This is definitely not your first rodeo in terms of
giving back to the world - but what attracted you
most about this particular project?
So many things!!! If someone were to ask me to dream up
my ideal organization, this would be it. I love, first and
foremost, that it is an organization that creates the
opportunity for education. Education is one of the most
important investments a country can make in its people and
its future and is critical to reducing poverty and inequality. I
also love the way the organization involves the community
to stay involved long after the volunteers have left. And, of
course, I absolutely love that the volunteers get to stay with
host families and completely submerge themselves into the
journey.
How did you find and get connected with the team?
Jessica Kemejuk
I first heard about Build On through a friend , Erin Cahill,
who went on a trip to Malawi in 2015. I fell in love with
what she did, but knew that to go, you have to organize a
team and raise funds, so I wasn’t able to go immediately. A
few months later, one of my closest friends, Stacey Storey,
told me about the opportunity to join Team Nepal. I jumped
on board immediately!
As this will be your first time in Nepal - what are
you looking forward to most about this journey?
What special thing about you do you bring to the
team’s mix?
I’ve always, always wanted to go to Nepal, and have always
had a tender relationship with its culture, its people, and its
land. I could not possibly think of a better way to meet this
Our team is a mix of talented super-humans, I can’t say that I
offer anything that stands apart from the rest of our team..so I
will just be fully devoted to giving all of myself! I love working
country, or any country , for that matter. I am most excited
about spending time with the PEOPLE!!
hard, and completely immersing myself in my surroundings
and the people I’m with, so I intend to do exactly that..and I
What is it about giving back to the greater
community that is so important?
would bet some special moments will come from that!!
I think, through this type of connection, you learn so much
BuildOn has programs locally and Internationally when this project is completed do you feel you’d do
a local project?
about what it means to be human, to be part of the
community of all people. Through these acts, you are
transformed, so through that shift within yourself, you shift
100 percent!!
the world, bit by bit. To put yourself aside, with the
intention to put others first, really just opens your heart in a
How do you think this journey of giving will
challenge you on a personal level?
way that is the biggest reward you can give yourself. It’s the
most beautiful return-system in this world. When we work
I actually can’t say I have a concrete answer for this, I’m
looking forward to being completely surprised by what
together collectively, we remember that we’re all in this
together. I believe this is so much of where true healing
comes from .
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challenges me. I know it will stretch and open me in every
capacity, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
THE CONE - ISSUE #8 - WINTER 2016