2024 Parkin Fellows

Bianca A. '25 traveled to Las Canas, Dominican Republic, with Global Leadership Adventures to take part in a service learning and leadership building program. 

Navya A. '25 traveled to Jaipur, India, to work on a mobile medical van providing essential care to underprivileged areas, local clinics, and shelters. 

Rhyley B. '26 traveled to Cordoba, Argentina, with Projects Abroad’s Human Rights Internship program to gain practical experience raising awareness about justice and dignity for marginalized communities.

Ryan B. '25 traveled to the Galapagos Islands through Projects Abroad to participate in educational and conservation activities. 

Ethan C. '26 traveled to the Maldives to volunteer with Save the Beach Maldives, an organization that aims to conserve and preserve the beaches and reefs there.

Jasper C. '25 traveled to Sierra Leone where he visited local schools and conflict mineral extraction sites. 

Neyla H. '25 traveled to Guatemala to install fuel-efficient stoves and water filters in rural towns that comprised the municipality of Huehuetenango. 

Cayah L. '26 traveled to San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala, where she lived with a host family while going to Spanish school and learning to cook authentic Guatemalan food. She continued to explore the beautiful water and vibrant colors of Guatemala in Xela, Antigua, and San Juan La Laguna studying Mayan cosmology and permaculture. 

Ali M. ’25 traveled to Amman, Jordan, to work with the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to reestablishing an Arab golden age of "pluralism, intellectual curiousity, and humanism."

Michael M. '25 traveled to Koh Tao, Thailand to work with Coral Tribe, participating in beach cleanups and coral reef data collection during the island’s current mass-bleaching crisis.

Diya S. '26 traveled to Pune, India, to volunteer at Access Life's Center, which houses and supplies food, transportation, and other living necessities to children of low-income and rural backgrounds who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families. 

Dylan S. '25 traveled to Sichuan Province, China, to study conservation at the Laohegou Land Trust Reserve, working with park rangers. 

David W. '26 traveled to Sado Island, Japan, to take part in the Mother Nature Conservation Camp where he stayed on the grounds of the historic Chokokuji Temple on Sado Island and volunteered in environmental conservation, especially for the protection of the Crested Ibis, and various farming activities.  

Kabir C. ’25 traveled to Kenya to work via Projects Abroad with disadvantaged children at a local care center to raise literacy levels.

Maanya G. ’25 traveled to India with Safe N Happy Periods to help women learn about menstrual health, mental well-being, and education to help break the stigma around menstruation. 

Anya J. ’25 traveled to India to work with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, which spearheads inclusive education for children with disabilities.

Avery L. ’25 traveled to Germany to work with Asylum Helpers, providing social services and temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees.

Harrison L. ’24 traveled to Mongolia to intern at an NGO researching human rights issues, work on proposals for grants, and participate in local advocacy work.

Noah L. ’24 traveled to Israel to work with Save a Child's Heart where he volunteered with the children awaiting surgery and supported the staff and their families.

Abril L. M. ’24 traveled to Japan to work with Second Harvest Japan and Hands on Tokyo.

Ananda M. ’25 traveled to La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, to work on a marine conservation project protecting critical coastal resources along the Gulf of California.

Max M. ’24 traveled to Iceland with GoBeyond to join other students working on preserving and restoring Iceland's natural environment, including replanting birch trees and removing and recycling trash from the coastline.

Rohan S. ’24 traveled to India where he volunteered at the Poona School and Home for the Blind, distributing hygiene and sanitation products to local families, organizations, and businesses.

Hari V. ’24 traveled to Argentina to intern in local hospitals and clinics servicing under-resourced communities.

NOTE: Due to COVID-19, the Parkin Fellows program was paused in 2020 and 2021 and resumed in 2022 with domestic travel only. 

Maila D. '23 volunteered in Seattle with 350 Seattle, a nonprofit working toward climate justice by organizing people to make systemic change. For two weeks, she helped to plan and organize webinars and workshops to educate the community about climate change, advocate against fossil fuels in neighborhoods and manage the negative effects of oil trains. “The Parkin Fellowship is such a unique program that has helped me to pursue something I am passionate about,” she said. “I was able to fully immerse myself in a new setting and culture while also contributing to my passions in a different light, which couldn't have been done without this opportunity.”

Sadie N. '24 traveled to Hawaii to complete environmental and community service work in Volcanoes National Park and Waimea. “I chose this location because both its unique volcanic ecosystem and its distinctive culture are threatened by outside pressures,” she said. “Its environment is suffering from climate change and severe invasive plant growth. Much of its rural youth population suffers from obesity and inactive lifestyle choices.” Besides learning to wield a machete to reduce invasive ginger stocks, Sadie learned about an entirely different ecosystem from her own. She also organized a three-day surfing event that raised over $9,000 for an organization that supplies rural children with nutritional food and exercise opportunities. 

