For many people, going abroad is an opportunity to have fun and experience new things. However, for Savannah Corallo, traveling with Color My World had a much larger impact. Savannah took a trip to Nicaragua and describes the culture shock she faced. She says, “we had gone into this little community that was being completely rebuilt. I’ve never seen anything like that…I feel like it’s really hard to understand until you’re actually put in that situation. You’re just seeing it and you [think],’ this is way worse than I thought it was.’” Savannah then explained that she was able to overcome the initial culture shock and experienced a lot of growth because of it, “…after I had processed being in a different place, I have just come to love the experience! I really liked how Angela made it super fun, but it was also very service-oriented. I was able to develop my character and it actually really helped me figure out what I wanted to study in college! I am currently majoring in international studies”. Doing humanitarian trips is an opportunity much richer than just seeing new places–it gives those participating in the trip the chance to grow and serve and change their lives.

Savannah also shared some of the things she learned about service while traveling with Color My World. She told us, “one thing I really loved about the way that Angela structured her trips was that it wasn’t like we were going in already knowing what we were going to do. It was more like, once we got there, she would ask them what they needed help with and ask what we could do for them; rather than us just telling them we were going to do. I don’t feel like that would have been as helpful. It’s more thoughtful when you do it this way.”

Savannah came to understand that an important part of service is coming to know and truly care about the people you are serving. She continued, “learning to love everyone as they are is something I’ve taken with me. I can just meet someone and have an appreciation for who they are. I think traveling has really helped me with that, as well as serving other people. Serving other people gives you a deeper love and appreciation for life. It makes me really happy!” 

Traveling with Color My World gave Savannah a new perspective on life. As she turned outward and served others, she discovered that she was deeply changed inwardly and gained a greater understanding of herself and the world. She found a major that she loves, made lasting friendships, and has experienced a deep and lasting inward change.

The post Turning Outward and Changing Inward appeared first on Color My World.

San Luis Obispo, California, is credited as the happiest city in America. But for local Cali Edmunds, there are a happier people, just under a 6 hour flight away– the Nicaraguans. On her recent humanitarian trip there with Color My World, she shares that, “the most rewarding part [of the whole trip] was seeing how happy the people were. Regardless of how little they had, they were so happy, and they still are”.

Cali raised funds and went to Nicaragua two summers in a row to be around these happy people and to serve them. Many volunteers, Cali included, agree that serving in these third world countries not only blesses the lives of the locals, but betters the lives of the volunteers just as much, if not more. 

Telling us of her initial interest on this journey, she admits that, “originally, I liked that it was a surf camp sort of trip. I really like the ocean, and I really like surfing, so I liked that aspect of it. But I also loved how focused this specific trip was on service compared to my other options.” 

Despite her original reason to go, Cali came out with so much more than she anticipated. She later added, “what I didn’t expect was how much of an impact [this trip] was going to have on me. I knew that I was going to help people, and I was going to serve, but I didn’t realize how much I would be gaining… I gained a fresh new perspective of the world and a new perspective of my own life. I became more grateful. I became more humble, and just more aware of the world in general. Now, I step outside myself a lot more often than I did before.” 

A simple week or two among a different culture and people provided her such a lasting and memorable change inside. This was not her expectation, nor one she felt fully equipped for.

An experience Cali shared in which her weaknesses brought about a prominent change in her was with a young girl named Sophia. Through Sophia, Cali learned that “love has no language barriers”. Cali speaks very little Spanish but teaches us that that was not important. She recounts, “Sophia and I spent an entire day together–swinging and playing and [Sophia] spoke nothing but Spanish. We did not communicate much at all; I didn’t know what she was trying to say to me, but we still had the best day. I was able to communicate with her on a deeper level, a level that wasn’t speaking.”

In conjunction with the happiness and love Cali felt and experienced, she closes with the final thought to get out and serve! She encourages us all to make a change in the world. And when asked about her advice and preparation for a service trip like hers, she counsels, “go with an open mind and an open heart. Be open to both giving love, and receiving love.”

Let us all be inspired by these words– to find time and a place in our hearts to look outside our own selves– to find the meaningful life service renders and to color the world with love.

The post Finding True Happiness and Love in Nicaragua appeared first on Color My World.

 

Paige is a college student from Utah and recently volunteered with Color My World in India. We asked her to share her experience with us for our campaign #CMWvolunteer.

How did you hear about our organization?
I was introduced to Color My World by my sister Hanna who went to Costa Rica a few years ago with the non-profit. My sister’s meaningful experience enlightened me to the incredible impact the organization has for deficient communities all around the world.

