Giving Back tothe Global Community: An Attainable Responsibility

and Privilege

Dale Bentz

National Institute of Standards and Technology

ACI Student Luncheon, March 19, 2012

“You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” –

typically attributed to Winston Churchill (but without documented evidence)

As you enter that stage of your life where you will be making a living, don’t

forget about the giving (back).

Where am I coming from?

• C.V. – Credentials of Volunteeringo Local

• Soup kitchen and cold weather shelter• Public schools (parent volunteer in classroom)• Big Brothers/Big Sisters• Cub scouts

o National• Habitat for Humanity projects• Other construction/restoration projects (MD, KY, NC, SC)

o International• 12 months at orphanage in Miacatlan, MEXICO (97-98)• 18 months at orphanage in Santa Cruz, BOLIVIA (02-03)

Can I really do this?• Like any dream or goal you may have, you will

never know, unless you try.• You may be pleasantly surprised by the

response of your family, friends, and employer and their willingness to help make your dream a reality.

• Let’s go over some things to consider before you make a serious “volunteer leap.”

Financial Considerations• “Volunteers aren’t paid, not because they are

worthless, but because they are priceless.”• In many developing countries, if you have room

and board provided by the place you are volunteering, you will only need about $100 or less per month for living expenses

• These days, it is easy to use your debit/credit card to get money when abroad, even in developing countries.

Administrative Considerations

• Obtain all necessary visas, permissions, etc. before you depart, whenever possible

• For an extended stay, you may have to leave and visit an adjoining country for a few days and return to get a “new” visa (extension)

• If you take electronic devices, be sure to also take the necessary power and outlet convertors

• Locate the U.S. consulate or embassy shortly after your arrival just in case you need to go there for an emergency

• At the end of your stay, ask for a letter of recommendation from your volunteer supervisor

Health Considerations• Do check and obtain all necessary vaccinations before

departing (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm )o Tetanus vaccination even for local construction projects

• If you have prescriptions, it is best to get them filled for the intended length of your international stay before departing

• Do obtain health insurance coverage for the country you will be visitingo Don’t leave home without it.

• Maintaining health during your stay must be a critical priorityo Physical, mental, and emotional health

• Do make use of the locally available health resources

Language Considerations

• If at all possible, learn the local language before you go

• Often times, you can attend a local language school for the first two weeks or so of your stay

• There is no better way to learn a language than full immersion in the local cultureo You will learn faster than you expect to.

• Likely that your new language skills will be useful to you when you return, for the rest of your life

Cultural Considerations

• Don’t impose your beliefs on the local communityo Don’t make waveso Travel light - leave your emotional baggage back in the U.S.

• Don’t compromise your beliefso Be true to yourself

• Be adaptable• Try new things (food, dance, music, art)

o Be an active participant in the life of the local community

• Observe the life going on around you, learn from it, and assimilate it into who you are and who you want to become

Volunteer CharacteristicsAccording to one organization seeking international volunteers to work with

children:

Positive life-loving attitude

Strong work ethic

Flexibility

Realism

Sense of humor

Some resources to get you started• Engineers without Borders

o http://www.ewb-usa.org/

• International Capstone Design program at University of South Floridao http://cee.eng.usf.edu/ICD/

• Peace Corpso http://www.peacecorps.gov/

• United We Serveo http://www.serve.gov/

• American National and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portalo http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/

• International Student Volunteers, Inc.o http://www.isvonline.org/

What can I do locally?• Local soup kitchens and shelters• Schools

o Classroom volunteerso Homework aideso Mentorso School evaluation panels for curriculum, etc.o Participate in STEM activities

• STEM Education Coalitiono http://www.stemedcoalition.org/

o Volunteer at local school’s science lab

• Local construction projectso Habitat for Humanity and others

Opportunity Timeline?• Current students

o Summers can be a great time for volunteer activitieso Semester abroad to gain exposure to culture and language

• Current graduateso Many graduates take a year off between finishing college and starting

their first job or graduate school to travel abroad, etc.• Why not include volunteering as part of your agenda?

• Early in your careero May have greater flexibility with respect to travel and extended stayso Your new company may view your proposed volunteer activity as an asset

for your future efforts with them• Thinking outside of the box• Adapting to new environments and new challenges

o If they will give you a leave of absence to pursue this, that’s greato If they will help you fund it, that would be wonderful!

Summer or Semester Abroad• Many students from other countries come to

NIST and other (academic) institutions for a summer (project) or a semester

• Significantly less students from the U.S. travel to other countries for the same purposes

• But, undeniably, the exposure to the language and culture of another country will serve the student well as they compete in a global marketplace and actively participate in a global community

Little things mean a lot

Do what you can, where you are, with the resources that you have available

(Do what you can, with what you have, where you are – Theodore Roosevelt)

• American Airlines pilot who visited orphanage in Bolivia with pencils and other school supplies that he had collected from family, friends, and colleagues

• Electrician who goes on annual mission/construction trips to Central America and leaves behind his tools and work boots each time

What is the path of a volunteer?

• Thanks to John Guynn of Roman Cement for the great pictures!

Volunteering will surely be filled with ups and downs

Your destination may not be clear as you begin your journey

The path to a solution may not be a straight line

Aim high! Persevere!

The road less travelled was built for volunteers!Build some new roads for others as you travel it.

• “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” – Albert Schweitzer

• “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James

• “A man is the sum of his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do, Nothing else.” –

Mahatma Gandhi

“One hundred years from now

It will not matter

What kind of car I drove,

What kind of house I lived in,

How much money was in my bank account

Nor what my clothes looked like.

But the world may be a better place because

I was important in the life of a child.”

Excerpt from “Within My Power” by Forest Witcraft

Now, let’s hear from some of you about your volunteer experiences?