In this Issue
Help reverse poverty, isolationism for Native Americans
Oh, Navajo Wind, blow softly upon this desert rose.
Embrace her always with your warm gentle breezes.
Fill her heart with pride and happiness.
From a proud and noble people she does come.
These words from a traditional Navajo prayer express
both the history and hope of Native Americans living on
the largest reservation in the United States. Remote
and isolated, the Navajo Nation is located on
approximately 25,000 square miles in the "Four Corners"
region of the western United States. Though some
progress has been made, access to adequate
healthcare and education is limited, government
relations remain strained and much of the Native
American population is unemployed. Fifty-
six percent of residents lived below the poverty level in
1997, and the per capita income was reported to be
about $5,599.
Amizade volunteers are helping to reverse these
figures, and we invite you to consider
volunteering on one of our upcoming programs in Tuba
City, Arizona. The service projects feature one-on-one
tutoring opportunities with children at the Tuba City
Boarding School, trips to Monument Valley, ancient
Pueblo ruins and the Grand Canyon, along with unique
cultural learning experiences. Slots are still available for
the April 17-23 and April 24-30 trips, as well as others
scheduled in September, October and November.
Executive Director Michael Sandy, who is leading
several programs at the Navajo this month, said
Amizade is looking to expand and develop new
partnerships which continue helping children and adults
living on the reservation and providing new
insight for volunteers. "It's the combination of culture,
education and recreational activities which make this
program one of our most successful," he said.
Learn more about the Navajo Nation
Quick Links
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Greetings!
From the Navajo, we learn to walk in beauty and seek
harmony within the world. This month,
numerous college students are volunteering with
Amizade on Alternative Spring Break programs and
service learning courses on three continents, sharing
the gift of service with others. Amizade's March
newsletter focuses on two programs that emphasize
some of our most valuable assets - children in the
Navajo Nation, and the environment in Montana. We
invite you to learn more about opportunities to "walk in
beauty" whether it's in your own community or in
another.
Sincerely,
Michael Sandy, Executive Director
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Volunteers discover "beauty" of Navajo People
Central to Navajo culture is the concept of "hozho."
This single word has a complex meaning, but primarily
conveys ideas about beauty, goodness,
happiness and harmony. Last month, a group of six
volunteers spent a week living in "hozho" among the
red rocks and high desert plateaus at the Navajo
Nation in Tuba City, Arizona.
Amizade volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 68,
provided 180 hours of tutoring at the Tuba City
Boarding School for kindergarten, first and fourth grade
Navajo children. Volunteers also learned much about
the Navajo way of life.
Interaction with children and staff at the school are
the most important aspects of the program. "It's a
great opportunity to work directly with the school in
helping teachers and students meet
classroom goals," Michael Sandy said. "Volunteers have
the chance to work one-on-one with students, keep
them from falling behind in their studies and make a
huge difference in their lives."
Previous volunteers -- including a retired nurse,
Harvard student and Wall Street sales associate --
heard from speakers about the Navajo Clan System,
growing up on the reservation, traditional "Creation"
stories and other facets of Navajo literature and
culture.
Participants rated the Navajo program as an excellent
experience for tutoring, cultural education, meeting
local people and program staff. "The program was
wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it," wrote Kathleen
Franke. "The length of work days and the balance of
activities was just right." Kathleen and her husband
John Franke, residents of the greater Washington, D.C.
area, are Amizade alumni from volunteer programs in
Australia and Montana.
Learn more about Navajo Culture »
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Camp, hike and help preserve "Big Sky Country"
Montana. The word alone conjures images of snow-
capped mountains, endless blue skies and wide open
spaces. If you're looking for a little peace and quiet this
summer, why not consider a volunteer vacation with
Amizade in the Greater Yellowstone Backcountry?
Amizade, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service,
is offering programs in May, June, July, August and
October restoring
cabins, horse stables, bunkhouses and public
campgrounds in western Montana. The cost of a week-
long program is $530 and includes meals, lodging and
recreational activities.
Leave behind the traffic, noise and bustle of the big
city, and adjust your karma in "Big Sky Country." Visit
Mammoth Hot Springs and watch wildlife in Yellowstone
National Park, hike and help preserve the historic OTO
Dude Ranch, climb Randall Butte and spend relaxing
evenings around the campfire or on the sprawling OTO
lodge porch. In addition to some of the best outdoor
hiking and camping opportunities in the northwestern
United States, the OTO and surrounding lands hold
significant historic, environmental and architectural
importance. The Forestry Service, aided by numerous
volunteers, is working to rebuild cabins and remove
debris such as barbed wire and old farm implements
that are a danger to elk, grizzly bear and other wildlife
in the area.
You can be part of these important preservation
projects while experiencing the riches this land has to
offer. As an Amizade volunteer, you will freely roam
through parts of the region often overlooked by the
majority of visitors. Dale and Teresa Eckerson,
volunteers in July 2004, said they enjoyed educational
presentations about the area and the unhurried pace of
the program. "Everyone was welcoming, friendly,
patient and helpful," Teresa said. "I love how we were
allowed to figure out how to do the work on our own."
Montanans pride themselves on their strong spirit of
community, close contact with the environment,
and fundamental "sense of place." We invite you
to share these values by volunteering.
Learn more about Montana »
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Volunteer update
Our volunteers continue to make extraordinary progress
sharing their time and talents around the world.
For the month of March, there are 82 volunteers from
North Carolina State University, the University of
Pittsburgh, Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara
University, Wilkes University and Dartmouth serving on
programs in four countries - the United States (Navajo
Nation and Washington D.C.), Germany, Poland and
Mexico. Long-term volunteer continue to serve in
Bolivia.
Many of these students are participating in "Alternative
Spring Break" or service-learning programs at their
individual colleges and universities. We extend our
gratitude for their service and wishes for successful
experiences, life-long learning and productive
partnerships.
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