Smrithi S. '23 worked in Pittsburgh with SisterFriend, a nonprofit that provides homeless and underprivileged populations with menstrual hygiene products. She spent two and a half weeks assembling hygiene kits and assisting in their delivery to schools and communities. She also started a social media campaign to raise awareness about period poverty and decrease the taboo of the topic. “The lack of access to menstrual products for women all over the world is a pressing issue that is not commonly addressed due to the stigma surrounding the subject,” Smrithi said. “The Parkin Fellowship allowed me to further work towards a cause I am very passionate about.” 

Sara B. '21

Sara learned the importance of hands-on learning and learning through experience while working at the Shamwri Game Reserve in South Africa. 

• Learning by Experience
• The World Through A Different Lense

Selah C.-B. '21

Selah traveled to Guatemala this summer to educate and help spread awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. 

• Don't Be Afraid of the Dentist
• Caring for Seniors

Nicole C. '20

Nicole worked with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children to educate young mothers in Peru about nutrition, physical and emotional well-being and how to treat minor injuries. 

• Don't Say "Hola"
• Sustainable Change

Alison L. M. '20

Alison spent time in Madrid, Spain working with the Altius Foundation, and with students ages 11-16 in Sant'Agata Feltria, Italy whose goal was to learn English through full immersion and cultural interaction.

• Gracias Madrid
• What Makes Us Different Is What Binds Us Together

Scout S. '20

Scout worked with a rural development team in construction and with children in Koh Chraeng, Cambodia.

• We Create Our Own Suffering
• Adventures Along the Mekong River

Xinran (Nancy) W. '21

Nancy worked at an equine therapy center for children with special needs in Cordoba, Argentina. 

• Dive into the Unknown
• My Favorite People

Akshay Amesur '20

Akshay traveled to Jaipur, India to volunteer with the Jaipur Foot Organization, a non-profit group which provides medical aid and social and vocational rehabilitation to poverty-stricken, disabled patients. He also taught public speaking, presentation and critical thinking skills to students in Vidyawadi and Sumerpur.

• Helping Students Find Their Voices
• The Silver Lining
• Motion

Ariana Goitz '19

Ariana taught basketball at the Allen V.R. Stanley Secondary School in Uganda. By learning the plays and fundamentals, the students were able to play a more organized game.

• It's Much Bigger Than Basketball
• Everlasting Impact

Sanjna Narayan '20

Sanjna traveled to the Philippines to introduce a method of tutoring involving chatbots to the San Rafael Vocational and Technological High School and work with the Project Pearls foundation to assist in the care of young, underprivileged children.

• The First Few Days
• The Rest of the Stay

Hannah Price '19

Hannah traveled to Cochabamba, Bolivia to care for hundreds of children with learning and physical disabilities at La Comunidad Terapeutica.

• La Comunidad
• The Power of Changing a Moment

Giri Viswanathan '20

Giri traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica to work with the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children, an international non-profit organization that provides critical health services to underserved populations.

• Pura Vida
• After All, We're Human

Nicholas Lauer '19

Nicholas traveled to Chile to assist students at the Colegio de San Jose in reading, writing and pronouncing the English language.

• Clear Skies
• First Day of School

Djibril Branche '19

Djibril traveled to Rabat, Morocco, to work with Au Grain de Sesame, an organization with the mission of empowering women through art.

• Espace Associatif
• Arriving in Rabat

Sonya Hammer '19

Sonya traveled to Mianyang, China to work as a teaching assistant at Fule Middle School. She learned the values of education were drastically difference in China.

• The Differences Between Chinese and American Education
• Preserving Culture

Shreya Gulati '20

Shreya traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, to volunteer in a shelter for women with severe mental and physical illness or who were victims of abuse. Her work included making and distributing meals, helping with personal hygiene such as bathing, distributing medicine, cleaning and helping with rehab therapy.

Sophia D. S. '18

Sophia spent two weeks in Sri Lanka, through Projects Abroad, to focus on teaching English and caring for children and special needs children living in underdeveloped areas in order to promote their educational, physical and mental growth.

• A Typical Day in Sri Lanka
• Eppa: The Sinhalese Word for “Don't”

Shaila F. '18

Shaila spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic, through Global Health Initiative, working to improve the quality of health care of impoverished children and adults

• That One Moment
• The Beauty and The Damage

Jeanne L. '18

Jeanne traveled for three weeks in Seville, Spain, to work with troubled and marginalized children through several workshops that entailed teaching the children English, leading art & crafts activities and tutoring children

• From Pittsburgh to Seville
• Volunteering for Asociacion Alternativa Abierta

Shivam P. '18

Shivam traveled for two weeks in the Dominican Republic, through Global Leadership Adventures, to help local doctors treat patients who are physically hurt, work on building projects that will help neutralize the spread of disease, assist in therapy and help jumpstart a healthy environment for rural families.

