EGL’s VA trip to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana this year was a huge success. Our week was full of culturally immersive activities, meaningful work in the community, and relationship building. Each day provided a unique opportunity to give and receive, and every single EGL member took full advantage of that. Overall, while we were able to leave Browning just a little bit better than we found it, the real impact of the trip was the mark that the community left on all of us. 

Starting with the work that EGLs were able to provide during the trip, we helped with many different tasks in various areas of the community. One group volunteered at a food kitchen called Eagle Shield that serves the elderly. While their main task was to make, serve, and deliver meals to elderly members of the town, they also had the opportunity to engage in conversation with the residents as they ate their meals. Writing jokes on the placemats and inquiring about the variety of life stories to be told, volunteers were tasked with not only providing food for the community members but also, hopefully, brightening their days a little. The next group completed various tasks throughout the week including yard work and house painting. For the painting, the owner was going to lose her home insurance if the house was not painted within the next month. Having lost her husband two weeks prior to our arrival, this became a near impossible task. However, EGLs were able to finish painting the house that week. The last group volunteered at the local food pantry all week. They sorted through thousands of pounds of excess food donated by restaurants and grocery stores, and all of the volunteers came together on Thursday to assist with the weekly distribution. By the end of the four hour distribution window, we had served over 300 families.

EGLs also had the opportunity to engage in many traditional Native American practices throughout the week. Arriving at the tail end of the local Indian Days celebration, we attended a powwow our first night. As various groups surrounding the ring sang and beat the drum, we watched the dancers skip around the circular path. At the end, we were even invited to join in the dance. The next night, we all participated in a sweat lodge, a spiritual ceremony for praying and healing led by local elders. For this, we all sat in a pitch black structure as the elders sang and prayed for us while throwing water on the hot rocks in the center of the hut. The ceremony is an extremely challenging mental battle, but there is also so much peace to be felt and reflection to be had. We all learned a lot about the religion of the tribe members that night, and we were touched by their generosity and eagerness to pray for us and our loved ones. Later that week, we were visited by a community member (Bob Tailfeathers) who shared his traditional clothing that he wears to dance at powwows and events. We also had the chance to visit some ancient tipi rings, and we were visited each morning by Dan, a community member, who showed us how to smudge, a traditional form of prayer. 

On top of all of this, we had the opportunity to go on a two hour horseback ride through a local ranch and visit Glacier National Park. While the experiences we had and activities we did were incredible, we loved having the chance to spend time with each other and local community members the most. Whether it was through playing cards and basketball as a group or engaging in meaningful, personal conversations with our community partners, the relationships we built mean so much to us. Montana ‘23 was an incredible trip for all who attended.

EGL’s Volunteer Abroad trip to Phuket, Thailand was a week filled with cultural immersion, bonding, and many hours of volunteering with the Soi Dog Foundation. By the end of the trip, we each learned a lot about Thai culture, each other, and ourselves. It was extremely rewarding to spend time with the animals at Soi Dog and know that we were providing support to a foundation that has made such a substantial impact in the community.

The Soi Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing help to stray dogs and cats in Phuket, Thailand. Soi Dog rescues, vaccinates, sterilizes, and provides medical treatment to animals who will either be released in their community or put up for adoption. Over the last 20 years, Soi Dog has vaccinated over 1,000,000 street dogs and re-homed thousands. During our time volunteering with Soi Dog, an EGL was able to walk, pet, and play with most of the 1,400 dogs. Typically, these dogs would only be walked once per week, but with our help and group totalling 19 students, they could be walked each day. Many of the dogs and cats at Soi Dog come in with a history of abuse, so it was very eye opening to experience their ways of interacting with us as we began forming relationships with them. Soi Dog had volunteers from all around the globe. One of the highlights of volunteering each day was the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds. Whether it was the volunteers from other countries or the Phuket locals who worked with the dogs daily, we were able to learn a lot about their life experiences and culture. Despite a language barrier with some of the locals, we were able to find ways to communicate and even have some very meaningful conversations. 

