleep back in Cusco, we returned to work Monday morning determined to finish the project over the next three days. We continued the rock paths begun on Friday, this time with some help from the locals. The sewing machines also arrived, complete with faulty assembly instructions and missing parts; had I been on the assembly team, we would probably still be in Peru. In the afternoon, we celebrated the completion of the washrooms, and we started the electrical wiring within the modules, which was finished over the next two days. By the end of a very cold day on Tuesday, nearly all of the functional work was complete. Wednesday was primarily devoted to aesthetics: painting the tables and chairs for the kindergarten, seeding grass and planting flowers, and stencilling the façade outside of the complex. We were thrilled at the transformation over eight days from an empty parcel of land to a fully-functioning three-room education centre.
Now all that was left to do was party! On Thursday, the community was invited to celebrate the opening of the complex. In lieu of a ribbon cutting, Jorge from Awaiting Angels smashed the ceremonial bottle of sparkling apple cider to officially open the education centre. Well over 100 people came out to enjoy a Canadian-Peruvian fiesta featuring lots of food, free giveaways, and fun.
Over the previous week, we had opened registration to each of the three classrooms to the community. The response was overwhelming; each program was substantially over-registered! We didn’t have to wait long to see the fruits of our labour, as classes began Thursday afternoon.
Back in the residence that evening, we were served a congratulatory dinner of cuy, or guinea pig. This Peruvian specialty is generally reserved for weddings and other special occasions. Delicious! After a night on the town to celebrate, we packed our bags and departed for Lima Friday morning. A 13-hour layover and a 7-hour flight later, we were back in Toronto.
All in all, it was a challenging, eye-opening, and infinitely-rewarding fifteen days. We completed the project and had loads of fun along the way. I was fortunate enough to share the trip with 18 old friends and three wonderful new ones. The community and Awaiting Angels extended an open invitation to members of our group to come back as volunteer instructors in the English language training classroom, so hopefully a return trip will be in the near future!
We arrived in Lima (the capital of Peru) around 3:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, August 21. Lima is a vibrant metropolis on the Pacific coast home to almost 9 million people. Over the next day, we had the chance to explore the Barranco district near our hostel on foot, and the rest of the city through a bus tour. Highlights included a tour of Lima’s archaeological museum, with artefacts celebrating Incan and pre-Incan culture; a visit to the catacombs of the Basilica of San Francisco, featuring thousands of human bones and skulls; and a lovely buffet dinner of classic Peruvian dishes, including ceviche (national dish of fish cured in lime juice), causa (chicken/fish salad encased in potato), escabeche (fried fish tossed in lime juice or vinegar), and queso fresco (soft white cheese ubiquitous in Peru). We also had our first round of Pisco Sours, the national drink of Peru consisting of Pisco brandy, sugarcane syrup, lime juice, and egg white. More on Peruvian cuisine later!
After a three-hour delay, we flew to Cusco the following morning. Cusco is perched 11,200 feet up in the heart of the Andes Mountains. Until the Spanish conquest in 1533, Cusco was the capital of the thriving Inca Empire. Cusco is still home to a variety of surviving Incan sites, and as such its main industry is tourism.
We set off on a guided tour of the city and surrounding attractions, namely Saqsayhuaman; the remains of a fortified Incan complex in the shape of a puma), Pukapukara (an Incan military fortress), and Tambomachay (an Incan bath). In the evening, we explored Plaza de Armas, the central square of downtown Cusco. Over a dinner of alpaca tenderloin, trout, and lomo saltado (marinated beef), we met Jorge Sanabria. Along with his wife Jenny, Jorge runs Voluntarios Sin Fronteras (Volunteers Without Borders), also known as Awaiting Angels. Their NGO aims to increase educational opportunities for Peruvian children and young adults.
Upon arriving at the volunteer residence (Jenny’s and Jorge’s house) for the first time, we were pleasantly surprised to be living in relative luxury: four bedrooms, hot showers, and home-cooked lunches and dinners every day. The majority of our group managed to adjust to the abrupt change in elevation with few side effects, although some of our group members vomited and/or suffered from headaches the first night in Cusco (there was some unrelated diarrhea as well).
