Cultural Immersion & Community Service in Southeast Asia

Why did you decide to volunteer with OG in SEA?

Sidney: After visiting Thailand for the first time in 2010, I knew I had to return to this fascinating part of the world to discover much, much more. But I wanted to discover it in a way that took me beyond the backpacker trail – beyond the sightseeing, cheap beer, and crowded beaches. Upon learning about Operation Groundswell and their program in Thailand and Cambodia I knew immediately that this would be a great opportunity to really immerse myself culturally while also contributing towards positive change being generated by OG’s partners in the region.

I was attracted to the possibility of engaging with amazing organisations like Tiny Toones, Cambodia’s first hip-hop/breakdancing drop in-centre for at-youth risk, and SCAO, an education centre for impoverished children in Phnom Penh. I was also really drawn to some of the planned non-conventional activities, such as talking to monks in Chiang Mai and a scavenger hunt in Bangkok. In short, I decided to go Southeast Asia with OG because they combine ethical travel, immersive cultural experiences, and meaningful volunteer placements all within one reasonably affordable program.

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Sidney: That’s a tough question because the Southeast Asia trips pack a lot into only six weeks, so the day to day was characterised by a lot of variation in setting (Bangkok to Chiang Mai and into Cambodia all within 2 weeks for example). Generally, most activities and excursions were done as a group, meals were shared, and the trip leaders organised daily itineraries (with room for independent time as well). The main volunteer project, a leadership retreat with Tiny Toones in southern Cambodia, lasted about a week and the day to day was as follows. Every day we would get up and meet for breakfast at a designated time – there were about 40 of us in total (12 from the OG group and the rest from Tiny Toones).

We’d spend the morning doing communal activities (name games, team-building exercises, etc.), have lunch as a group again, and then kick off the afternoon. One day we had a pretty intense hike (with 40 people mind you!), on another we had heartfelt discussions on leadership and solidarity, and on another we built sand castle replicas of Angkor Wat and swam in the ocean. In the evenings, after communal dinner, was generally downtime when we all relaxed and got prepared for the next day. Throughout the retreat there were frequent spontaneous outbursts of breakdancing and Cambodian rapping!

What made this experience unique and special?

Sidney: For me, the most unique aspect of the OG’s Southeast Asia trip was the work we did with Tiny Toones. The chance to befriend such inspiring people and to collaborate with them on a leadership retreat which helped strengthen their community was an invaluable experience. On a more general level, what made my experience with OG so special was the combination of education, exploration and partnerships. It is very rare to find an organisation that can combine travel and volunteering effectively, but based on my experience in Southeast Asia I can say that OG does a very good job at it.

OG’s focus on conscientious and self-reflective travel added another dimension of uniqueness – activities and discussions aimed at revealing the impacts of travel, development, and volunteering were sobering and educational. Travelling as a close-knit group and forming great friendships also can’t be overstated! Lastly, OG’s staple “Independent Travel Time” (ITT), provided a great opportunity to explore my own specific interests in the region, which for me was checking out some archaeological sites in Thailand.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Sidney: My experience with OG has had a pretty drastic impact on my future – so much, in fact, that it drove me to become a trip leader for the Southeast Asia programs this summer! I am now involved in cultivating new partnerships in the region and am constantly working with my co-trip leader Amanda to refine these trips. I have developed a particular interest for sustainable and community-based tourism, something I began thinking about during my experience as a participant on the OG trip.

Above all else, the trip has taught me that our actions as travellers have direct consequences – if we choose to be conscientious and engaged then we can contribute towards positive change in the regions that host us. I am now committed to the OG style of travel in Southeast Asia and don’t think I’ll be stopping anytime soon.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is from my time with OG in Southeast Asia (and no, I wasn't coerced to say that!). After meeting with an amazing organization called Tiny Toones based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, my group and I joined some of their staff to explore a night market along the river. Everything was lit up beautifully, and we ordered pizza delivery - to the cobblestone path we were all sprawled on next to the water. We had an incredible time getting to know the members of Tiny Toons and eating delicious pizza, and then all hopped on the back of motos and into tuk-tuks to spend the night dancing at one of their favorite clubs! It was one of those nights where everything aligns like magic, and you get to make new memories with great people.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I feel as though I've gained a new level of appreciation for the work that Operation Groundswell does, and the partners we have, now that I'm able to see the full scale of it. I've learned a lot about a wide variety of issues and topics in countries all around the world that I otherwise may not have been aware of - everything from political strife and environmental concerns, to human rights and traditional practices. This has also been helped by getting to know all of our program leaders, partners, and participants from all around the world.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

If I were to go on another program, I think I would choose our Peru: Mind and Body program! Peru is a beautiful country, and I've never visited South America. The program leaders have run the program a number of times, and know the region and partners inside and out! They're also amazing people and would be a lot of fun to spend over a month with. The program explores a lot of interesting topics and regions, and has some pretty incredible hikes, yoga, food, and partner work. Plus, since I've been working here, sand boarding has shot to the top of my bucket list...

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I think what makes Operation Groundswell unique is their commitment to ethical and sustainable travel. Anytime we're looking to implement changes, or add new programs, the top priority is making sure that what we're doing aligns with our values, and is still serving our participants and partners. I'm very proud of the work we do, and think it makes a big difference not only internationally, but in the lives of the participants - I know my program had a huge impact on my life, and I even made some friends who I remain very close with years later!

Related to this, I remember being especially proud of our team during a meeting session looking at the organization's future and objectives - there were a lot of different thoughts and opinions flying around, but everyone's priorities were very much in line with our Backpacktivist Manifesto. It's awesome to see everyone practice what they preach!