international service

Joe and Elaine Griswold were inspired to help the children of Uganda, Africa, on an unexpected tour of a government-sponsored village school. Since the tour, the couple has co-founded two non-profit organizations: Tree of Life Ministries in Uganda and Real Partners Uganda in the United States. The Griswolds, two retired teachers, have now devoted their lives to Ugandan children and have brought hope to the community through the Mustard Seed Academy in Lukaya, Uganda, which serves 300 children from age 3 to 13.

Breanna McGowan has the heart of a missionary. While volunteering at Outreach orphanage in Ghana for Projects Aboard, she genuinely cared for the children. She wondered how much more improved their futures would be if they only had the resources, and even spent her souvenir money on food for the orphanage. Therefore, when she returned to the United States, she had a goal: to make a tangible difference. Breanna’s work in Ghana inspired her to start a foundation called All’s God Children Got Shoes, which sends school supplies and shoes to the children in Ghana.

Florence G. Phillips, a former Peace Corps and VISTA volunteer, is the founder/director of the ESL (English as a Second Language) In-Home Program of Northern Nevada. Her innovated efforts in education over the last five years have positively impacted a great number of people living in five Northwest Nevada counties. Florence saw the problem facing many immigrants --- they cannot speak English and desperately want to learn, but for a variety of reasons are unable to attend formal classes.

Please read Kennedy Kulish's inspirational volunteer story: I raise money for children with special hearts and defects on behalf of my awesome baby brother Kaeden who was born with a very special heart. I volunteer because I can and because it feels sooooooooo awesome and because there are alot of kids that are in need of help that are not healthy like my Kaeden is now and I have awesome special friends that want to help me to help them.

Oylan Dong founded Project Outstanding Youth (Project OY) and completed these projects, among many others. She is dedicated to serving disadvantaged children in Panama. Inspired by her sisters who had done service in Africa, Oylan decided to work in a Spanish speaking country. A family friend introduced her to orphanages and youth centers in Panama. Over the past three years, she has visited Panama five times, spending most of her free time, holidays, and vacations helping hundreds of poor children and families.