Hello one and all!!

It's been a while since I posted (surprise, surprise) but I just thought I'd get the word out there a bit about the program I'm currently fundraising for, called Canada World Youth. This next bit will explain more thoroughly what I am trying to achieve! :D

First off, how are you today? So You may be wondering, what this group is about and what the heck Canada World Youth is. Weeell, I'll be able to answer all those questions and more in the following!

Canada World Youth (CWY) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Since it's creation 37 years ago, 31,000 young people between the ages of 17 and 24 have had the opportunity to live and work as volunteers in communities in Canada and overseas. Youth from all regions of Canada and more than 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe have participated in CWY programs.

My participation in the exchange will be for a period of 6 months. Beginning on September 23rd, 2009, I will be spending 3 months in Amherst, Nova Scotia, along with other young people from across Canada and Indonesia. During this time, I will be living with a local family and will be involved in a community-oriented work project. On December 21st, my group will depart for Indonesia where we will also live with families and work in communities for a similar three to four month period. I will be returning to Canada in March, 2010.

Canada World Youth's mission is to increase the ability of people, and especially youth, to participate actively in the development of just, harmonious and sustainable societies. It achieves this by exposing youth to different cultures and attitudes in an intense working and learning situation. The challenging situation promotes understanding and cooperation as the youth work for the betterment of the community.

I am currently in the process of contacting several organizations and individuals in my community to inform them of my participation in the Canada World Youth program and gather donations for the organization. I have been asked by CWY to raise an amount of $2,500, which will help to ensure the program's continuation and give more young people the chance to participate in future years.

So in short, this volunteer program is one amazing opportunity I don't want to miss out on. As for the actual donation part, everyone interested in supporting my fundraising efforts, have a couple options. Even by just joining your support goes a long way!

Donations are accepted in the form of cheque, money order, credit card, or some service offered to you in exchange (although, the latter probably isn't as possible unless you are currently living in Guelph :-P). All donations over $20, will receive tax receipts (meaning, this donation is not in exchange for goods or services). The tax receipt will be given directly to you by Canada World Youth only at the end of the fiscal year (no later than February).

To donate via plastic visit:

http://www.canadaworldyouth.org/en/Content.aspx?PageId=201&volunteer=6f7ccf7216059

If you have any questions about the program or myself, please feel free to contact me via e-mail (sheeper_kag@hotmail.com) or Facebook and I would be happy to answer your questions/concerns as promptly as possible. Thank-you so very much for taking the time to consider my efforts, and possibly support me! Take care, and have a great day!




-KGat

As of recently, I've come to the realization that some things have more to them, then what they first appear as (in other words, don't judge a book by its cover). More and more throughout the course of the program, I'm able to know so much more than just doing volunteer work robotically.

The people you meet. The bonds you make. The potential you now can more clearly see, is right in front of our faces! Good people, what I am talk about is our hidden (for some, such as myself before now) ability to be able to make connections and bonds with people we have taught ourself to shun out. Of course, not everyone can be your neighbour in somewhere as big as Toronto (4,000,000+ people), but just think about this for a minute: if each person is able to befriend 10 people, let's say, and in those 10 people they've also intertwined in many other peoples networks of friends, in short you produce your own "small community" of friends. This almost seems like I'm going on a tangent here, but what I'm really trying to get at is no matter what the circumstances 9/10 you will be able to find yourself to love the person for who they are, and just enjoy being able to communicate with so many diverse people, and to be a friend with someone whom you admire, whether for very few things or many. We are all humans, afterall.

Just really had to write that, even though I should really be sleeping right now, and will be very shortly. I hope it makes some sense and the point is at least somewhat clear (although I'll most likely look over it better when I'm less tired. Getting up at the crack of dawn this morning for boxing can suprisingly do that to a person who's been up for 20 or so hours).

-KGat

a Thought above

So... A tad more thought was put into this since I last posted a while back... and I've decided to make it into things I'm interested in talking about and other controversies which may enter my life. Basically, anything from what's going on in my life that I feel should be talked about and other miscellaneous subjects.

Sounds pretty decent to me. What about you? I realize not many people will feel the want to drop a comment, but I encourage anyone to leave a comment -- whether positive or constructive -- just to let it all out, and let me know what you have to say!

I'll leave this on a little bit of a status update in regards to the volunteer program I'm in, called Katimavik (www.katimavik.org and www.gokatimavik.com). As of right now, I'm finishing up my third trimester of the program, and currently reside in Chisasibi, Québec, Canada (it's a small Cree town just on the border of James Bay).

Now that you have a bit of a background to understand better what I'm talking about, I'll say a bit more about what's going down. Where I work is at Cree/French/English school where I assist as the "School Animator" where I get the kids involved in anything from Air Hockey Tournaments, to school dances and beyond.

Besides working, we also get blocks of "free time" (time to do what you want) and right now myself as well as my group, are working on making moccasins and mittens (traditional, of course). Although, it does cost some money, which isn't really a problem because you're making them yourself. It's actually really self-satisfying I find, to be able to make my own material items, rather than just buying one already made. This in itself, will take another few weeks (on/off throughout the rest of the month and a half we have left here) to complete fully. Unfortunately at this point in time, I can't provide photos as my camera is sent away to get repaired (or so I hope), but I will for sure put up as many as I'm able to.

That's my life at the moment, on top of lots of other really awesome activities and community involvement things in which we will be accomplishing in the near future. And if you've gotten to this point, thanks for reading and have a rockin' week!

-KGat

"Hello World"

Well. What to write, eh? This is the first time I've done this and haven't yet figured out exactly what it is I want out of it. But then again, do people really think about that when they sign up for this?

I'm thinking something along the lines of, something I enjoy writing about, but not something so bland, that you can't feel like it happened to you? We shall see. Cool beans, if anyone has some suggestions, or comments to help a newbie out, be much appreciated. I'll just basically drop a post every now and then. We'll see how she goes. :)

Over and out..

-KGat