Why did you pick the trip/ country that you went to?
I picked India because it is a place filled with opportunity. The compelling opportunity to use my god given skills to help deficient communities excited me to go to “the land of the noble ones”. With that said, I wanted to connect myself to the variety of non-profit organizations established in India with the intent of helping kids.

Did you come with a friend or family member?
I came on this trip with my mom and loved it!

Did you fundraise for this trip?
I did not fundraise for this trip. However, next time, I will definitely find the time to fundraise.

What were some of your favorite activities/ projects?
I found touring and helping Balak Trust ( non-profit organization helping educate kids living on the streets) to be my favorite activity. While at Balak Trust, we were given a tour around the impoverished streets of New Delhi. There, I was able to learn in depth about the astonishing stories of where young children that come to Balak Trust grow up and how they survive the unpredictable realities of living on the streets.

What lessons did you learn while volunteering?
One of the greatest lessons I learned while volunteering in India starts with this phrase, ‘salaam baalak’ which translates to, ‘salute the children’. This taught me that, even the smallest acts of kindness such as respecting and spending time with kids, can help communities in a significant way.

What would you tell future volunteers?
First and foremost, I would tell future volunteers to never say no when someone in your group offers you free bottled water. It is way too hot in India to resist water. Along with that, never be afraid to ask strangers questions. While volunteering at Bal Prakash Children’s Center I sat next to a couple of older ladies. Because of my curiosity, I learned a great deal from these ladies about the importance of receiving an education.

India was an extraordinary experience for me. There, I saw a glimpse of the astonishing efforts Color My World accomplishes for deficient communities around the world. In India, Color My World volunteers uplifted kids who are living an exhausting life on the streets. Color My World volunteers planted the seeds of inspiration to the kids on the street who long for safety, knowledge, and exhilaration. It’s because of Color My Worlds significant hard work and dedication to making communities welcoming places for children to inhabit around the world, people are inspired to be active volunteers in their communities.

The post Why I Volunteered With Color My World? – Paige’s Experience In India appeared first on Color My World.

The post A Very Merry Christmas​​​​​ in Pakista​​​​​n​ appeared first on Color My World.

How did you hear about our organization?

Color My World hosted an information session at my library! My friend’s mom told us about it and we all decided to attend it together. The Hughes family is also originally from my hometown so I had heard about their nonprofit from word of mouth.

Why did you pick the trip/country that you went to!

I traveled to Nicaragua in the summer of 2017 and Guatemala this past summer. I first chose Nicaragua because it was the cheapest and I had honestly never heard anything about the country before, so I was really curious. This past summer I chose Guatemala because I wanted to try a different country and I loved the idea of staying in an orphanage! Both trips are very different from one another, so I would definitely recommend both.

Did you come with a friend or family member?

I went with friends for both years! If you’re nervous to go by yourself, don’t hesitate to invite a friend along, just make sure you don’t stick with them the whole time 🙂

Did you fundraise for your trip? How so?
For Nicaragua, I created a Go Fund Me page where my family members could donate! I then used that money to buy donations for the people of Nica including candy, toys, nail polish, etc.

What were some of your favorite activities/projects?

My favorite part of Nicaragua was visiting an orphanage for young girls. I brought a bunch of makeup and we gave everyone makeovers! At the end of the day, the sweetest girl Amy wrote me a note and I still have it hanging up in my room.
In Guatemala, I loved being able to bond with the children because we saw them every day for the whole week. Eventually, they began to learn our names and would be so excited to see us in the morning. One of my favorite memories was when I walked into the room where we eat breakfast and one of the young boys exclaimed, “Good morning, I love you!!” in broken English and my heart just about melted. In both countries, I loved being able to experience the amazing food, the unconditional love of the people, and going to church.

What lessons did you learn while volunteering?

I learned a lot about how service affects both the people on the receiving end, as well as those that are doing the giving. Seeing the joy on other people’s faces from simple acts of kindness will change your world forever.
I also realized that you will never be able to change the entire world, but if you focus on just changing one person’s world for the better, that’s a great start. CMW gives you the tools to change a dozen or so lives each week, and I promise, they will never forget you.

What would you tell future volunteers?
Don’t be scared! The entire Color My World family is so welcoming and you will feel at home in no time.
If you came on the trip with people you already knew, go out of your comfort zone! Try sitting next to someone new at dinner each day, and you will be amazed at the kind of people that Color My World brings together.
Don’t pay for cell service! It’s such a refreshing break and makes you appreciate it a lot more when you go home 😉
Don’t worry if you don’t know Spanish! Love, selflessness, and joy don’t always have to be expressed through words.
GO! You won’t regret a minute.

The post Why I Volunteered With Color My World? – Jillian’s Experience In Guatemala appeared first on Color My World.

