Have you completed a service term with AmeriCorps? Congratulations and thank you for your service! Now that your service is over, did you know your award can be used for educational opportunities outside of the USA, so why not use your Segal Award to fund an international adventure?
Intern Abroad HQ and International Volunteer HQ can help you use your Segal Education Award for an international experience. Read on to learn how WSU student, Chelsea, put her Segal Award toward an international volunteer experience with IVHQ.
Hi Chelsea! Tell us - when did you serve with AmeriCorps and how did it impact you?
I served with AmeriCorps during my first year of college in 2008 as I began my educational journey into the field of aquatic animal health. My time in AmeriCorps taught me the importance of serving one’s community. Since then, I have worked to incorporate volunteerism into each chapter of my life, balancing my desire to serve with my educational and career goals of working in the field of fish health.
After I graduated with a Master of Science in Biology, I took a year off to serve once more with AmeriCorps at my alma mater, setting up a food pantry on campus to help reduce the financial burden of attending college.
After completing my year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, I received a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to use toward educational expenses. I wanted to use this award for something meaningful. I’ve always cherished my memories of AmeriCorps and felt it was important to honor that experience by applying my award to a cause that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
How did you find an international adventure to use your Segal Award?
I came across International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) while looking for volunteer opportunities abroad. I was immediately drawn to how they operate their business, support local communities, and approach everything with an ethical and conservation mindset.
At first, I wasn’t sure which program to choose; there were so many excellent options! The staff at IVHQ helped me explore different possibilities and answered all my questions.
In the end, I found the perfect way to use my education award: the Marine Conservation volunteer in Belize. This program combined my two passions: service through volunteer work and aquatic ecosystem health and conservation.
I was incredibly excited about the chance to volunteer in Belize but I also felt nervous. This was going to be a completely new experience for me. I had never traveled abroad alone or taken part in this type of program. The staff at IVHQ were very helpful and supportive. They were easy to talk to, eager to answer questions, and made me feel safe and comfortable stepping into this new adventure.
What did your volunteer experience in Belize involve?
For my volunteer program, I spent a week on Tom Owen’s Caye, a tiny island about 25 miles off the coast of Belize. The island, less than one acre in size, is part of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve on the Belize Barrier Reef. This reef system is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
The Marine Conservation program promotes reef conservation by removing invasive lionfish, cleaning up plastic pollution, providing educational outreach, and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly products and foods. Sustainable practices and environmental considerations are integrated into every aspect of their operations. I thoroughly enjoyed that mindset and hope to carry it with me now that I am back home. I want to become more aware of and respectful toward the land and water that make my life here possible.
How did this experience benefit and inspire you?
This volunteer experience has had a profound impact on me. I am exceedingly thankful for what I have learned and for everyone I’ve met along the way. I look forward to continuing this journey of self-discovery and giving back to my local and global community through service projects like this in the future. I am already planning my next trip with IVHQ, and there are so many programs I want to explore! I can’t wait for my daughter to get a little older so I can take her to Belize to volunteer, where she can learn to dive with the excellent dive masters there.
Without my Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, this opportunity would have been beyond my reach at this point in my life. I encourage any AmeriCorps alumni interested in this kind of experience to make the leap! IVHQ made using my award for this program so easy, and they’re there to assist every step of the way. I am deeply grateful to AmeriCorps, IVHQ, and everyone who helped me take part in this amazing program.
Want to learn more about using your Segal Education Award to fund an international adventure?
Turn your Segal Education Award into a global adventure with Intern Abroad HQ. Reach out to our team, so we can talk you through how to make this happen! To get started, just submit your internship application. This enables us to receive your expression of interest, so we can assist with the next steps.
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