After 11 years and over 1,000 volunteers reaching dozens of communities, HELP International is continuing to expand and will send teams of volunteers to Belize, India, and Thailand starting summer 2010. The new countries were chosen from a long list of potential expansion countries based on need for HELP International programs and interest of potential volunteers.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to send our participants to fight poverty in these countries,” said Mike Riding, executive director of HELP International.  “They are beautiful countries with rich cultures, but many are deep in poverty.”

In 2009, teams of HELP International participants paid their own way to Uganda, El Salvador, Guatemala and Fiji.  Due to increasing safety concerns, HELP International will close its 2010 Guatemala program and focus on the six other countries.

"While there is still a great need for programs like ours in Guatemala, the safety of our volunteers remains the most important consideration when deciding on countries for our summer programs," said Matthew Colling, program director at HELP International.

Similar to HELP International's other programs, participants in India, Thailand, and Belize will spend six weeks to three months in country, working on sustainable development projects with local organizations.  Past projects in other countries have included building energy-efficient adobe stoves, teaching basic health classes and forming gang prevention programs.  Many of the same projects will be used in the new countries.

“Volunteers get the opportunity to see what the country is really like and work directly with the people to improve their communities,” said Aly Archer, who will volunteer with the HELP International team in India.

Archer volunteered with HELP International in Uganda in summer 2009.  She said she is grateful for the opportunity to fully immerse herself in a new culture and to give back.

“It was amazing to meet and work with such humble people,” she said.  “I can’t wait for a similar experience in India.”

Photo courtesy of Flickr User Meanest Indian from CreativeCommons.org.