How did you hear about our organization? 

Through my mom actually. She was friends with Angela in high school and reconnected through social media. All growing up I’ve always told her that I want to go on a humanitarian trip and then she told me about her friend who has a nonprofit so I decided to look more into Color My World.



Why did you pick the trip/country that you went to?

Honestly, the only reason I picked India was because I have a slight obsession over beautiful old buildings, landscape architecture, and history so naturally I’ve always wanted to see the Taj Mahal and its grounds. Other than that, I really didn’t know much about India so there was also that mysterious and adventurous aspect to the trip that drew me as well.



Did you come with a friend or your family? 

I came by myself and it was a really great decision. Showing up to a completely new place without anyone I knew really pushed me out of my comfort zone which was awesome and a little terrifying at first. But I made new friends and I feel like it made the trip even more of a growing and learning experience.


Did you fundraise for your trip? If so what did you do?

I had some leftover scholarship money from the school year and I also raised a little bit of money
fundraising with Chipotle.

 

What were some of your favorite activities / projects?

It’s so hard to pick a favorite…

Seeing the Taj Mahal was a dream come true and I really geeked out pretty hard over that. Also riding the elephants and the camels was a TON of fun. I really loved going to the Ikaki village, being lead into the village by the guy playing the drum and everyone coming to greet and welcome us with the biggest smiles was one of the most surreal experiences of my whole life. Talking to one of the nuns at Mother Teresa’s Charity home was also so cool and she was an inspiring lady, devoting all her time to others who can’t help themselves is something I have so much respect for. I really liked finishing off the trip planting trees at Bal Prakash and that we were working alongside, not just for, the people there. I felt like at every project we went to everyone was so happy and welcoming; I loved that about the people in India. Simple, genuine joy is a powerful thing.


What lessons did you learn while volunteering? 

The greatest service is done one by one. We did some really cool stuff that is going to benefit many people but the greatest and most memorable moments for me were the one on one experiences I had connecting with a single person. Whether that was talking to one of the boys at Salaam Balak Trust and him proudly showing me his school work or planting trees at Bal Prakash with my cute little buddy and telling her random stories and hearing her laugh, those little moments were for sure the best times I had in India. I think doing the big stuff like going on a humanitarian trip are very important and necessary in a lot of cases, but nothing is greater or more fulfilling than doing the little things that really show someone you truly care about them individually. People are the most important part of our lives and everyone needs to know and feel they are loved.

What would you tell future volunteers?

Make friends with everyone and don’t be afraid to be yourself! This is more than likely going to be a once in a lifetime experience so don’t waste it. Embrace every moment and get to know the people you are serving and your fellow volunteers. It will make your time all the better and more fulfilling.



Do you have a funny story from the trip? 

The first thing that is coming to my mind is doing yoga at the hotel in Jaipur and the instructor ending the session by saying something along the lines of “this is the most important thing you can equip your yoga arsenal with” and then him proceeding to laugh hysterically for like two minutes while we all just sat there not knowing how to react. Certainly, one of the most hilarious yet uncomfortable two minutes of my life.



Other comments?

It was such an amazing experience! I would recommend Color My World to anyone looking for a great service summer trip!

The post Why I Volunteered With Color My World? – Kali’s Experience In India appeared first on Color My World.

How did you hear about our organization?

“I heard about Color My World from my cousin Bella in Vermont who went to Nicaragua the year before with Color My World.”

Why did you pick the trip/country that you went to?

“After hearing about Bella’s experience with Color My World I knew I wanted to go the following summer. The idea of helping others in another country and learning about their culture seemed exciting. I chose Peru because it provided the ability to work with children and teach them English. Machu Picchu was also a day trip and I have wanted to go there for many years. This provided me with the best of both worlds.Helping others while seeing a beautiful country.”

Did you come with a friend or your family?

“Yes, I came with my cousin. My cousin and I grew up 4 miles from each other and went to school together. Then my family moved away 5 years ago. This was an opportunity for Bella and I to hang out more and spend time together before she goes to college next year.”

What were some of your favorite activities/projects?

“My favorite activities were working with the kids because they always had this sense of joy to them and they made you feel like you were making a difference. I feel like I will always remember the kids and what they did for me even though we were there to help them. We had a party for them at the end which was a lot of fun for them and us. They were so happy to be a part of it.”

What lessons did you learn while volunteering?

“I learned that while you volunteer it’s not about you but the people around you but also that when you are helping them out they are also helping you out in unimaginable ways.”

What would you tell future volunteers?

“I would tell future volunteers to open themselves up to the kids and the culture because they are great loving people. Try new things and have fun!! I also want to say always prepare for the weather down there because it can change drastically.”

