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Third World Awareness
Third World Awareness started in 1989 when a Toronto Catholic School drama teacher named John Calaghan put out a notice asking if any students would be interested in traveling to Kingston Jamaica to work with the poor. Fifty-four students signed up and after that first year the trips became a regular pilgrimage during the school's March Break. John Calaghan retired in 1998 and thought that the following trip in 1999 would be his last. This would not turn out to be true as several former students who were now in University asked him to keep the trips going. The travel time was changed from March to May in order to accommodate the students' University schedule. They soon afterward established the group as an official Charity naming it Third World Awareness. One thing I like about the group is that although it started in a Catholic School, the trips adhere to a non-denominational, non-politically correct philosophy. No one with a true desire to serve is rejected. There have been non-Christian members and non-believers, such as myself, on the trips. It is through selfless service that you discover who you really are and what you truly believe. Upon arrival
everyone visits several sites such as hospitals, homes for the sick and
dying, schools etc. Each person decides where he or she wishes to work for
the duration of the trip. Each person is asked to make a commitment to
that place for the duration of the trip no matter how difficult it may
seem to go there. If it proves too much emotionally then their decision to
switch locations is respected. Each night there is a meeting where we
share stories and feelings about the day. You do not have to speak if you
do not want to and the discussions are not censored or moderated. It is a
chance to express unedited and fearless opinions about the experience
which are respected no matter how heated the Our group
strives to stay in solidarity with the poor. We do not travel by private
vehicle but instead use the local transportation system (if there is one)
or walk. In Haiti we traveled by 'Tap Tap' the local means of
transport which is essentially modified pick up trucks. The only times we
hire vehicles are when we are traveling as a whole group and traveling a
good distance. As a break we will travel to a local public beach (not
private) or a spot in the Mountains. In Haiti there is a beautiful home in
the mountains for mentally challenged kids who have been abandoned by
their families which is run by former street kids. It is called Wings of
Hope. With this solidarity comes an element of danger which must be
accepted. In Kingston Jamaica we worked in ghettos controlled by gangs. We
had their permission to be there and with that we had protection but
safety can never be guaranteed 100%. What we do guarantee is that every
reasonable precaution within our mandate is taken. Everyone agrees not to
travel alone or leave the residence after dark. In Haiti we hire local
guides to take us to the ghetto areas and they inform us of any potential
trouble. If an area is too 'hot' on a One thing has become clear over the last decade and this is the fact that these trips stay with you always. John has spoken to several former members who have told him that these trips changed their lives and/or remain vivid memories. Even those who only went on one trip. Some students have returned from the trips with the realization that they need to do more and either return on future trips or volunteer here in Canada at food banks or work with other charitable organizations or NGOs. Other changes are smaller but no less significant. I remember John telling me about one student who upon his return impressed his other teachers who commented to John that this student now looked them "dead in the eyes" when he talked to them. This hadn't been the case previously. Others have more dramatic experiences such as the young girl who returned to Canada and eventually broke up with her boyfriend, converted to Born Again Christianity and married a preacher with whom she now has a family. Another person is presently on her way to Ethiopia to work with the U.N. and the AIDS crisis. I went on my first trip in March 1996 and have been traveling with them since. I had met John a few years earlier and had taught as a guest artist in his drama program a few times. In 1995 I read some of the reflections written by his students which were on the wall of the classroom. I expressed interest in joining the trips and he invited me to join them on the next one. I have tried to travel with them each year and have managed to make all but a handful of trips. Third World Awareness is an exciting and challenging experience and I am eternally grateful to John Calaghan for opening up this world for me. From here you can visit the Third World Awareness site or read stories and reflections derived directly from the personal experiences of the people who have been on the trips. Third World Awareness official site.
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