On Monday, August 23, our building project began. The goal of the project was threefold: to build a pronoi (kindergarten) for about 30 three to five year-old students; a technical sewing room to teach the trade to 16 to 25 year-olds; and an English language training centre for locals aged 15 to 24. We also planned to construct an office, storage room, and two washrooms to round out the complex.
We arrived at the worksite in the impoverished community of Tica Tica, on the outskirts of Cusco. By my crude estimation, the site was about 20 feet wide by 75 feet long; mostly barren save for a dilapidated brick wall, two empty rooms, and a makeshift washroom; and on a steep decline. The first day primarily consisted of gruelling levelling work: using pick axes and shovels to remove stone, cement, and dirt to flatten the terrain. On Tuesday, the wood frames for our three modules (schoolhouses) arrived. After placing the frames on their wooden foundations, we started varnishing the wood and painting the office and storage room.
Work continued to progress quickly over the next two days, as we placed corrugated roofs on the modules and finished the varnishing and painting work. We also engaged in the complicated art of making cement, which involves mixing gravel and dry cement in the ratio of 40 shovels of the former to one bag of the latter, moving the pile back and forth 3-4 times to incorporate the dry ingredients, creating a ‘volcano’ in the pile and adding water, and continuing to add water until the proper consistency is achieved. The 100 pound buckets of cement were then poured to form the foundation of the washrooms, office, and storage room. On Friday, we began work on rock paths linking the various rooms, and we installed doors and locks on the modules.
Going to Peru without visiting Machu Picchu would have been sacrilege. Needless to say, we were extremely excited to travel to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Our trip began Saturday morning with a 2.5 hour bus ride to the town of Ollantaytambo, and then a 1.5 hour train ride through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs), the traditional jump-off point for Machu Picchu. Saturday afternoon and evening were spent enjoying the hot springs (maybe a little too much) and browsing through the 4-for-1 happy hour drink specials and 15 soles ($5.50) three-course dinner deals. Then it was early to bed in preparation for our 3:00 a.m. wake up Sunday morning.
The first tour buses to Machu Picchu arrive around 5:45 a.m. every morning. To beat the crowds, it is necessary to complete a hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu consisting of 1,094 vertical steps. After a taxing hour-long climb, we made it to the entrance gates in plenty of time to secure one of 400 coveted passes to climb the narrow Huayna Picchu, which overlooks the world-famous archaeological sites. Ironically, we didn’t end up scaling Huayna Picchu, but the accomplishment of making it to Machu Picchu on foot and being there for the sunrise was well worth it.
Machu Picchu was home to approximately 1,000 venerated members of Incan society from the 14th to 16th century. Fortunately, it was left virtually untouched by the Spanish during their conquest of Peru; 80% of the original complex is preserved. Machu Picchu was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham almost 400 years later, in 1911. It is quite the ‘site’ to see.
We explored the grounds by ourselves for an hour, and then went on a guided tour of the spectacular archaeological site for the rest of the morning. Machu Picchu is divided into several broad areas: an agricultural zone where thousands of different varieties of crops were cultivated; the ‘Sector of the Temples’, which contains many sacred buildings; a rock quarry; and a residential sector, just to name a few. Academics are still puzzled as to how the Incas created structures of such scale and intricate detail using relatively-primitive technology.
There was so much to see and learn throughout our tour, but there were several highlights that stood out in my mind. The Temple of the Sun was constructed so that, on the Summer Solstice, light will shine directly through the ‘Sun Gate’ in the surrounding mountains, into the window, and along the line formed by the raised altar within. Almost as impressive is the Temple of the Three Windows, formed out of massive blocks of stone and also devoted to the Incan Sun God. The interplay between sun and rock shows up in numerous other areas of the site, including the Intihuatana stone (thought to be a sundial) and this nameless rock, which casts a shadow in the shape of Chakana, the Inca cross. The most mind-blowing revelation about Machu Picchu for me was that, when you lay your head on your shoulder, the mountains surrounding the site resemble a face!
