Up with People Day 4 4/10/2009

Day 4 the last day of the volunteers working with us.

The final activities are being held today and once again we are doing the charity selling and work at the gas station. I once again spent my day at the gas station but there was a switch in groups everyday, so there were different people to spend the day with.

The day was really interesting, it seemed as though many people wanted to purchase gasoline for their vehicles and most of us were hoping that it was because they looked forward to not only meeting foreigners but also to support the foundation by purchasing gas from us. But myself and the other volunteers really think that holding the signs and waving to people passing by really helped in bringing in customers. We did a test to see what worked best. We first just held up signs and stood on the corner with them and we saw that not many people came in. Then, we waved to people and smiled and held the signs up and noticed that many more people came into the gas station. It was a lot of fun. Most people seemed happy with us waving, we even got elderly ladies and random people waving to us as they were walking down the street. The waves seemed to make many peoples day.

I noticed that many people from the day before returned once again to get their gas tanks filled. The group that was filling the gas tanks always seemed to have a good time, they spoke with the customers and they seemed to like the fact of pumping the gas tanks. It was a whole new experience for them since, the pumping system is probably different compared to the way it is done back in their home countries. I know in the United States, most gas stations do not even have people waiting to pump the gas for you, you have to fill it up all by yourself. So I can easily see where the excitement might be when it came to the volunteers pumping gas for the customers.

Some of those people were impressed that the international volunteers were trying their best to speak to them in Mandarin. However, it also seemed that some of the customers who knew English also wished to practice their English with the volunteers, which was pretty nice all on its own. I was taken back to realise the amount of people who appreciated what the international volunteers did that week.

That morning went by so fast for me, I really had a lot of fun working with this group of individuals I learned a lot from them as well. It will be sad not to see them after having worked with them. Our time together was brief, but I feel that I will always remember their great personalities and the good times we had together, and I am sure that anyone else they might have affected as well, will always look back and smile.

Until next time!! See you!!

Jasmin Nunez

Up with People Day 3 4/9/2009

The days just keep on rolling we are in Day 3 already!!

Today pretty much consisted of the same projects as the day before, one group was to stay in the Eden area and do some charity selling but of course with different items. Then the other half was to work their magic charms and bring in customers to the gas station. Today I spent my day with the group that was to stay at the gas station. It was a pretty fulfilling day, but just like a normal business, it had its high and low moments when it came to customers.

The way the volunteers worked is that a small group was to stand on the street corner and hold up the signs that they made to call the attention to customers. Then the other group would stand but the gas pumps and either introduce themselves to the customers and give them small gifts or they would introduce themselves and pump the gas with the help of the regular workers. Then after a certain amount of time, the groups would switch.

They all looked like they were having a great time, from my observation, it also seemed like the workers also had a great time getting to know the Up with People volunteers. Some more than others were very interested in learning more about the volunteers and asking them questions in English as best as they could. When there was a problem with communication they tried their best to show what they are talking about or they would ask the Taiwanese volunteers.

Even without the volunteers, it was great to see them interacting without worrying about language barriers. The customers seemed really interested in meeting the volunteers and learning about where they come from.

All in all I think it was a good day for everyone.

Until next time!!

Jasmin Nunez

Up with People Day 2 4/8/2009

Welcome to Day 2 Today was the first day after the introduction to the Foundation that we had the Up with People split into groups and take on various activities for the day. One group stayed in the Eden area and did some charity selling, while the other group went to an Eden Gas Station to work their best to bring in customers. This day I was with the charity selling group. We tried our best to sell some goods to people passing by on the street, since it was a bit rainy in the morning, umbrellas was the item of choice for the day. The volunteers practiced a bit of Mandarin (none from the group ever learned Mandarin in the past) and used what they learned to bring in the customers and introduce themselves as international volunteers.

After a bit of work trying to attract the customers to buy the umbrellas, the volunteers were given handouts that informed the community that Eden will take use able goods that people no longer need/want and will use them to give to people in need. I thought it was an interesting activity because people passing by were able to meet some foreigners, which might not be a daily routine of theirs. Not only that but many people seemed a bit surprised that Eden takes such items to reuse.

The volunteers worked hard and tried their best, it was great to see them speaking in Mandarin, because they just picked up on words so quickly that very morning. They gave it their all and it looked like they were having a good time with the tasks that were given to them for the day.

Well until the next post!

Bye-bye!!

Written by Jasmin Nunez

New Intern for Eden

Hello Everyone! Da Jia Hao!

---

Welcome to my first blog post! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Jasmin Nunez, I am a new arrivee to both Taiwan and Eden Social Welfare Foundation. I come from the city of Milwaukee in the states of Wisconsin, and I am a Global Studies Major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As of last month I have arrived to the nice country of Taiwan and I am currently studying Mandarin at the Mandarin Training Center in Shida.
I have also just recently joined the Eden Social Welfare Foundation and I will be assisting them in all that I can do to help not only the community but also to inform the communities all around us about the foundation and its goals. I look forward to these up coming months and hope to get to know the Eden community very well. Please feel free to join me during this time with Eden by keeping track of the blogs.
Yours Truly,
Jasmin Nunez
p.s. in the picture I am the one on the far left (^_*)b

Up with People Project Day 1 4/7/2009

  Hello Everyone! Welcome to the first day of working with Up with People Volunteers!

