Ecuador, Community, Program Director
Manna Project International
When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in ...

Growing up in Maryland, I played soccer until around middle school, when I realized I wasn’t all that good at it and that I was in love with basketball instead. Since then, I’ve been known to kick the occasional ball around, but I was pretty nervous when I was invited, along with my friend and fellow PD Patrick, to play for Once Valientes B (in English: eleven brave ones) in the Shandia soccer league.

When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in Shandia
Ecuador, Community, Events
Manna Project International
Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - ...

As in many parts of the world, this past week in Shandia was all about the celebration of Carnaval. Originally coming from an area that calls the local Carnival the annual “fifth season”, I was especially excited to see what Carnaval in Ecuador would look like. What would the local customs, foods and music be like?

Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - Carnaval in Shandia
Manna Project International
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: ...
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: Welcome to Shandia!
Abby Pauley
Discomfort as a Sign of Growth
Discomfort as a Sign of Growth

Summer Intern

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What to Ask When You Want to Volunteer Abroad to Avoid White Saviorism

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What to Ask When You Want to Volunteer Abroad to Avoid White Saviorism

There are so many things that you need to consider when you travel abroad or volunteer abroad in 2024 that it’s hard to know where to start! You are probably considering your long term impact on the community and earth, the sustainability of the programs that you’re joining onto, whether or not you’re contributing to a sustainable solution to systemic challenges, the culture that you’re stepping into and how to best respect it, how to make an impact abroad without playing into white saviorism and colonialist tropes, and that’s before you think about your own logistics and challenges.