After getting our fill of history and ‘Wow!’ moments in the morning, we were ready for another strenuous climb. ‘Machu Picchu’ means ‘Old Mountain’ in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas, and literally refers to the tallest mountain surrounding the ruins. Distance-wise, the climb up Machu Picchu was shorter than the hike to the site that we completed earlier in the day. However, the path up Machu Picchu is virtually straight up the mountain. The steepness, combined with the heat of the mid-day sun, made this second climb much more difficult than the first.
Bypassing some llamas that initially blocked our path up the mountain, we set off for the top. Unlike in the first hike, rest breaks were certainly necessary (and appropriate, as the views during the climb were spectacular). We were told that the ascent would take about an hour and 20 minutes. You can imagine my surprise—and relief—when after 40 minutes, my ‘brother in climb’ Andrew and I saw the flag at the top of Machu Picchu peeking out over the trees. Five minutes and two removed t-shirts later, we were at the summit looking out over a 500 metre vertical drop to the Urubamba valley below. It was breathtaking in every sense of the word.
Over the next 70 minutes, the rest of our sweaty and exhausted group slowly trickled in. For all 22 of us to make it to the top was a great accomplishment and a testament to the determination and persistence of our team of volunteers.
Although not nearly as physically demanding, the hike down the mountain was much more precarious. There is no protection on the sides of the hiking path, so one misstep can spell disaster. Fortunately, using all four limbs at times, we all made it down safely.
After a wonderful night’s sleep back in Cusco, we returned to work Monday morning determined to finish the project over the next three days. We continued the rock paths begun on Friday, this time with some help from the locals. The sewing machines also arrived, complete with faulty assembly instructions and missing parts; had I been on the assembly team, we would probably still be in Peru. In the afternoon, we celebrated the completion of the washrooms, and we started the electrical wiring within the modules, which was finished over the next two days. By the end of a very cold day on Tuesday, nearly all of the functional work was complete. Wednesday was primarily devoted to aesthetics: painting the tables and chairs for the kindergarten, seeding grass and planting flowers, and stencilling the façade outside of the complex. We were thrilled at the transformation over eight days from an empty parcel of land to a fully-functioning three-room education centre.
Now all that was left to do was party! On Thursday, the community was invited to celebrate the opening of the complex. In lieu of a ribbon cutting, Jorge from Awaiting Angels smashed the ceremonial bottle of sparkling apple cider to officially open the education centre. Well over 100 people came out to enjoy a Canadian-Peruvian fiesta featuring lots of food, free giveaways, and fun.
Over the previous week, we had opened registration to each of the three classrooms to the community. The response was overwhelming; each program was substantially over-registered! We didn’t have to wait long to see the fruits of our labour, as classes began Thursday afternoon.
Back in the residence that evening, we were served a congratulatory dinner of cuy, or guinea pig. This Peruvian specialty is generally reserved for weddings and other special occasions. Delicious! After a night on the town to celebrate, we packed our bags and departed for Lima Friday morning. A 13-hour layover and a 7-hour flight later, we were back in Toronto.
All in all, it was a challenging, eye-opening, and infinitely-rewarding fifteen days. We completed the project and had loads of fun along the way. I was fortunate enough to share the trip with 18 old friends and three wonderful new ones. The community and Awaiting Angels extended an open invitation to members of our group to come back as volunteer instructors in the English language training classroom, so hopefully a return trip will be in the near future!
Monday, August 16, 2010
VERY IMPORTANT TRIP INFO
Hey Guys,
Our trip is only 4 days away. Yayyyyy! This is a very important email and I suggest that you read it with extreme detail in order to ensure everyone has an extremely enjoyable experience.
The email contains the following information:
1) Flight Information along with meeting time
2) Very Important FAQs - See attached link at the bottom of this post
3) What to bring during the trip - See attached link at the bottom of this psot
Flight Information
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE AT THE AIRPORT (TERMINAL 1 - IN FRONT OF AIR CANADA CHECK IN) BY 2 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. International flights require that we arrive at least 3 hours before and since we will be checking in as a group it is VERY IMPORTANT that we arrive by 2 PM.
