Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. (CBOB) is a non-profit organization with a mission centered around constantly bettering the lives of children locally and internationally with empowerment through education. CBOB has many wonderful programs within it, Bound For Peace, Children Within our Borders, Student Chapters, IAMCBOB, and a powerful one: the Volunteer Internship Program (VIP). VIP was founded in November 2009 with the initiative to provide students with the opportunity to get involved in a non-profit and make a direct impact on the world. The main goal of this program is to empower and inform the interns, while providing them with life skills and practical experience to prepare them for a future filled with passion and success. Through the Volunteer Internship Program, interns are able to acquire skills that will help them in the future, with any path they choose to pursue. VIP provides their interns with hands-on experiences that teach them knowledge, empathy, and professionalism. This is important because the professionalism you learn in VIP “helps you practice being personal to whom you are serving yet still know your limits and act like the qualified person you are,” says Estefania Martinez, our Curriculum Coordinator. The positions in VIP range from Grant Writing to Fundraising to Social Media. Independent of the position, every semester we are able to see the profound impact VIP has had on the interns and the kids we serve. Emalyn Deak, our current Training Coordinator, said that joining the VIP program “has been one of the best decisions of [her] life.” Because of this program, “I look at the world around me with a different perspective,” she states, “I continue to feel blessed that I found not only an internship, but also a family.” Our current Graphic Designer, Amanda Gebelhoff, said that through the Volunteer Internship Program, she’s “become more responsible, handled [her] time better, and furthered [her] skills in design.” VIP may seem intimidating, but there is nothing more encouraging than this family of passionate and dedicated people who will support you every step of the way. “The people you work with in CBOB want to see you accomplish things and also give you the proper tools and techniques with expansive freedom to do so,” says Cathy Telfer, one of our Grant Writing Interns. The internship always goes above and beyond any expectation a person had coming into them, surprising them with the difference they can make in the world, and the difference they found VIP made on them. This internship is for anyone who is willing to “put in the work and believe in the cause,” says Sabrina Wilkerson, one of our Public Relations Interns, because “this experience is a great resume builder and can teach you great work skills, such as being responsive and held accountable to your duties.” Emalyn Deak believes “this internship is more than just an internship; it is the key to making a difference in the world. Every volunteer, intern, or board member of CBOB change the world on a daily basis.” VIP combines individuality with teamwork, passion with professionalism, and work with love. “Experiences like this don’t come along very often, so take advantage of it,” says Amanda Gebelhoff. Let the Volunteer Internship Program empower you, as you empower others. Applications open today, Friday, June 24th, 2016. Apply and find out more at http://www.chbob.org/apply
0 Comments
Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. (CBOB) hosted the first Children Within Our Borders (CWOB) Pediatric Mobile Health Clinic in Gainesville, FL, on June 11, 2016. Thanks to a dedicated number of volunteers and attendees, the outcome of this event was a striking success! The Mobile Health Clinic Service Day proved to be a valuable initiative learning experience for both the kids and the parents. Volunteers conducted various activities to teach the kids of Alachua County about proper nutrition and health. The children of this community were given the opportunity to listen to meaningful health talks conducted by knowledgeable volunteers. This hybrid clinic allowed for the kids and to be examined and provided with vaccinations. Volunteers also helped conduct activities such as Zumba, yoga, and other fun workshops aimed to teach the utmost importance of health. Amanda Gebelhoff, Graphic Design VIP Intern, attended the event and was awestruck by its accomplishments along with the positive mark it left for the children of Gainesville: “The Mobile Clinic Service Day was a great event for the Alachua community. I think a lot of families got the medical attention they needed and also got educated on some health topics they may not have known about. The kids we worked with in the workshops were adorable! They loved the stress balls and yoga. Even watching them get into Zumba was amazing! Completely made my day. I just wish we could help more people in the community and I hope that can be done at our future events.” Elizabeth Castaneda, Development and Community Outreach VIP Intern, enjoyed the planned activities and being the reason for someone else’s happiness: “The Pediatric Mobile Health Clinic was such a great experience for me especially since I aspire to be a pediatrician. I was so happy to have the opportunity to work with the children and their families, as well as the amazing volunteers that came out to help. We offered hands-on learning to the children by offering workshops that dealt with nutrition and personal hygiene. I'm looking forward to more Mobile Clinic Service days!" CBOB board member and pediatrician at UF Shands Hospital, Dr. Diana