We've had so much good news this month, we couldn't possibly fit it all into one newsletter. So we bring you the first installment packed with exciting information about our summer volunteer programs in Tanzania, Montana and Poland. We're registering participants NOW! We also have an article about Earth Day, an event that is critical to our global mission. We hope you will join us on an upcoming program. Check back in a few days for an important announcement regarding a new academic partnership!

Sincerely, Alyson Walls, Public Relations Coordinator

Earth Day educates people about the importance of a clean environment and mobilizes them for action on community, national and international levels. A single day's events often launch on-going projects that bring lasting benefits and help to strengthen neighborhoods.

This weekend, as community groups and organizations are planning activities including litter pick- ups, planting trees or removing graffiti, take a moment to consider some things you can do at home, school or where you work to help the environment.

Check with your local civic organizations or government to see what events are planned and participate. Organize a neighborhood cleanup project. Start recycling in your office lunchroom. Plant a tree or shrub. Take a walk around your local park to better appreciate all that nature has to offer. Remember, even small projects can make a big difference.

Read more about how you can support Earth Day efforts »

Explore and Preserve Backcountry Cabins in Beartooth Wilderness

Backcountry projects this summer include repairs to a pasture fence at Hellroaring Cabin, a Forest Service guard station, and roof replacement at Slough Creek Cabin. These historic log cabins were built in 1913 and 1923 respectively, in pristine forest known as the Absaroaka Beartooth Wilderness. During construction projects, volunteers will use many of the same techniques used by workers during original construction. Motorized equipment is not allowed in the backcountry.

The Hellroaring project begins the morning of Sunday, June 5, and ends the evening of Saturday June 11. The Slough Creek project begins the morning of Sunday, Oct. 2, and ends the evening of Saturday, Oct. 8. Horses and mules will be used to pack-in personal items and food, and volunteers will backpack 12 miles through Yellowstone National Park to the cabin sites. Working days will consist of replacing the old pasture fence at Hellroaring, removing old shingles and replacing the roof at Slough Creek, as well as miscellaneous repair jobs at both sites.

For diehard backpackers who want to experience the best of the wild west, those who want to study historic preservation techniques, or others who would simply like to share some construction knowledge and labor in the great outdoors, these are truly the projects for you.

Download program applications »

Let the Rich Culture of Tanzania Fascinate You

Amizade volunteers are often invited to events such as church meetings, sporting events, classrooms and other celebrations. In the past, volunteers have visited a rural community at the Rwandan border to shop at the open-air markets. Many have been delighted to order clothing in traditional African patterns and styles. This year's trip also includes a once-in- a-life-time opportunity to experience a safari in the Serengeti.

But with the beauty and uniqueness of this land, also comes a complex history of colonization and extreme poverty. Residents are limited in their ability to develop the economy due to a lack of paved roads and other infrastructure. The standard of living for a typical Tanzanian is much lower compared to developed countries around the world. Without sufficient support from the government, schools, hospitals and other facilities are under-staffed and in desperate need of repairs and renovation.

Since 2003, Amizade has partnered with the Nyakahanga Hospital and the Lutheran Church in Tanzania to construct an orphanage for street children and children suffering from AIDS in the region. The vision for this orphanage is to provide a safe center where children can stay while waiting placement in foster care, as well as education and training. Amizade also partners with other community- based organizations in Tanzania, including the Family Alliance for Development & Cooperation (FADECO) which focuses on economic sustainability and fair trade, and the Women Emancipation & Development Agency (WOMEDA) which is working to increase economic and human rights through legal procedures and training programs.

Download program applications »

Individual Volunteers: Learn More About the Holocaust in Poland

The opportunity to honor and serve the last remaining Holocaust survivors before they pass into history is rare and incomparable, said Amizade Executive Director Michael Sandy. Survivors, their descendents and the surrounding community are committed to preserving the camps and increasing awareness of the atrocities. Amizade volunteers work on maintenance of the grounds of the Auschwitz Museum and participate in historical preservation activities such as documentation and archiving projects.

Volunteers also take tours of the Museums of Auschwitz, Birkenau and Stamleger, visit the picturesque towns of Krakow, Oswiecim and Czestochowa, take a sightseeing trip to Wieliczka Salt Mines, and even spend an afternoon visiting an art-exhibition in the monastery of Harmeze, which was installed by a Holocaust survivor.

Christopher Kopper, Amizade's site coordinator in Poland, said the purpose of the program is to help individuals gain a more personal understanding of the Holocaust.

Download program applications »