Upon selecting the 2016 summer interns, the staff at BLUE thought it would be best to ask quirky yet meaningful questions that would allow the vibrant personalities of each of the interns to shine. Take a look at their responses!
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Upon selecting the 2016 summer interns, the staff at BLUE thought it would be best to ask quirky yet meaningful questions that would allow the vibrant personalities of each of the interns to shine. Take a look at their responses!
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Mountaineering the slippery highlands and precariously descending muddy slopes while carrying PVC pipes is no walk in the campo. Water-building is a laborious task – digging trenches, laying down pipes, mixing and lugging buckets of cement from eight in the morning until the afternoon can take a serious toll on ones energy and strength. Combined with the tropical climate and sometimes-unpredictable weather, (oh helloooo, random tropical storm – where did you come from?) it can be easy to lose the motivation, energy and positive attitude necessary to complete the task at hand.
Read MoreI was recently invited to attend the Salzburg Global Seminar organized by the Global Citizenship Alliance in Salzburg, Austria. While I was there, I had the honor of learning from highly respected experts in many fields. Speakers for the conference flew from Sweden, Canada, and Germany to be in attendance, and thanks to them, I truly grasp the phenomenon of globalization.
Read MoreThe proceeds raised from our annual BLUE Cocktail is the main source of funds for the construction of our water and sanitation projects. In 2016 we have taken on our most ambitious amount of projects yet. No less than 22 communities will be transformed by the effects of having water faucets and sanitary latrines in their homes. However, these projects cannot be undertaken without the support of our sponsors, trip participants, friends, and all of our extended BLUE family.
If that isn't reason enough for you, below are 7 reasons why you can't afford to do anything BUT come to the 2016 BLUE Cocktail.
Read MoreWould you pack your bags and go? Maybe… maybe not… Sometimes in life we need that little push from either someone or something. My push was my sister, Daniella. She wanted me to go back on another trip for quite some time, but I just never got around to it. I finally went back on a service trip after 4 years and re-experienced what I had forgotten and more.
Remember when life used to be easy? In elementary school, I would come home from a long day of learning and be excited to see what Mom made for dinner. I used to play baseball with my neighbors every day; we would treat every game as if it was bases loaded bottom of the ninth at the seventh game of the World Series.
Read MoreSpring break is a time for us to relax and release ourselves from the stress of our lives. For many people, that means a trip to the beach, a cruise, or curling up to a Netflix marathon. But for 15 Stetson students (and one awesome counselor), it meant jumping on a plane, grabbing a pick, and going to work.
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Some people cannot see a dog without feeling the overwhelming need to pet it. Personally, I don't really care for dogs. My weakness is adorable old ladies. Not that I need to pet them, they just melt my heart the way a puppy would for most normal people.
Read MoreEveryone who’s been on a BLUE Missions trip has gotten to bond (and fall in love) with our Dominican boys: Lingo, Moreno, Edwandi, and Tato.
But how well do you actually know them? Take the quiz to find out!
Read MoreWe don't just build water and sanitation systems, we plant seeds of empowerment in communities so that they may build a better quality of life for themselves.
Read MoreLike all newly emerging mosquito-related illnesses, the Zika virus has been the cause of concern for everyone traveling to the affected areas in South America and the Caribbean. With the safety of trip participants in mind, we sat down with Dr. Mavunda, head doctor at the International Travel Clinic, to learn more about the Zika virus.
Read MoreMy favorite quote comes to mind almost immediately when I think back to the kind faces and humble community of El Piché and how they've impacted my life. From our first morning of work, I understood why the campo is such an impactful place of peace where everything is inspiring: the nature that surrounded me, the culture I was exposed to, and the wholly happy people I encountered gave me a different perspective on life. I realized that being submersed in a place where love was made visible through ordinary acts of work developed a sense of purpose in me. So much of what I took away from BLUE Missions has to do with what I witnessed in the passionate volunteers, leaders, and community members. I learned that building love and uniting everyone is a goal that can be achieved through small acts of service and human connectedness. I learned that I can convey BLUE's message without having to use words if I'd be so bold. Special moments in particular taught me the most effective and powerful deeds often come in the form of silent, selfless acts of kindness.
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