Montoya-Williams, also took part in this event. Dr. Montoya-Williams stresses the importance of distributing health services to all children. Thanks to a partnership between CBOB and the Alachua County Health Department, the University of Florida’s Department of Pediatrics, as well as UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic, the event attracted the attention of WCJB-TV local news. See the story: http://tinyurl.com/gnsbmvx On April 16th, Emalyn Deak, our Training Coordinator, lost someone very near and dear to her - her grandfather Robert Thompson. Emma’s grandfather was one of her strongest supporters, especially of her work with Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. (CBOB). When asked about her grandfather, Emalyn had this to say: “My Papa was always really good about being the best grandfather. Even when life threw him curveballs, he always managed to support and love his grandchildren with all his heart. His support for my future profession and work with CBOB was no exception. When I first told him about my internship and my trip to Colombia, he was quiet and quickly changed the subject. While at the time I thought he was weary about my future endeavors, I later learned that he was in such awe of what I was doing that he was lost for words. At his funeral, my aunts and uncles shared with me that my Papa would not stop talking about my trip and my internship. Everyone who came up to me at the funeral said he was so proud of what I was doing and the mission of CBOB. For that reason, many people at his funeral decided to make donations to CBOB in his name. I am so thankful for my Papa's support and love even after he has passed.” CBOB is incredibly fortunate to have Emalyn. Like Emma’s grandfather, we too are in awe of her talents, dedication and the constant support she offers not only to her fellow interns, but to the organization as a whole. She continually inspires us all to work harder and to achieve more every day. Children Beyond Our Borders is so blessed to have had the support of such a wonderful man and to have the opportunity to work with Emalyn who brightens our lives on a daily basis. Children Beyond Our Borders would like to honor Robert Thompson and thank him for his contributions to our organization. His support of Emalyn’s endeavors has, in turn, become support for our entire organization and we are eternally grateful. The Bound For Peace trip to Cartagena, Colombia was one both the volunteers and the children will remember forever. With one of our partner foundations, Fundación Granitos de Paz, our volunteers were able to immerse themselves in the culture of Colombia and provide educational workshops to the children in an attempt to empower them and to break the cycle of violence and poverty. The workshops topics presented by the volunteers included sex education, gang violence, decision making, and the importance of caring for yourselves and others. All the workshops discussed topics that educated the children on social and lifestyle issues. Those lessons learned will affect them on a daily basis, having a positive impact on the rest of their lives. One of the volunteers, Nikki Scort, said that she enjoyed the sex education and gang violence workshops the most because “it’s something that is a pressing issue in their community and it was one of the workshops where [she] saw that the kids were very interested and very willing to participate and learn more.” The volunteers helped the children set goals and figure out ways to accomplish them, something that came very natural to these kids. One of the volunteers, Erini Longini, was extremely impressed with how they responded to this activity, saying that “most of them had no problem writing the steps to reach their goals” and that all the children were “very open about their lives,” which made her feel welcomed. The ease at which these children caught on to the information and the excitement and maturity they showed is something that is going to be constantly inspiring the volunteers for years to come. The Bound for Peace volunteers were able to experience the city of Cartagena as a whole on this trip. All of the volunteers were quickly immersed into the culture of the country through architecture, dance, music, and a volunteer favorite, food! Michelle Beissel said that her favorite part of the Colombian culture was “experiencing the food every night,” no matter if they stayed in or went out. They were able to see how the city was different from where they lived and how fortunate they were. Every single one of the volunteers left with a feeling of gratitude for the children and for the city. Through exploring beaches and little back roads in the city, the volunteers were able to establish a lifelong bond with each other. Overall, to say our Bound For Peace trip was a success is an understatement! The memories made, the lessons taught, and the smiles created will never be forgotten. “I think this was a really good service trip because instead of just coming in and doing temporary things we were supporting Granitos de Paz which has a huge positive influence in the community. I feel like I got to learn a lot about Cartagena and even Colombia in general by getting to spend so much time with the kids,” said Eirini Longini. This trip was just another example of how education equals empowerment. Applications for our next Bound for Peace trips will open in the early fall, so keep an eye out! But in the mean time, you can donate to a volunteer to make the next trip possible here http://www.chbob.org/payment.html! For more information: email servicetripinfo@chbob.org with any questions, or check out our website http://www.chbob.org/bound-for-peace.html. Children Beyond Our Borders is a proud member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Orlando, an organization that provides leadership and supports the economic development of the Hispanic business community in Metro Orlando. Our Executive Director, Andrea Ortega, serves as one of the representatives and participates to grow the organization. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been a huge supporter of Children Beyond Our Borders and many other nonprofit organizations in Central Florida.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is known for helping businesses and nonprofits in Orlando with networking and professional development. An influential community of Hispanic professionals strengthening the economic development for Hispanics in the region, this organization provides great opportunities for big companies and organizations to connect with this business community. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has several programs supporting the advancement of young professionals in Orlando, having a strong voice in political issues, promoting the growth of diverse business owners and giving back to the community by helping nonprofits in the area. Part of giving back to their community is hosting events for business owners and nonprofits in the area to gain exposure and give opportunities for professionals to connect. The next event that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting is the Hispanic Business Conference and Expo June 2 - June 4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Last year’s event helped diversity business owners grow their business by hosting 700 meetings between suppliers and buyers, and more than 200 exhibitors attended showcasing products, games and services. Children Beyond Our Borders will be one of the exhibitors at booth 1216 with fun games and to spread awareness of our mission. We would love to see you there! For more information: Visit the site http://www.hbconference.com/ The conference will be held at the Orange County Convention Center located: 9800 International Dr, Orlando, Florida 32819
two years ago when we got married, we raised money for CBOB through our wedding. We have decided that every year around our anniversary, we would celebrate our anniversary by having a big salsa party as we both love to dance… The hope is that through this event, we can keep our Salud, Amor & More Scholarship that we set up for female Colombian students interested in a medical career alive and well and sustainable.”
This year, our Dance for Good event was HUGE and brought in over $3,000 alone! We here at CBOB extend an immense amount of gratitude and appreciation towards Dr. Montoya-Williams and her family for their time, dedication, and love for our organization. However, it doesn’t end here with Dance for Good. On April 8th-11th, Dr. Montoya-Williams gave a presentation at Consortium of Universities for Global Health International Conference in San Francisco. Her project, entitled "Education through Empowerment: A Novel Global Health Track for Residency Programs" was a “culmination of the merging of my global health interests and the existing Bound for Peace model that exists within CBOB. Given my desire to promote public health in Colombia, we created the first Medical and Public Health trip in the same model as a Bound for Peace trip.” Montoya then explained to us that the trip has three important aims: 1) We want to teach undergraduates how to create and deliver public health talks to children and families 2) We wanted to serve the community's needs and as a result conducted medical history screenings that Colombia Somos Todos was in need of 3) The didactic component for me and the reason it worked as part of my formal pediatric residency curriculum is that I was learning about and teaching global health engagement simultaneously, preparing me for future global health endeavors. It was an exciting project and we are in the process of setting up the infrastructure to make it an annual trip. Wow! How amazing is all of that? Drawing so much inspiration from CBOB and our programs is incredibly humbling and it drives us to be better and do better everyday. In closing, Dr. Montoya said this: “More than anything, Brendan [her husband] and I are committed to empowering socially disadvantaged children through education and health. We have been impressed with CBOB's efforts to this same idea and honored to be able to contribute to CBOB's mission. We look forward to a long, productive, socially engaged and fun relationship with CBOB in the years to come.” We would love to say that we are looking forward to the great relationship that is blossoming between us as well! Thank you so much for all of the work you’ve done and will do! Something to keep an eye out for in Dr. Montoya-Williams’ continuous service involves a collaborative effort between CBOB, the University of Florida Pediatric Residency and the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic to bring a wholly pediatric-staffed mobile clinic to the immigrant and migrant families we currently serve in Alachua. The event is scheduled for June 11th and they hope this will be the first step to bringing regular primary pediatric care directly to these families in need. They are also in the process of applying for a national grant to help fund such future events. Talk about an involved teammate! Thank you again for everything that you do for us and we are so incredibly blessed to be able to help and assist you in the ways that we can.
