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In Mexico, Nadia discovers her passion. You can, too!




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Setting New Year’s Goals for Ourselves and Our World


Overcoming challenges on the Arizona/Mexico International Volunteer and Leadership Trip in 2006.

As we begin the new year, many of us promise ourselves that we will start making positive changes in our lives. This year, when setting these new goals, we challenge you to explore ways you can not only change your own life, but can also help create positive change in the lives of others around the world.

Nadia, a university student who took part in our Arizona/Mexico International Volunteer and Leadership Trip in 2006, is doing just that. She began the new year with a newfound passion to create positive change. In one of her e-mails to us, she explained:

“Without it sounding cheesy...I kind of feel like the whole desire I had to help people isn't at the back of my mind anymore...I'm actually doing the things that I thought before were just ideas. And I really have our Arizona/Mexico trip to thank for that. I actually told my mom it was the best thing to happen to me.”

Since her trip, Nadia has taken her passion to help and made it a reality. She has volunteered with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as a home for cognitively impaired senior citizens and has also become a youth speaker for social justice. Nadia has even vowed only to drink Fair Trade coffee.

The Arizona/Mexico trip takes place along the United States-Mexico border, where poverty, cultural contrasts and extreme economic inequality are daily realities. Highlights include a home-stay with a Mexican family, a visit to the massive wall dividing the border city of Nogales, leadership training at our Wind-Song Peace and Leadership Center in Arizona and volunteering on both sides of the border. This eye-opening international experience is only the first step—participants return home ready to take action.

Nadia is just one of the many youth turning their past year’s volunteer and leadership experiences into positive local and global change.

Have a happy and eye-opening new year!

Travel to Arizona and Mexico
Attend the Take Action! Academy
Become a Volunteer Ambassador

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.
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