Brief Introduction to Up with People The International department has come together with another program called Up With People together we are working to inform the community and raise money for charity. Up with People was started in 1965 by J. Blanton Belk and acted as a positive voice for young people and the organization was incorporated in 1968 and became known as an international, non-profit entity. Young people from around the world come together, and through traveling and cultural interaction build an understanding of cultures, learn how to build leadership skills, open their minds to worldly issues, and also involve themselves in community service.

(Info taken from Up with People website: http://www.upwithpeople.org/index.php)

I met the group from Up with People today, they all were very nice and seemed really interested in working with Eden and learning more about Taiwan. It was cool to see this group of mixed cultures, because from speaking with one of the volunteers she told me that the Up with People students have come together and are like a big family, a home away from home in a manner of speaking. The Up with People volunteers consists of people from the United States, a few from Belgium, Nepal, and Israel. I was really excited to meet them all. So we stared the day off by introducing the volunteers to Eden by showing them a video. Then they were also introduced to other departments of Eden so they can see how Eden works not only with Taiwanese community but the communities of people that come from other parts of the world.

Sharing Disabilities Activity Afterwards we had a challenge exercise for them, the volunteers had to go buy a drink from the convenience store, but their was a catch to that. Some of them had to push themselves on a wheelchair down the street and the others had to guide themselves down the street(blind folded) as well using only a guiding stick to feel the surrounding area. It was quite a challenge as some of them said but it was a great learning experience for them I can only imagine how hard it was. I did not do the outside activity but for lunch we also ate blindfolded, and I was able to test that out but it was a challenge, and was a real eye opener and makes me applaud those who do those things masterfully on a daily basis.

But I am glad that the volunteers had a great time participating here is are a couple of statements from them that I would like to share with everyone about that challenge:

"The activity that we played being a blind and a differently able person was a very innovative and new idea to experience. Personally, I really don’t see any difference in handicapped people and normal people. But the physical difference that we have sometimes make us forget how hard it is for them to do simple things that we can do without even thinking or being grateful for what we have. This activity has helped me to realize the difficulties they face in their everyday life and respect them more. "Shubheksha Rana-Nepal

"............It was a great experience depending on the person in front of us for the blind experience. We could not see but yet we trusted where they were going. I could not believe that we were in the street, it was scary but at the same time thrilling. The whole time I kept thinking, people were staring at us. I was embarrassed, you could hear them talking.....""Overall it was an impactful experience. It put me in the shoes of people that live like that every day. It is a challenge, makes you realize our world is not built for people with disabilities. The next time I see someone with disabilities struggling on the street or having trouble buying something I will remember this experience and help them." -Hans Nelson-United States

Overall, in my opinion I thought it was a great learning experience for everyone and I am glad to have been a part of it. I look forward to the coming days in doing the various jobs with the volunteers and hope of learn from them as they have learned from Eden.
Until next time!!!

Written by Jasmin Nunez

想要與各國志工親身相處、互相交流嗎？

想要了解國際志工服務的感動嗎？

伊甸基金會國合中心邀請你與國際志工一同服務，讓合作迸發跨文化火花！！

邀您參與國際志工服務

　　　美國志工組織UP WITH PEOPLE, 40年來在全球5大洲參與社區服務，今年首度移師台灣，從4月7日（星期二）到4月10日(星期五)，將會有七位18-29歲的各國志工，一連四天在伊甸機構服務，服務內容有伊甸愛心商品義賣、新移民家庭兒童英文課、伊甸加油站加油。

　　　伊甸基金會國際合作中心竭誠邀請各位志工一同參與，歡迎大家到場幫他們加油~

報名信箱：eden.international.cooperation@gmail.com

填上您的姓名、聯絡方式及可以參與的時段

詳細內容:下載

洽詢電話：02-5553-2833

志工至四川服務流程

1. 第一步
   • 復健志工表格
   1. 請填妥表格 下載 ， 寄至信箱eden.international.cooperation@gmail.com
   2. 請志工和家人溝通，獲得支持
   3. 大概可以至四川服務的時段(月份)、天數
   4. 協調志工說明會的時間，將安排在週一到週五的時間
2. 第二步
   • 志工說明會
   1. 了解伊甸基金會512川震服務方案
   2. 志工在當地的服務內容
   3. 志工面談
3. 第三步
   • 告知確定出發日期
   1. 出發前一個月前會通知志工，請各位志工請假
   2. 請確認護照及台胞證的有效期限

      (護照有效期限半年；新護照辦理需5天。台胞證於每次出發前，需要加簽，辦理加簽需三天；台胞證，初次辦理需7天)

   3. 告知英文姓名(和護照同)，伊甸基金會國合中心統一幫志工訂機票，並根據服務期間補助機票費用
   4. 告知身分證字號，伊甸基金會國合中心統一幫志工保200萬旅平險
   5. 建議施打A肝、破傷風
   6. 出發前一個禮拜;請將機票費用餘額匯入第一銀行帳號;匯款後請來電告知

      戶名:財團法人伊甸社會福利基金會附設雙福事業部

      帳號:153-50-306755

      匯款後請來電通知，告知匯款帳號末五碼以利查證

4. 第四步
   • 飛抵當地
   1. 由當地同工至四川機場接機
   2. 到達服務目的地
   3. 與前期志工工作交接，約需兩天時間
   4. 開始服務
5. 第五步
   • 服務期滿回國後
   1. 請撰寫1500字的志工心得，寄至信箱eden.international.cooperation@gmail.com
   2. 將機票票根寄回:10560台北市光復北路60巷19之6號B1

      伊甸基金會國合中心收

與我聯繫

伊甸基金會國際合作中心

TEL:02-5553-2833

E-Mail：eden.international.cooperation@gmail.com