• Coming Together for Our Group
• A New, Impactful Realization

Leila S. '18

Leila traveled for two weeks in the Aida Refugee Camp, West Bank, through Volunteers Organization, to assist with developing and improving the garden land, and learn about socio-political issues affecting Palestinians.

Shwetha S. '18

Shwetha spent four weeks in Kerala, India, to make the government aware of the negative effects that burning waste has on the environment.

• Prepping for the Lab
• My Project: The Impact of Unregulated Trash Disposal

Christian T. '18

Christian traveled for three weeks in ShaXi, China, through ZenQuest, to improve the natural world by engaging in varying acts of environmental service.

• Having Fun While Challenging Yourself in China
• Family Dinner

Ashvin D. '18

Ashvin spent three weeks in Cusco, Peru, through Global Leadership Adventures working to improve public health by building a greenhouse at a school, cleaning burning stoves for families and repainting school classrooms and buildings. Read about Ashvin's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Building Fish Farms in Peru
• Peru: I Made This

James D. '17

James returned to Yamasá in the Dominican Republic for three weeks to continue work with Father Leandro Blanco to improve the living situation and community for the people in the town. Read about James's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Why Yamasá, Dominican Republic?
• Arriving in Yamasá

Julia J. '17

Julia spent one month in Chang Mai, Thailand, working with Thai Freedom House, to teach English to adult and children Burmese refugees living in Thailand, and to help out in the restaurant.

• Greetings from Chang Mai, Thailand!

Mehr J. '18

Mehr volunteered for five weeks in Islamabad, Pakistan through Citizens Foundation Project, to create an arts and crafts curriculum for elementary school students. Read about Mehr's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• What My Service Trip Taught Me
• Five Weeks in Islamadad, Pakistan

Shelby L. '17

Shelby volunteered for one month in Madriz, Nicaragua, with AMIGOS to create, lead and support a summer program through Plan International. Read about Shelby's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Becoming a Leader in Nicaragua

Arijay M. '17

Arijay volunteered for two and a half weeks in Chennai, India, with Crossover Basketball Scholars Academy to organize camp, mentor children and teach basketball. Read about Arijay's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Making a Personal Difference

Rakesh R. '17

Rakesh returned to Chengalpet, Tamil Nadu, India, through Rising Star Outreach to work with children in the leper colony. Read about Rakesh's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• A Lesson in Communication and Problem-Solving
• Building Bridges
• Friendship

Ananya S. '18

Ananya spent three weeks in Belize, through Global Leadership Adventures, aiding in the conservation of marine and tropical ecosystems and helping to improve the literacy of the children in Belize. Read about Ananya's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• St. Matthew's School in Belize
• Cultural Immersion in Belize

Sameer A. '17

Sameer spent two weeks in Montana at the Blackfeet Native American Reservation where he built homes and worked with tribal leaders to help preserve the land given to the Blackfeet by the U.S. government. Read about Sameer's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: Browning, Montana
• Parkin Fellows: The Chronicles of Browning: the Sundance, the Ramp, and the Garden

Annika D. '17

Annika volunteered in Dharamsala, India, where she worked at child care centers for families who cannot afford to send their children to preschool, ran a summer camp for the children and helped out in the homes of the Kareri village. Read about Annika's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: Teaching in Dharamsala, India

Arman L. '17

Arman spent four weeks in India working to expand First Aid and CPR training in rural villages. Read about Arman's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: CPR Training Camps in Kurnool, India

Mario L. '16

Mario volunteered for two weeks at an orphanage and school for the blind in Tanzania. Read about Mario's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: From Pittsburgh to Tanzania

Noah M. '16

Noah spent three weeks at the Kigio Wildlife Reserve in Kenya, taking on numerous tasks such as wildlife indexing, endangered species research and monitoring, invasive plant removal, road maintenance, anti-poaching patrols, construction of water holes, building/maintaining tree nurseries, and habitat restoration. Read about Noah's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: First Week in Kenya
• Parkin Fellows: Endangered Species and the Environment

Juliana S. '16

Juliana volunteered for two weeks in Guatemala teaching indigenous children at a local school. Read about Juliana's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: Teaching in Guatemala
• Parkin Fellows: Nayo's Story

Cronin W. '17

Cronin spent three week in the Amazon Rainforest developing a Portuguese-to-English DVD specific to the needs of indigenous people as they apply it to an Eco Tourism business, allowing them become more familiar and comfortable with the English language.

