The League Pulse Archives
The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri: women building better communities.
Volunteering Abroad, Part One.
Today is our first post in a two-part series from Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri member Stephanie Sheldon. Her placement during 2013-2014, serving on the Habitat for Humanity Truman Heritage committee, inspired her to pursue hands-on voluntarism in a new way. In her first post, read on to find out about how Stephanie ended up headed to a far corner of Ghana to continue the service she started in the Kansas City community. The materials that they used to build may have been different, but her post highlights how communities and volunteers work together to make a difference.
And, this is also special because Stephanie is the first recipient of a new recognition award called Mission Moment this year. Stephanie was the first Mission Moment that we recognized this year! Mission Moment provides any Member with an opportunity to highlight committees, councils or groups who through a League project or initiative embodied the spirit of the main components of our mission: PDI (promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities). The link to the nomination form can be found on all Members home page next to the GEM award nominations.
Volunteering abroad is about finding a special corner of the world different than your own. It’s about building relationships with people who look at life through a different lens. But, most importantly, it’s about inspiring positive change in communities around the globe… and subsequently, yourself.
On April 28, 2014 I took my love for social good to Asempaye, a small village in rural Ghana where I volunteered doing construction with One Wish Africa, a soon to be women’s empowerment center. The next three weeks were full of mixing cement, painting, playing with children and soaking up the Ghanaian culture.
I’m grateful for the trainings and volunteer opportunities the Junior League has offered me. From building houses with Habitat for Humanity Truman Heritage to trainings on leadership, the Junior League prepared me for taking my passion of volunteerism to an international level.
The League Pulse Archives 
Pingback: Volunteering Abroad, Part Two. | The League Pulse