PLEASE DON'T BE LATE SINCE YOU WILL BE HOLDING BACK THE ENTIRE GROUP AND EVERYONE WILL GIVE YOU A LONG DIRTY STARE WHEN YOU DO ARRIVE (we do not want that).
From Toronto to Lima
Flight: AC 80
From: Toronto Pearson - Terminal 1 International
Date: Friday, August 20, 2010
Time: 17:25
To: Lima
Date Arrival: Saturday, 21, 2010
Time: 00:15
From Lima to Toronto
Flight: AC 81
From: Lima
Date: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Time: 01:45
To: Toronto Pearson - Terminal 1 International
Date: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Time: 10:50
Flight from Lima to Cusco
Our trip is only 4 days away. Yayyyyy! This is a very important email and I suggest that you read it with extreme detail in order to ensure everyone has an extremely enjoyable experience.
The email contains the following information:
1) Flight Information along with meeting time
2) Very Important FAQs - See attached link at the bottom of this post
3) What to bring during the trip - See attached link at the bottom of this psot
Flight Information
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE AT THE AIRPORT (TERMINAL 1 - IN FRONT OF AIR CANADA CHECK IN) BY 2 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. International flights require that we arrive at least 3 hours before and since we will be checking in as a group it is VERY IMPORTANT that we arrive by 2 PM.
PLEASE DON'T BE LATE SINCE YOU WILL BE HOLDING BACK THE ENTIRE GROUP AND EVERYONE WILL GIVE YOU A LONG DIRTY STARE WHEN YOU DO ARRIVE (we do not want that).
From Toronto to Lima
Flight: AC 80
From: Toronto Pearson - Terminal 1 International
Date: Friday, August 20, 2010
Time: 17:25
To: Lima
Date Arrival: Saturday, 21, 2010
Time: 00:15
From Lima to Toronto
Flight: AC 81
From: Lima
Date: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Time: 01:45
To: Toronto Pearson - Terminal 1 International
Date: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Time: 10:50
Flight from Lima to Cusco
FROM/TO FLIGHT DATE TIME
LIMA P9216 22AUG 0930
CUZCO
CUZCO P9217 3SEP 1110
LIMA
Air company: Peruvian Airlines
I have also attached the Air Canada tickets for your reference. There is a ticket which has incorrect Title for the person and there are 2 tickets which have an incorrect middle name in the ticket. We have confirmed with Air Canada that this will not be a problem as long as the first and the last name are correct. IF YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME ARE INCORRECT IN THE TICKET, PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAPP!
I have also attached the Air Canada tickets for your reference. There is a ticket which has incorrect Title for the person and there are 2 tickets which have an incorrect middle name in the ticket. We have confirmed with Air Canada that this will not be a problem as long as the first and the last name are correct. IF YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME ARE INCORRECT IN THE TICKET, PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAPP!
Air Canada tickets: click here
Friday, August 6, 2010
Plague Outbreak in Peru
Dear Volunteers,
We have received notice from one of our volunteers that there is a plague outbreak in Peru. More information regarding the outbreak can be found here. We've contacted Awaiting Angels to learn more about what sort of precautions need to be taken. Here is what Awaiting Angels says:
Thank you
We have received notice from one of our volunteers that there is a plague outbreak in Peru. More information regarding the outbreak can be found here. We've contacted Awaiting Angels to learn more about what sort of precautions need to be taken. Here is what Awaiting Angels says:
The region where the plague outbreak has appeared is located far in the northern coast of Peru. It's an industrial city crowded of fish-meal factories. The local authorities have stated that the plague is under control and does not represent a risk for public health in the near future. Lima and Cuzco both cities are located far away from that northern region where sanitation and the environment are totally different. Please tell the group that they will be safe in regards of this plague outbreak.If you would like more information, please feel free to contact any of the outreach trip directors by e-mail.