Emily W. '17

Emily volunteered for two weeks at hospitals in Bolivia, shadowing and helping doctors treat patients in various hospitals and departments of this developing country. She also traveled to orphanages to assist with dental outreach and visited rural areas to assist in providing medical care to the young and elderly who do not have access to it. Read about Emily's experience on the Global Learning Blog:

• Parkin Fellows: Solomon Klein Hospital
• Parkin Fellows: Visiting Pediatric Burn Units

Mara B. '15 returned to her birth land of China, volunteering with Lifeworks at the China Little Flower organization in Beijing. She cared for and played with children with and without medical problems, worked in a shop that benefits China Little Flower and learned about Chinese culture first-hand. She said, "I think people actually do underestimate how over time, little things can accumulate into becoming great things. The children we worked with might not remember each and every one of us, but they will remember how well they were taken care of and how they were happy and smiled." Read about Mara's experience.

Nico B. '16 joined a group of volunteers from Global Vision International in Giannistochori, Greece, where he monitored the beaches of Kyparissia Bay, home of the Mediterranean Sea's second-largest nest of sea turtles. He learned first-hand about the effects of pollution on the natural world. He noted, "This project has really put everything into perspective and made me think more about conservation, because the little things we do every day (e.g. recycling) really do count." Read about Nico's experience.

Shaan F. '16 built a functional, organic garden in the backyard of a youth care center in Cordoba, Argentina, with the goal of providing fresh, nutritious vegetables for the center. Although it was winter in Argentina, he created raised beds and planted crops and flowers from weed-laden ground. Reflecting, he said, "I find within myself more empathy, enthusiasm and willingness to immerse myself in foreign situations than ever before. In essence, Argentina has given much more to me than I have given to her." Read about Shaan's experience.

Armaan J. '16 volunteered at Umang, a special needs school in Jaipur, India, where he introduced the Best Buddies concept to local high schools – a program that pairs students with special needs students to enjoy simple things like the mall, museums or sports. At the end of his trip, Armaan said, "I want nothing more for the students than to have extra friends that talk to them and take care of them. I feel that special needs students do not get enough social interactions outside of school and this will certainly give them an opportunity to explore a life that would be completely new to them." Read about Armaan's experience.

CJ K. '16 traveled to Athens, Greece, where he worked with the nonprofit organization Boroume ("we can" in Greek) to collect and distribute food. CJ learned about food waste and homelessness, and has since joined a local organization to address these issues. His takeaway was, "Never think you can’t change something you feel strongly about – look at what just four committed, passionate and humble individuals have done at Boroume." Read about CJ's experience.

Krishna P. '15 volunteered at the East Takai Health Care Practice in Auckland, New Zealand, where he helped to provide screenings and counseling to individuals and families without health care. While there, he learned about the indigenous Maori and Polynesian populations. He marveled, "This experience was truly enriching as there is nowhere else where I would have been able to learn so much about this particular group of amazing people." Read about his experience.

Alison T. '15 returned to her father's homeland of Vietnam, volunteering at Christ's Church Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City. There she cared for the children, serving as a teacher, playmate and caregiver. Alison reflected, "I truly saw good work being done. The sisters at this orphanage put all their energy into giving the children the love and care they needed." Read about Alison's experience.

Sophie A. ’14 traveled to Vestri-Petursey, an organic carrot farm in southern Iceland. While there, she worked with a team of international volunteers tending to carrots, weeding and milking cows, while learning about Iceland's sustainable farming techniques and renewable geothermal energy resources.

Philip K. ’15 traveled to the Galapogos Islands, Ecuador, with a program called Project Abroad. While there, he coached a children’s basketball team and worked with an autistic child in the local kindergarten.

Anna M. ’14 spent one month in Ladyville, Belize, working at Liberty Children’s Home. She worked with children, ages 3-15, who where orphans, had suffered abuse, were handicapped or affected with HIV/AIDS. She completed a variety of tasks, including working at an on-site summer camp, cleaning and spending time with the children.

Akul M. ’14 volunteered at an orphanage in Sing Buri, Thailand. He provided medical care and first-aid to children in need, as well as taught English and math, assisted with the expansion of the compound and helped with building maintenance.

Madison T. ’14 traveled to Hekima Place, a faith-based home for girls in Kiserian, Kenya. While there, she mentored 40 girls, serving as an after school tutor and a manual laborer around the compound.

Rebkah T. ’14 traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she volunteered at Kidane Meheret Care Center. She worked with orphan children, ranging in age from newborn to 17. She cared for and fed babies, and taught older children in math and English.

