Just like You... Just like Me! By JAMES LI
I've seen and heard a lot about the poor people of this world through television and the media generally. I've also read and listened to presentations through work about the experience of people who have gone overseas to work for the UN or the Asian Development Bank, about spending money and assisting the locals in building homes and establishing other basic infrastructure and services.
So when I first heard about a chance to build homes for the poor in the Philippines, I thought here's my chance to make a difference. I was so busy leading up to the GAT and that part of my motivation is for a 'working holiday' if you can call it that, I still didn't really know much about GK or the trip before I hopped on the plane.
What a surprise the trip was!!! Not only was the physical building of the homes an experience in itself, the fact that we got to spend time with the villagers, visit schools, take the kids to the zoo and I guess generally 'participating' in the lives of the local people for a week really brings everything about poverty and the wider world into perspective - we were more than just visiting the Philippines and lending a hand for the poor, we were 'living' our experiences.
As a non-Filipino, I can still appreciate that none of this can really happen unless everyone is passionate and believe in it. The enthusiasm, pride and willingness of others to go and make a difference certainly helped reinforce my motivation in helping out through the GKY GAT.
All I can really say was that it was a life defining experience, one that I will always happily ramble on about and certainly never forget. It really places our lives into the context of the wider world and demonstrates how much more there is for us to do, to remember, to think about in our daily lives as well as the importance for us not to take what we have for granted.
Lastly, just want to thank all the GKY GATers this year for making this such a wonderful journey - my feelings, insights and experience of the trip wouldn't have been as rewarding as it was without your friendship and support - so thankyou!
As a non-Filipino, I can still appreciate that none of this can really happen unless everyone is passionate and believe in it. The enthusiasm, pride and willingness of others to go and make a difference certainly helped reinforce my motivation in helping out through the GKY GAT.