Thank you
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Construction Gloves | Volunteer meeting
Hey Guys,
Good News - You do not need to buy your construction gloves for the trip. You will be provided with them by National SOS. Yayyy!
We are hosting a volunteer meeting in TORONTO on AUGUST 14, 2010 in the afternoon. I highly suggest that you attend since we will be providing all the volunteers with their gloves, t-shirts, journals and some other stuff. Also, there will be people there from National SOS who will be giving us a better idea of what to expect and how to make the most out of this experience. Finally, we will be going over what to bring, how to dress and other related information.
Can you please go to the following link and confirm your attendance: Link
The details for the meeting are as follows:
When: August 14, 2010
Where: Jack Astor's Front Street (144 Front Street West, Toronto,ON, M5J 2L7)
Time: 1 PM
We will be having lunch there as well. So come with an empty stomach.
Thanks,
Rishi Dhir
Good News - You do not need to buy your construction gloves for the trip. You will be provided with them by National SOS. Yayyy!
We are hosting a volunteer meeting in TORONTO on AUGUST 14, 2010 in the afternoon. I highly suggest that you attend since we will be providing all the volunteers with their gloves, t-shirts, journals and some other stuff. Also, there will be people there from National SOS who will be giving us a better idea of what to expect and how to make the most out of this experience. Finally, we will be going over what to bring, how to dress and other related information.
Can you please go to the following link and confirm your attendance: Link
The details for the meeting are as follows:
When: August 14, 2010
Where: Jack Astor's Front Street (144 Front Street West, Toronto,ON, M5J 2L7)
Time: 1 PM
We will be having lunch there as well. So come with an empty stomach.
Thanks,
Rishi Dhir
Thursday, July 29, 2010
SOS FINAL SOCIAL: RSVP ASAP
Hey Guys,
This is just a reminder that we will be having our SOCIAL tonight in Dooly's at 7 PM.
Please remember there will be FREE FOOD and FREE POOL. Also, we will be handing out "Certificate of Appreciation" to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. I would love to see all of you there and thank you personally for a great semester.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Cheers,
Rishi Dhir
This is just a reminder that we will be having our SOCIAL tonight in Dooly's at 7 PM.
Please remember there will be FREE FOOD and FREE POOL. Also, we will be handing out "Certificate of Appreciation" to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. I would love to see all of you there and thank you personally for a great semester.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Cheers,
Rishi Dhir
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
I'll clarify a few things further. Here's a chart comparing the two policies (both attached).
The UW insurance plan is okay, but it is not a travel insurance plan. It misses a lot of potential scenarios that you don’t want to be stuck in:
If you happen to get sick prior to departure and can’t go (has happened to volunteers in the past), UW will not reimburse you for your flight cost.
If you lose your passport on the trip, it can cost upwards of $500 to coordinate with the Canadian embassy to get a new one
If your bags are lost or damaged, the insurance provider will reimburse you on top of what the airline does.
Costs incurred for a missed connection (if weather is bad or there are mechanical problems) are fully covered
Insurance follow-up
I'll clarify a few things further. Here's a chart comparing the two policies (both attached).
| SOS’s Plan (through TIPS) | UW’s Plan |
|
|
The UW insurance plan is okay, but it is not a travel insurance plan. It misses a lot of potential scenarios that you don’t want to be stuck in:
If you happen to get sick prior to departure and can’t go (has happened to volunteers in the past), UW will not reimburse you for your flight cost.
If you lose your passport on the trip, it can cost upwards of $500 to coordinate with the Canadian embassy to get a new one
If your bags are lost or damaged, the insurance provider will reimburse you on top of what the airline does.
Costs incurred for a missed connection (if weather is bad or there are mechanical problems) are fully covered
Although these are unlikely situations, we have had some of these come in previous trips (trip cancellation due to sickness / unforeseeable issues a big one). UW's basic travel plan simply does not cover a lot of instances that we want to ensure you are safe from.