Vinay U. ’15 spent two weeks at the Kigio Wildlife Reserve in Kenya, Africa. He lived at the wildlife reserve and participated in a variety of conservation projects, including giraffe surveillance, alien plant removal, bird census, a town cleanup and community outreach at the local school.

Tarah W. '14 volunteered at a community center in Senegal and also helped in the construction of a daara, which is a center for teaching the Koranto children. The community center houses children who were abandoned by their parents.

Selina Y. '14 volunteered for 10 days on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, which is the home of the Lakota Sioux Native Americans. Her group of 11 volunteers worked to build a house for the White Bull family and help other members of the tribe who live in poverty.

Shivum B. ’13 traveled to northern India for three weeks, completing a self-designed program with the local medical college in Amritsar, Punjab. He took water samples from villages and tested them to ensure they were fit for consumption. Bharill then advised these villagers on how to keep their water supply safe. He also visited an immunization clinic, which provided most necessary vaccinations to the community free of charge.

Jacob (Jack) K. ’12 traveled to Costa Rica to volunteer with Projects Abroad in the National Park Barra Honda. The park is situated above an intricate cave network and as recently as several decades ago was only farm land until the natives made an effort to conserve the ecological wonders of the region. For four weeks, King spent his time working with local park staff to maintain the park and to do nature observations with the park biologist to record ecological data trends.

Alex L. '12 traveled to Kishorit, a kibbutz in northern Israel for adults with special needs. For three weeks she lived and worked with the members of Kishorit, as well as a group of Israeli volunteers that had been living there for the past year. She spent time working doing various tasks, ranging from serving meals to taking care of horses.

Joe M. ’13 spent three weeks traveling throughout Ecuador with a Global Works program. During his time there, he helped initiate the construction of a therapeutic playground for a children’s rehab center. Joe and his group then made a stop in a lodge in the rainforest of Ecuador to learn about the culture of the indigenous and the life in the rainforest. Joe finished his trip with a homestay in a rural village in the Andes Mountains doing various projects for and with the inhabitants.

Campbell N. ’12 spent twenty days in Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuttiaq), Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic, working with the Nunavut Literacy Council and the local cultural center as an intern, helping with mailings and publishing. The Nunavut Literacy Council works to increase literacy in all four official languages of Nunavut, but especially in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. He also helped preserve artifacts and worked with children at the local cultural center.

Tess R. '12 traveled to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. She spent her time working in an impoverished Haitian refugee camp, where she taught English to the children. She also organized and led activities in which they participated.

Athif W. '12 traveled to Jogjakarta, Indonesia and volunteered with a temporary shelter for three weeks. The shelter was founded to house refugees from Mount Merapi's eruption. Athif, along with volunteers from local colleges, learned about disaster management, organized events for the refugees, and tutored children. During this time, he also lived in the shelter complex for two weeks.

Elisa B. ’11 traveled with Putney Global to Santa Teresita, Belize. The group was immersed in the new culture while building an indoor plumbing system for the community. She also completed additional projects including painting a community building and building a playground.

Shannon K. ’11 began her program in Valle Grande, Argentina, with Putney Student Travel. The group spent a few days getting acquainted with the culture and geography, and then spent the remainder of the time working in small groups to complete the construction of a classroom space. She also taught English in a local school and volunteered at a national park.

David L. ’12 joined the Earth Watch Institute along the Amazon River in Peru for 15 days. He learned about the local ecosystems and conducted research on five unique expeditions. Lembersky and a group of six additional students focused on discovering ways to protect the local ecosystems after loggers illegally chop down the rainforests.

Vivek N. ’12 traveled to Gudalur in southwest India to work with the Adivasis people. In the Gudalur area, the Indian government and private enterprises have slowly encroached upon land that belonged to the Adivasis. Nimgaoankar worked with Accord, a group of lawyers, to preserve the land and better the healthcare for the Adivasis. He spent time at local hospitals, focusing on the sickle cell program, which has a high prevalence in the region.

Rashaad P. ’12 participated in the Global Leadership Adventures program, traveling to Ghana, West Africa for 21 days. Phillips lived at the home base in a coastal town called Anloga, which is two hours away from Ghana’s capital, Accra. He went to local schools and orphanages to teach English, mathematics and science. The trip provided him with the unique opportunity to visit the home of his African ancestors.

Katie P. ’11 spent three weeks in Uganda as part of a self-designed independent study. She taught English at local schools, focusing on her passion for creative writing. Children at numerous local schools completed stories, using narrative writing and proper paragraph structure. Prochownik is currently working with faculty member Elizabeth Garvey to compile the Ugandan children’s stories into a narrative book for her senior thesis.