The post Why I Volunteered With Color My World? – Will’s Experience In Peru appeared first on Color My World.

How did you hear about Color My World?

I heard about Color My World from one of my good friends who was wanting to go on a humanitarian trip.

Why did you choose to go to Nicaragua? Did you come with a friend?

My friend and I decided to go to Nicaragua because it sounded amazing and the time frame that Color My World was there worked best with both our schedules. The second summer I choose Nicaragua again because I loved it so much the first time I wanted to go back. The second summer a bunch of my friends came and a couple of my cousins.

What were some of your favorite activities/ projects?

Some favorite projects were going to the local orphanage and playing soccer with the kids, hand mixing cement to lay a foundation on the house we were building, and going to the local dump to play with kids and make/ hand out lunch. Both years I made newborn kits to hand out to mothers, which was so fun and humbling.

What were some of the lessons you learned from volunteering in Nicaragua?

One of the biggest lessons I learned is how important it is to be grateful and more appreciative. These people that we went to another country to serve would always end up serving alongside us, helping however they could. This taught me that I should always strive to be helpful in any situation I can, especially when I’m not asked, because by helping others I will start to develop habits of selflessness which will make my life so much happier!

What would you tell future volunteers?

I would tell future volunteers that no matter where they go it is up to them to make the best of this amazing experience they are able to have. Things might not go as planned, different foods, and creepy bugs could gross you out, but look to all the positive things and focus on serving others and you will be able to have one of the most rewarding and life-changing experiences you could have!

Thank you Regan!

Want to share your story? Email us at hillary@colormyworldkids.org

The post Why I Volunteered With Color My World? #CMWvolunteer appeared first on Color My World.

Starting this Monday, March 12 and going until March 31, Amazon Smile is tripling their donation rate to 1.5% of your first purchase. 

This is huge for us. Color My World is working tirelessly to find the funds necessary to build two homes for impoverished families this summer. A simple purchase from Amazon during these dates is just a small way to help make that happen. Your purchase could help put a roof over someone else’s head.

Pretty amazing right? So what are you waiting for? Changing someone else’s life is just one click away if you follow this link.
Click Here

What if I have nothing to buy?
That’s a valid question. Why buy something when you don’t need it? Well, we have a couple of suggestions of things you could buy that would help yourself and still provide a donation to others.

Saint Patrick’s Day Items: Do you have all the decorations, clothes, or items you need to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day? If not, why not get them on Amazonsmile? You’d get what you need, and a percentage of your sales would help provide a home for those in need.

Food: Who doesn’t need food? Did you know Amazon has “Prime Pantry,” which allows you to shop for groceries online and have them delivered to your door? You have to buy groceries anyways, so why not let your purchase benefit others as well?
Gifts: Have you been looking for a gift for any of your loved ones recently? If so, why not try looking at Amazon. They have a huge selection of quality products and your gift would benefit your loved one and those you are going to serve this summer. It’s a win-win.

As you can see, there are many ways to use the generosity of Amazon to make a difference. So, visit Amazon Smile and triple your impact today!

The post Amazon Smiles- Ready to Triple Your Impact? appeared first on Color My World.

From the very first day of volunteering with Color My World, you will build relationships and bonds with the locals that you will work alongside. Often in broken conversations of part Spanish, part English, and a whole lot of gestures, you will learn of their lives. Without exception, every volunteer returns home from their trip committed to apply what they have learned from their friends in Nicaragua, to appreciate family more, to be grateful for everything they have, and to remember that happiness is not based upon possessions.

Kelli Ferre, a volunteer from our Nicaragua 2015 program shared her #Nicatakeaway on how spending a week with the people of Nicaragua changed her life, she said;

“Nicaragua is my favorite place in the world, and I am so grateful I got to serve there for a week last summer. It was so humbling for me to experience poverty first hand. What impressed me the most was how happy they were. They have almost nothing, but they were always smiling and so cheerful. This serves as a good reminder to me that I can be happy in any circumstance, and that we don’t need much to find joy. I love the people of Nicaragua, and I really hope to go back one day.”

We love every single one of our volunteers, because we get to be a part of their life changing experience. To see a volunteer arrive in Nicaragua at the beginning of the week, unaware of the what to expect, and return home with a piece of their heart left in Nicaragua is a humbling, special experience.

To return to the question of who gains most? It really is no question. We may supply the money and manpower to build a house, or to feed a community in poverty, but the people of Nicaragua, our friends, have the power to change who we are, and the direction that our lives are heading.

When volunteering, give your all, don’t hold anything back. Become a part of the community. By so doing, your life will be changed in ways that you never thought were possible.

The post Give of Yourself appeared first on Color My World.