Additionally, it is important to us as an organization that all volunteers on a trip are covered under the same plan so that we are able to take any necessary course of action to assist participants, so you are cared for in the best way (which doesn’t cost you lots of additional money to do so).
Lastly, although we acknowledge that some individuals may have coverage through their parents' plans (only 10 of you are covered under this UW policy), with over 60 students travelling around Latin America in August, we cannot make specific arrangements for each individual's insurance situation. To expect your volunteer leaders and SOS national here in Canada to know the in’s and out’s of every insurance plan could result in missing a step in a particular insurance policy process, which could result in having to pay for any issues that arise. Therefore, in order for us to offer the optimal amount of care, all participants have insurance included in their base trip fee.
Once again, we are not trying to circumvent the unique situations of each volunteer, but rather taking the proper measures to ensure participants receive the best care, mitigate any/all potential issues, so you can have the best experience possible (and your parents can have the peace of mind that your health and safety are in good hands).
Hopefully this makes sense, please let me know if there is any questions or issues with this. Click here for the UW Insurance Policy.
Thanks,
Mark McLean | National Outreach Director
mmclean@studentsofferingsupport.ca
Students Offering Support
Additionally, it is important to us as an organization that all volunteers on a trip are covered under the same plan so that we are able to take any necessary course of action to assist participants, so you are cared for in the best way (which doesn’t cost you lots of additional money to do so).
Lastly, although we acknowledge that some individuals may have coverage through their parents' plans (only 10 of you are covered under this UW policy), with over 60 students travelling around Latin America in August, we cannot make specific arrangements for each individual's insurance situation. To expect your volunteer leaders and SOS national here in Canada to know the in’s and out’s of every insurance plan could result in missing a step in a particular insurance policy process, which could result in having to pay for any issues that arise. Therefore, in order for us to offer the optimal amount of care, all participants have insurance included in their base trip fee.
Once again, we are not trying to circumvent the unique situations of each volunteer, but rather taking the proper measures to ensure participants receive the best care, mitigate any/all potential issues, so you can have the best experience possible (and your parents can have the peace of mind that your health and safety are in good hands).
Hopefully this makes sense, please let me know if there is any questions or issues with this. Click here for the UW Insurance Policy.
Thanks,
Mark McLean | National Outreach Director
mmclean@studentsofferingsupport.ca
Students Offering Support
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Things to Know and Things to Bring
Dear Volunteers,
I know you are all very excited as the days get closer to our outreach trip to Peru! To prepare you on this trip, we have created a list of things that you should bring. For the time that we are working in Cusco, we will be living in the volunteer residence provided by Awaiting Angels. There will be 4 bedrooms with 3 bunk beds in each dorm; 3 bathrooms with hot showers; a large dining room for breakfast and dinner (we will be having lunch at the work site). Each bunk bed is supplied with sheets, 1 pillow, 2 fleece blankets and 1 eiderdown (not feathers).
I know you are all very excited as the days get closer to our outreach trip to Peru! To prepare you on this trip, we have created a list of things that you should bring. For the time that we are working in Cusco, we will be living in the volunteer residence provided by Awaiting Angels. There will be 4 bedrooms with 3 bunk beds in each dorm; 3 bathrooms with hot showers; a large dining room for breakfast and dinner (we will be having lunch at the work site). Each bunk bed is supplied with sheets, 1 pillow, 2 fleece blankets and 1 eiderdown (not feathers).
THINGS TO BRING
If there is something that you're not sure if you should bring or not, please do not hesitate to contact us! It is not necessary to bring things like hair straighteners, blow dryers, make-up, or formal clothes. Also, remember to travel light! There are no liquids allowed on the airplane.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Keep in mind that the goal of the trip is to help out the community and build a positive relationship with the community. Since we are building classrooms, there will be lots of physical work, and you guys will be exhausted at the end of each day. Make sure you bring a waterbottle and keep hydrated throughout the day! The most common reason for people to get sick is dehydration. Also, because we are visiting a new country, your body and immune system may not be used to the foods and the new bacterias in the new environment. Be prepared for diarrhea: it's normal!