Samantha S. ’11 traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, for three weeks putting a self-made pen pal program between SSA Middle School students and Tanzanian students into action. As part of the Bricks + Books Foundation, in which she has been active since 2007, Schwartz spent time volunteering at local schools and writing responses to their pen pals letters.

Melissa W. ’11 spent three weeks at Pro Vita Orphanage in Romania as part of the United Planet organization. The orphanage houses children, mothers and babies, and adults with both mental and physical disabilities. Wolz spent most of her time with a group of 12 adult women who grew up without normal social contact in state-run orphanages during the Communist reign and were unable to care for themselves. She also spent time building a garden and restoring furniture for the community.

Shannon A. ’11 traveled with a group called Rustic Pathways to their rice fields base in Udon Thani, a city in northwest Thailand. Shannon focused on teaching Thai children English, math and sports, as well as giving them swimming lessons. She also shared information about organic family practices and techniques to eliminate the use of pesticides.

Tory B. ’10 participated in the Putney Student Travel’s Malawi Global Awareness in Action program, traveling throughout villages in Malawi, Africa, to help spread AIDS awareness and provide hospital assistance. The last destination was the Luwawa Forest Reserve, where students prepared for their conference at Yale with other Putney Global Actions groups and shared their experiences.

Kelly C.-L. ’10 traveled with the Crossroads Foundation to the Banareng region in Africa, where she was part of the new village community. She helped the Sekororo African tribe to build a pre-primary school, which was the first school for the village. It gave young children who were previously unable to attend school the opportunity to be educated.

David J. ’11 participated in a program that began in the village of Ollantaytambo in Peru with Putney Community Service. The group spent a few days getting acquainted with Peruvian culture and geography, then spent the remainder of the time working in small groups alongside locals and skilled craftsmen to complete the construction of classroom space. He also made adobe bricks, taught in the local school, assisted at the trucha fish farm and prepared meals for local school children.

Jamie K. ’11 traveled to Tanzania through the Global Routes program. The program was broken up into three basic parts: in-country orientation, community service/cultural exchange and travel adventures. The program’s contribution to the village was the construction of a school and helping teach English to natives. Jamie learned about the ancient culture of the Bantu tribes on the remote island of Zanzibar, Africa, the birthplace of Swahili.

Jeffrey S. ’10 participated in the Global Routes program, traveling to the Chiang Mai province of Thailand. Jeffrey spent his time teaching local children and involving himself in various building projects. He took away a great understanding of the Thai culture by living with a Thai host family.

Giovanni Z. ’11 joined the Armenia Tree project in the mountains of Caucasus, located in the country of Armenia. He had learned that the lack of natural resources, coupled with poverty and the effects of a devastating earthquake in 1998, have led to extensive loss of forests in the region. Giovanni worked in tree nurseries and was very instrumental in sharing his knowledge regarding environmental concerns.

Sonum B. '09 traveled to Australia's northwestern coast for two weeks as a volunteer at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. She assisted with zoo and environmental projects, such as cleaning and monitoring beaches and waterways. She also visited modern recycling facilities and communities based on sustainability and green design.

Katherine B. '10 traveled to Xi'an, China, for five weeks with the Cross-Cultural Solutions program to accomplish the service project of helping to educate children of low-income communities in the subjects of science, music, sports and drama. She also helped care for disabled children at a local orphanage.

George D. '10 traveled to New Zealand and Australia for four weeks with the Global Works volunteer program. He worked alongside 15 other volunteer students, as well as local volunteers, on an ecological reserve where he completed conservation work, reforestation and the cleaning of local harbors.

Elizabeth D. '10 traveled to the Dominican Republic for three weeks with the Global Routes summer volunteer program. Initially planning to be part of the construction of a water tank for the village of Jarabacoa, she learned that she would aid in the construction of a local women's center. Her group helped to protect women's rights, raise environmental issues and advocate for preventative health care.

Logan H. '09, volunteering with the Global Routes summer program, spent two weeks in Puerto Rico to assist in the rebuilding of impoverished villages that were destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. He also traveled to the rainforest to be part of community service projects that included construction of research facilities for resident scientists and educating school groups on the importance of rainforest conservation.

Aurelia H. '09 participated in a three-week project in Padua, Italy, with the assistance of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, in collaboration with the Miriam and St. Anthony's bread projects. She volunteered at a shelter for immigrant women and children who are victims of human trafficking.

Basyl S. '09 participated in a four-week opportunity with the Putney Program, located in the Pali District of Rajasthan, India. While there, he taught English to children in underserved rural areas who otherwise receive little, if any, education.

Kathryn V. '09 traveled to Senegal, Africa, with the Putney Program to participate in an international service and environmental program. During her four-week stay, she assisted with the construction of irrigation systems, taught English to children and learned how the African health care system is dealing with the mounting HIV problem.

