We offer a 9–52-week community placement. It is an intense, immersive program for interns and young professionals looking to gain international experience. The program commonly acts as a catalyst for building a career in development, strengthening applications for graduate programs, or cultivating relationships with global communities and organizations.
Your willingness to volunteer has an incredible impact on young people in out-of-school settings and plays a significant role in Out-School programs’ success. With the influx of many young people, the outreach size varies from 20-30 participants. The average School youth is highly motivated and eager to succeed in his/her life. Far different from most class settings, these young people are there because they desperately want to learn. Formal presentations or conversational-style discussions are the norms. They represent the essence of entrepreneurship: dedicated, curious, hard-working, and incredibly optimistic. These youths have already written their business plans while looking to build on their current projects and concepts, as they learn from the executive lecturers. Others are not planning to start their businesses but are looking to acquire general business knowledge which they can use to advance their careers. Additionally, outreach provides them with continued networking and fellowship opportunities with their PEP brothers.
Before outreach starts, the young people will gather for an informal dinner, and you are welcome to join us then. Outreach begins with a prayer followed by an instructor’s introduction and a topic by the outreach facilitator. If you love to teach but want some ideas about your presentation, we have a syllabus of your review topics. These topics are complete with a teaching guide, lesson plan, and suggestions for your presentation.
We schedule our instructors for both locations at the start of each quarter so that our volunteers will have time to plan and prepare their presentations.
Volunteers will meet with their assigned community as often as they want. This is usually a weekly meeting—particularly in the first few months after the volunteer arrival host community.
We carry out corporate social responsibility for companies to improve public utilities for local communities. These include tap repairs, real ball contraction, school renovations, playgrounds, community halls, water catchments, toilets contraction, renovation and improvement of hospitals, community libraries, etc.
We assist actions related to sustainable agricultural practices: green economy (agriculture), forest governance and all its resources, ecotourism, Environmental Education, and sustainable development goals. We want to enhance practical and relevant knowledge, build capacity, and transfer technical know-how on green economy project planning and policymaking in response to climate change and persistent poverty in Mountain countries. Mountain countries, with their rich water, biodiversity, including agro-biodiversity, and traditional knowledge, are primarily following a low carbon growth path in their development policies and programs. However, the persistent poverty, social and gender inequity, and increasing disaster risks call for renewed actions for building resilience in all sectors and redrawing sustainable development roadmaps.
PEP Africa works with communities to learn from existing and traditional knowledge systems, experiences, and good practices to facilitate local, national, and regional actions to promote a green/low carbon economy and adaptive growth strategies and policies.
The proposed action research and knowledge-sharing commitment have regional and global significance for mountainous countries and regions. It aims to fill in the critical knowledge gaps and facilitate actions in raising awareness, forging a multi-dimensional partnership, building capacities of key institutions of regional and global mountain regions, with a particular focus on CONGO BASIN countries for designing appropriate policy and institutional mechanisms in adaptation to climate change and promotion of green economy and alleviating poverty.
Ask any health expert, and they will tell you that exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting enough physical activity could prevent one in 10 premature deaths. It can also reduce stress levels, improve sleep, and leave us feeling happy. But when it comes to being more active, many of us do not know where to start. While some people love lifting weights at the gym and training to run marathons, these strenuous activities are not for everyone. Just spending time outdoors has been shown to improve overall health.
Below are examples of leisure activities and fun things to do outside in PEP Africa that inspire the young to be more actively engaged in our programs. These recreational activities do not require you to purchase or rent equipment or pay fees.
Hiking: A hiking trip does not have to involve a 10-mile trek up a steep mountain. The United States features thousands of acres of parkland traversed by paths that cater to all difficulty levels. To find hiking trails near you, try AllTrails.com, where you can search for courses based on Location, difficulty level, and length.
Yoga: If you think you will not break a sweat practicing yoga, think again. This practice is ideal if you are looking to increase your flexibility, relieve soreness and improve your mood. The best part: You do not need to join an expensive yoga studio to practice. You can find instructional videos for all skill levels for free on YouTube.
Swimming: Whether you have access to a swimming pool or live near a lake, swimming is a great way to stay fit (and stay cool). Swimming elevates your heart rate and helps tone your muscles the same way running does, but without the stress on your joints. If you do not feel comfortable swimming laps, you can also try water aerobics or simply treading water.
Frisbee: Yes, you will need to purchase a Frisbee if you do not already have one. But after that initial expense, you will have a wide variety of recreational activities to choose from. Play a simple game of catch with someone else or get a group together for a raucous game of Disc Golf or Ultimate Frisbee.
Gardening: ‘Studies show that gardening can significantly reduce stress levels. What is more, you can save money at the grocery store by growing your herbs and vegetables. If you do not have your own space for gardening at home, see if your hometown has a community garden. You can also spruce up a small room with window flower boxes.
These recreational activities require special equipment, or you may need to pay a fee or purchase a ticket.
Skiing and Snowboarding: When the weather turns cold, take to the slopes. Both activities provide the opportunity to raise your heart rate and exercise your muscles while giving a fantastic adrenaline rush. Find the right ski resort for you on our list of the best ski resorts in the USA. If you do not have your equipment, you can rent skis and snowboards on-site.
Camping: A change of scenery can be the best way to clear your head and unwind. Combine the benefits of a getaway with those of recreational activity by going camping. You will need to invest in some gear, like a tent, sleeping bags, and outdoor cookware. But these initial purchases will lend themselves to years of budget-friendly vacations.
Boating: Whether you prefer to sail on a tranquil lake, canoe down a peaceful river, or kayak on rolling ocean waves, boating can quickly become a lifelong passion. While frequent participation in other recreational activities on this list may require you to purchase your gear for comfort, you can soon become a regular boater by renting canoes, kayaks, and sailboats.
To try these activities, you should enlist the help of a professional guide or take lessons.
Horseback Riding: When it comes to more adventurous leisure activities, horseback riding is on the laid-back end. But you still should not hop in the saddle without first consulting an experienced rider. If you have never ridden before, sign up for a guided trail ride. Even if you have experience, you will benefit from talking with a professional about the specific horse’s traits.
Caving: If you are interested in geology, caving (also known as spelunking) may be the ideal recreational activity for you. But do not even think about heading below the ground by yourself. Join an experienced spelunker for your first few outings. Not only will this help you avoid getting lost or injured, but you will learn more quickly about the activity.