DONATIONS | WAIVER | FUNDRAISERS
We would also like to make donations to the community of Cusco. Sally will be organizing the donation list. If you have any old clothes, toys, things with UW logos or the Canada flag logos that is no longer useful to you, please contact Sally! If you haven't signed the waiver yet, you need to contact Jasmine. We also have an Ice Cream Soda Float fundraiser happening tomorrow. Please volunteer some of your time to this event as it will help offset the cost of this trip of you!
- toiletries - unscented shampoo/soap*, toothbrush/paste, towels, tampons/pads, toilet paper
- clothes - bring warm clothes as August-September are the coldest months (also bring soap to hand wash your clothes..); bring extra just in case!
- old clothes, tennis shoes, work gloves, big hats, etc for the work site
- sunscreen, bugspray, after bite, mosquito net, water bottles
- snacks
- camera/journal
- dictionary or translator
- band aids, tylenol, plastic bags and ziplocs
- medication if needed
- padlock
- money (for emergencies, shopping or dinners during the excursions)
If there is something that you're not sure if you should bring or not, please do not hesitate to contact us! It is not necessary to bring things like hair straighteners, blow dryers, make-up, or formal clothes. Also, remember to travel light! There are no liquids allowed on the airplane.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Keep in mind that the goal of the trip is to help out the community and build a positive relationship with the community. Since we are building classrooms, there will be lots of physical work, and you guys will be exhausted at the end of each day. Make sure you bring a waterbottle and keep hydrated throughout the day! The most common reason for people to get sick is dehydration. Also, because we are visiting a new country, your body and immune system may not be used to the foods and the new bacterias in the new environment. Be prepared for diarrhea: it's normal!
DONATIONS | WAIVER | FUNDRAISERS
We would also like to make donations to the community of Cusco. Sally will be organizing the donation list. If you have any old clothes, toys, things with UW logos or the Canada flag logos that is no longer useful to you, please contact Sally! If you haven't signed the waiver yet, you need to contact Jasmine. We also have an Ice Cream Soda Float fundraiser happening tomorrow. Please volunteer some of your time to this event as it will help offset the cost of this trip of you!
Insurance
Hello UW SOS Volunteers,
I am writing to address some of your questions about using SOS's insurance coverage for your trip to Peru and whether you can opt out of it in favour of UW's travel insurance policy.
To clear things up on SOS's policy, we require all participants traveling on one of our volunteer trips to utilize our insurance coverage. The following points explain our position on this in more detail:
In the meantime, I hope you are getting excited for your trip and look forward to meeting with you at some point to discuss some of what you can expect and gain from your experience in Peru!
Please check out the insurance policy here.
Mark McLean
National Outreach Director
Students Offering Support
I am writing to address some of your questions about using SOS's insurance coverage for your trip to Peru and whether you can opt out of it in favour of UW's travel insurance policy.
To clear things up on SOS's policy, we require all participants traveling on one of our volunteer trips to utilize our insurance coverage. The following points explain our position on this in more detail:
- Having encountered situations of severe illness and natural disasters in the past, we take the safety of all volunteers very seriously. Therefore, we have spent a considerable amount of time analyzing insurance plans to ensure proper coverage of the unique experiences volunteers have on our trips. I encourage you to read over the attached insurance package to see how comprehensive SOS's plan is.
- Building on that point, utilizing a group insurance plan ensures that administration of insurance runs smoothly through one source point and avoids any risks of juggling individual insurance plans or situations where individual plans may not cover necessary procedures.
- We have also gone to great lengths to offer volunteers as affordable an experience as possible -- including fighting for low insurance rates. I acknowledge that your trip has been more expensive due to the flight cost, but appreciate your patience and commitment in the matter. I can assure you that, despite the cost, this will still be an incredible volunteer experience!
In the meantime, I hope you are getting excited for your trip and look forward to meeting with you at some point to discuss some of what you can expect and gain from your experience in Peru!
Please check out the insurance policy here.
Mark McLean
National Outreach Director
Students Offering Support
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