Hannah B. '08 traveled to Ghana for approximately one month with the Global Routes High School Summer Volunteer Program. She traveled to a village near the city of Cape Coast where she assisted in the construction of a new school or library and assisted local farmers in their fields.

Alexandra B. '08 traveled to Medzilaborce in Northeastern Slovakia for two weeks, where she taught English at St. Nicholas orphanage.

Hannah F. '08 traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia, for two weeks, where she volunteered at a local orphanage for handicapped children and served a community of poor families, all connected with the Society of the Sacred Heart. She took crayons, coloring books and other arts and crafts to teach to the local children.

Sam H. '08 will travel to Haiti with John Fisher for three weeks to work with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital conservation program and Snavely Forest Products. The project involved research on reforestation of trees that will survive and thrive in Haiti.

Nia P. '08 attended the "Sun, Sand and Community Service School " hosted by Rustic Pathways. She traveled to Fiji to teach English and music to elementary school children as well as assist with the repair and upkeep of the local school grounds. She also assisted with many other smaller community service projects where needed.

Luke R. '09 traveled to San Salvador, Bahamas, for a week to participate in Earthwatch's Bahamian Reef Survey Project at the Gerace Research Center. This study focused on the impact of environmental changes on the coral reefs in the area.

Charlie R. '09 participated in a Global Routes program, assisting to construct an addition to a local school in Nepal for five weeks. He also participated in several local service projects while there.

Anna R. '08 traveled with the Putney Community Service Student to Vietnam for one month. There she worked in the village of Son My, assisting in building brick homes for the local population in an area often ravaged by flooding. She also taught English to local students.

Ally S. '08 traveled to China for three weeks to help disabled children through a program called "Lifeworks." She cared for and taught children who are both physically and emotionally challenged.

Laura B. '08
In the summer of 2006, Josh F. and I spent two weeks in Chiapas, Mexico with the Perez family, whose youngest son, Orlando's, education is sponsored by the club Chiapas Connection. During our stay, we spent our time doing farm chores for the family, chopping wood and tending to the needs of the coffee trees that the extended family harvests and sells as free trade coffee beans. Because it is Orlando who must usually perform such chores, he cannot get a summer job as most men his age do to pay for college. Also, his family cannot afford to hire additional help during his absence. Thanks to our efforts, both this past summer and now, and through the money we still raise at school, we were able to aid the family and to help provide Orlando with his family's first university education. He hopes to find a job involving computers. Our time spent in Chiapas was absolutely incredible. By extending our schoolwork on the Tzotzil language and through our more traditional fundraising during the school year, we were able to learn something essential about hard work and dedication that extends far beyond the classroom.

Laura D. '07
I went to the British Virgin Islands where I lived on a catamaran for three weeks with nine other teens and three counselors. We traveled to different islands performing different community service projects, such as repainting the entrance to a church, beach and city clean-ups, mangrove reforestation, playing with local children who were in summer school, and, most exciting of all, catching turtles for research purposes. My favorite part of the trip was getting to meet the local people who helped us with the projects; they helped me see a new perspective of life. Overall, each of us did over one-hundred hours of volunteer service.

Joshua F. '08
Our international service project took place in Chiapas, Mexico. The project involved distributing used clothing acquired at Shady Side Academy to members of a local Mayan community and then assisting the community with various tasks, including work with the coffee plants. We spent eleven days in San Cristobal de las Casas, a city in Chiapas . Each day, we traveled to San Pedro Chenalhó, a rural agrarian community in Chiapas . After our work, we spent afternoons studying Mayan culture and Tzotzil, the language spoken in the community, with a native speaker. I would like to thank Mr. Parkin for this amazing opportunity and I hope the project will continue to benefit Chiapas and the Shady Side Academy community.

Vijay K. '08
The Parkin Fellowship allowed me the wonderful opportunity to experience an environmental and community service expedition to Costa Rica through the organization Eco-Teach. I traveled to San Jose , Atenas, Alajuela, Pacuare, Fortuna, Arenal, and Puntarenas. The primary focus of the trip was to help in the conservation of the Leatherback turtles. Consequently, most of the time was spent at the turtle reserve, a turtle conservation establishment in the Costa Rican rainforest. During the days, I, along with my group, cleaned debris from the beach, constructed walls for nearby homes, and engaged in a number of community service projects. At night, we traversed the beach in search of Leatherback turtle eggs. Once found, we transported them to our turtle hatchery: a stretch of the beach that had been cordoned off for the safe hatching of turtles. Once the turtles had safely hatched, we released them into the water. In this way, the turtles were safe from predators such as birds, crabs, and crocodiles. Aside from the time spent at the reserve, I have a number of memorable experiences including counting scarlet macaws for an official parrot conservation survey and zip lining through the rainforest canopy at 300 feet above the ground. Throughout the trip, I was able to observe the immense Costa Rican biodiversity including howler monkeys, poison-dart frogs, spiny lizards, exotic butterflies and an array of plant species. Furthermore, I became immersed in the Costa Rican culture, living with Costa Rican families, and learning a little Spanish in the process. Overall, my trip was an adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life. I sincerely appreciate the generosity of Mr. Parkin, who made the trip possible, and am very grateful to him. I have been changed by my experiences in Costa Rica and hope that other students will have the same opportunity in the future.

