What is UNION? HOPE International's overseas volunteer program is called UNION, an acronym for the program's main goal: Understanding Needs In Other Nations. HOPE International takes groups of kiwis who have a heart and desire to serve people to a developing country. Here UNION participants share in the lives and work of people living in impoverished communities, coming to understand their struggles and hopes.
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UNION participants begin by completing a self-study curriculum which explores the causes of hunger and poverty, the need for community development, how to cross cultural boundaries and the appropriate language study. These studies help prepare participants for their overseas experience. Then, participants travel in teams to a developing country where they become a part of life in a small rural village - working alongside people who struggle just to survive. |
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UNION is a unique opportunity to see, to listen, and to live with people in the developing world, and to learn about the issues they face. UNION participants invest not only in the lives of people overseas, but also in themselves. Practical work or overseas experience is not necessary - a heart to serve and encourage people is!
What would I do?
Every team participates in a work project that is being implemented by HOPE International and one of its partner organizations. Community projects are organized locally, and participants will be working alongsde community members. Depending on the country visited, UNION participants will work on anything from building schools, clinics or water systems, to help reforest barren hillsides.
More Information
To find out more about UNION, email info@hopenz.org.nz
We will be happy to send you more information, and to talk to you personally to answer any questions and tell you more about this exciting, life-changing program. If you decide the UNION program is for you, then we will send you an application form. It's that easy!
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