Hi again! This is my second blog post about my experiences within the Global Service-learning program. First, I wanted to introduce the organization my team and I are partnered with, Nature Seekers of Matura, Trinidad. Nature Seekers is a non profit organization with two primarily goals: environmental conservation and community development. The organization began in 1990 to combat high levels of sea turtle poaching on the crucial nesting beach of Matura. The organization spent the next decade devoted to this mission, eventually eradicating turtle poaching in the area, and shifting the community interest towards environmental conservation. Since succeeding within their primary goal Nature Seekers has expanded their mission, primarily within the scope of community development. They have led various economic rebuilding initiatives in the area to increase the quality of life in their rural community. This is the core issue and goal my group’s is tackling. Our project is to create a multi-day training program for members of the Matura community, teaching skills within grant writing and project management. This training is intended to instill the knowledge and skills needed for Matura to: thoughtfully create and effectively manage projects that will better the community, and secure grants to fund these projects. This project and Nature Seekers as a whole contribute to the sustained livelihood of this rural community. It is commonplace in areas of Trinidad or other rural communities for brain drain to occur. This refers to the outbound flow of youth from a community due to lack of economic opportunities, eventually resulting in the effective death of the community. Prevention of this fate is one of the goals of Nature Seeker and the importance of their role within Matura. Throughout the course of working on this project, my group and I have had sustained virtual contact with many members of Nature seekers. Their warmth, passion, and vibrance has shown through the virtual landscape. Through working with them, you get a taste for Trini culture as well as their commitment towards their mission. They seem incredibly excited to share their culture and invite my group and I as guest of their country. Their love for their

Now comes the next step in our program: traveling to the site. I sit in the airport as I write this post, reflecting on the experience up to this point and thinking about what my team and I hope to accomplish during our time in country. One component that has presented itself to us is that we want to use our time to better understand both Nature Seekers and the Matura Community, on a personal level. This personal relationship and intimate connection gained from staying with them for 7 days will allow us to craft and tailor our project with a unique and personal perspective. We have the opportunity to meet and interact with both those administering and receiving the training of our project. This time will shift our relationship from a more ‘business-client’ connection to a solidified and personal partnership. Additionally, and not to be overlooked, our group hopes to make the most of this experience and have fun. We want to connect with everyone we meet and intimately experience everything Trinidad has to offer. We’ve heard a lot about their food, music, and dance and can’t wait to try everything. Our schedule includes things like Trinidadian dance lessons and hopefully this allows us to get a personal and non-tourist experience of the culture. I’m most excited for the nature hiking that we will undertake during our time in Matura. Trinidad is known for their relaxed and fun culture, and we hope to embrace this aspect fully. This “Trini-time” as its known may prove to cause some complications as we try to take this in person opportunity to real time feedback on our project; however we will be sure to be mindful of this cultural norm while still prioritizing the project and finding time for it amidst a busy schedule. Hopefully some of that Caribbean mindset will rub off on us.

During this time in country, it’ll it more critical than ever to prioritize and rely on my group. This experience can and most likely will stray off the set plan and if and when this happens it’ll be the teamwork and group cohesive that will maintain and right the ship. Before departure we wrote a list of group agreements for our time in country. We wanted to put words to our feelings, enshrining values like dependability and openness during our trip. These values directly align with a reading we analyzed during the course “Principles of Effective Project Team Management” by Tricia Goss. The author outlined what characteristics are necessary among team members to ensure an effective team. One section stuck out to me and reassured me that our project will succeed: team members “are committed”. I’ve seen the commitment in our group throughout the project as each of us is committed towards and deeply cares about the success of their project, I believe our time in country will only strengthen that commitment. Furthermore, the author emphasized the importance of team members being “supportive of one another”. This trait will shine through during our time in country, presenting itself in small but crucial ways, even in something simple like lending a groupmate toothpaste because they forgot. The committed and supportive nature of our group assures me that we will make the most of this experience and that it will be something to remember for a lifetime.

I’m writing this final section with around 10 minutes until boarding begins. I am conscious of the fact that this will be my first time traveling abroad and I can feel my nerves rising as the flight gets closer. I sit here with my foot bouncing imagining stepping off in a new country, with new people and a new culture and could not be more excited. I feel like I’m ready but I don’t think anyone is ever ready their first time doing something. Hopefully I didn’t forget anything. Until next time!