Mara L. '07
As I walked along the river that ran through the small Kenyan village with my host sister Ayeiko, I gazed at her in awe. Her gorgeous skin glowed in the setting sun and the silhouette of her perfect posture and delicate neck stood out against the red and orange sky. On top of her head rested a large bucket of water. She walked barefoot along the water's rocky edge, never faltering, while the bucket remained steadfast atop her head. She asked if I would like to try and apprehensively, I accepted. I hoisted the bucket to the top of my head but could barely make it a few steps before I had to grab it as it began to fall. I handed the bucket back to her, and with great poise and grace she walked the rest of the way back. My trip to Kenya was filled with moments like this. Living in a village in western Kenya and constructing a classroom for five weeks challenged me to look inside myself to find those small things in life that I seldom appreciate. Staying with a family and giving up my everyday luxuries was incredibly rewarding. My time in eastern Africa truly made me appreciate my life and the privileges that I have been fortunate enough to have. Along with the other eighteen teenagers in my group, we were able to create a learning environment for over fifty children. I saw what one person could do in a community. I now understand the importance of perseverance; one person can truly make a difference. Memories of my trips to the river with Ayeiko will stay with me forever. Her bright smile when we unveiled the classroom, and then her tears when we departed, are images that I will never forget. With incredible gratitude to Mr. Parkin, I thank him for giving me an opportunity to make a small difference in the village.

Carlie M. '07
During this trip, I had the opportunity to travel abroad to Guatemala for one week with a group called SurgiCorps International to participate in a medical mission trip. I spent a day in Patzun, Guatemala with a group of approximately eighty young orphans ranging in age from three-weeks-old to sixteen-years old. I helped out by doing small jobs around the orphanage in addition to helping the children with their English homework and playing games with them in their free time. But the majority of my trip took place in the city of Antigua, Guatemala where I worked in the operating rooms in a local hospital aiding Pittsburgh-based plastic surgeons and general surgeons. These surgeons, for the most part, treated and corrected cleft pallets, cleft lips, burn scars, gallbladder disease, and hernias. My duties consisted of taking pre-op and post-op photography of our patients and their wounds, running instruments to and from operating rooms, compiling medical files, and assisting doctors with whatever needed to be done. I had the amazing opportunity to scrub in with one of the doctors on two of her cases; one being the removal of extraneous digits on a patient's hands and feet, and the other case correcting a severe burn scar which involved taking skin grafts. In these two cases, I was the physician's main assistant and I was accountable for handing the doctor instruments, blotting, and assisting with the stitching of the wound. This trip was incredibly eye-opening, not only because I was exposed to such a large range of medical work, but also because I had the opportunity to react with an entirely different and unique type of culture in a context that, here in the U. S. , would never been possible. These people were in such dire need, as Guatemala is a third-world country, and had no financial means to correct their potentially harmful medical conditions. By the end of the week, my medical team had treated roughly eighty patients and brought many smiles to loving family members. Medicine is a field that I am very interested in and I am strongly considering it especially after such an incredible volunteer trip.

Elizabeth M. '08
I was awarded a Parkin Fellowship to perform community service in Costa Rica for four weeks. I went through an organization called Putney Student Travel. I lived with sixteen other high school students from around the U.S. I was the only person from Pennsylvania. Our main service project was to help construct a bridge over a river in the small village of Zaragosa . This task was very labor-intensive and took us the entire four weeks to complete the job. Costa Rican construction workers supervised the project and we provided them with labor. We had to move large rocks from the site, shovel out dirt, and carry away bags of dirt on our backs. We also mixed cement by hand and filled buckets of cement for the Costa Rican construction workers. At the end of the four weeks, we completed two cement end supports for the bridge. The work definitely was hard and challenging, but also very rewarding. I really felt that I helped to make a difference in this Costa Rican village. The Parkin Fellowship provided me with an opportunity to take a risk, to do something by myself, and to grow as a person. It was an amazing experience, and one that I will never forget.