After volunteering each day, the group traveled to many different places throughout Phuket to embrace the culture and see the beauty of the area. We visited many temples, street markets, beaches, and local restaurants. Our hotel was located along Naiyang beach, so we were able to enjoy the water and many sunsets together. We also traveled to Old Town Phuket on occasion to see more of the city and do some sightseeing.

There were very many temples in Thailand and they were all so beautiful. Some of the ones we visited were Wat Chalong, Big Buddha, and Wat Mongkhon Wararam. Thailand’s population is approximately 95% Buddhist, and in interacting with locals we were able to learn more about what it meant to them. When we visited the Big Buddha statue, we were even taught how to meditate with some monks. 

At the street markets, people of all ages were selling fresh fruit and vegetables, cooked meals, clothing, jewelry, trinkets, and more. There were so many rows of vendors, and just walking through these large markets was an amazing experience. As a group we tried tons of different foods including squid, durian, sticky rice, rambutan, and more. We also were able to eat at many different Thai restaurants throughout our time there. Most of us were eager to try as many dishes as possible, so we often ate “family style”, ordering several meals to split between the group. 

Near the end of the trip, we visited an ethical elephant sanctuary. We learned about the history of elephant abuse within Thailand and Southeast Asia that continues to this day and the ways that this sanctuary is fighting to end the cruelty. 

We ended each day with a journaling session where we all reflected on our experiences of the day and how we hoped to make an impact on the remainder of the trip. Overall, Thailand VA was an amazing experience that we will each remember for a lifetime and will continue to impact how we approach the world. 

EGL’s Volunteer Abroad trip to Iceland was an enriching experience volunteering in nature alongside knowledgeable locals and internationals. Throughout the week, EGL students focused on sustainability in the context of Icelandic culture through volunteer work, seminars, and chatting with locals.  These experiences were expanded upon through daily journaling, group reflections, and gratitude circles, where students set goals for themselves, celebrated one another, and reflected on sustainability within our own lives. 

The week began volunteering in Solheimar. Solheimar is the first eco and sustainable village in Iceland. Not only are they sustainable because they grow all their produce and live off natural resources, but they also incorporate sustainability into their whole community. We got the opportunity to interact with the community members, learn about their history, and help free up time for the locals through our work. EGL students split into two groups to weed the gardens and pick tomatoes from the greenhouse. While it might seem small, weeding the garden made a huge impact and gave the community members much more space to grow produce that is used to feed the entire village. 

Next, EGLs headed north. Siglufjordur was the main volunteering destination for the week. Located about 5 hours north of Reykjavik on the Fjords, Siglufjordur’s history is rooted in catching, processing, and selling herring. In more recent years, since the development of a small ski resort nearby, Siglufjordur has become a popular tourist destination. Throughout all of Iceland, there have been problems with deforestation that date back hundreds of years to the Vikings. It is only in the last century that locals have started working to replant the forests. On the edge of Siglufjordur, a family started replanting a forest in the early 1900s and this is where we volunteered. We had the opportunity to meet some of the people who started the forest, and they were very appreciative of our help. One of the old men walked us around, pointing out fallen branches, and told us his story. Despite the language barrier, he showed us pictures and memorial sites throughout the forest to tell us the story of the farmers who occupied the land before him and how his family planted every tree we could see. The forest “owners'' rely on volunteers, like EGLs, to maintain the space and prevent overgrowth/rot so the trees can thrive. We were able to contribute by removing dead and fallen trees and by constructing a small path through the forest with wood chips.  By the end of the week, we could really see the impact that was made.

In addition to volunteering, EGLs were immersed in Icelandic culture and learned so much. We participated in workshops about climate change, learned the dos and don'ts of trash sorting and composting, and tried local delicacies like Puffin and Fermented Shark. We also got the opportunity to explore the Fjords and even saw a few humpback whales. EGLs from all classes bonded on hikes, during impromptu Volleyball games, and over coffee during downtime. Overall, Iceland VA 2023 was an amazing experience.