Brian started his journey on May 4th, 2015 from Times Square, New York City. Since then, he has traveled 11,470 miles around the continental United States, touching all four corners of the country and meeting countless people along the way. Brian has also been featured on numerous news stations. This trip has been no easy feat. So far, Brian has been spending an average of 23.7 hours on the road per week, crossing a state line every 329 miles, and has gone through 7 sets of tires. He plans on completing his round trip towards the end of April. Once he has concluded his ride, Brian will be traveling to Dubai to start a business with his friend, but he hopes to remain in contact with the charities he has helped raise money for and continue to support them. Throughout his trip, he has spoken at various schools, organizations, libraries,
Children Beyond Our Borders’ summer Volunteer Internship Program applications are available now! Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. (CBOB) constantly works toward bettering the lives of underprivileged children both locally and internationally. This organization works tirelessly around the clock and is as exceptional as the people behind it. We are constantly looking for committed individuals with initiative, proficiency and a zeal for education awareness. Now you have the opportunity to become a member of the CBOB family! CBOB’s VIP program is meant to spread the CBOB mission and truly make a difference in the world. Our past interns come from around the globe and have gone on to have successful careers in a variety of fields. CBOB not only opens the doors for your professional path, it puts you on course by providing opportunities to make valuable connections! CBOB’s VIP objective is to introduce our new members into the professional world through engagement in real-world activities. In addition to helping our cause, VIP interns gain leadership skills, experience working in a team environment, confidence, and industry knowledge that they can carry with them into the workforce. Our VIP program has grown immensely in the past year and our current spring VIP is comprised of 30 members! As CBOB continues to flourish, we learn more about the true core values of the organization as well as the messages of love and education that we help spread. By applying for the Volunteer Internship Program today, you will be bringing yourself one step closer to where you want to be tomorrow. Emalyn Deak, UF Training Coordinator intern: “Being a CBOB intern has taught me that we all have the power to change the world. Sometimes in life, we feel as though our work goes unnoticed, but working with CBOB has taught me quite the opposite. Everything I do from training Bound For Peace volunteers, to working with my fellow interns, all add up to a bigger picture. This was proved to me when I received a phone call from one of our CBOB scholars. He thanked me for the work I have done through CBOB. Even though I am a freshman intern, even though I’m still gaining experience, even though it involves a lot of trial and error –– he reminded me that my work is appreciated. This challenges and motivates me to give my all, no matter how tiny the task may be, because I know that my actions will make a difference.” Jackeline Roman, FSU Fundraising and Community Outreach intern: “Through my experience as a VIP intern for CBOB, I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside a number of inspiring people. We all come together as a team and volunteer for the wonderful children in the Tallahassee community, and there is no greater feeling.” Matthew Hasbun, FIU Public Relations and Social Media intern: “Being a VIP intern for CBOB has taught me that we should all appreciate the educational opportunities that we have at our disposal. It’s also showed me that a group of individuals who come together can truly achieve greatness and can move mountains.” If you are interested in helping us spread #CBOBlove, visit chbob.org/apply for more information! For position descriptions, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/vippositions
Application Deadline: April 17 Round 1 Interviews: April 18 - April 22 Round 2 Interviews: April 25 - April 29 Bound For Peace Cartagena was an experience unlike any other. Nine volunteers set out to Colombia in hopes of making a difference in the community. Alongside Fundación Granitos de Paz, our volunteers worked to create a curriculum that focused on issues that specifically affected the area and implementing positive traits among the children. Workshops focused on a variety of subjects from sexual education and gang violence to professional development and technology. Trip leader, Paola Escobar, explained, “I had the privilege to teach children tips on how to make important personal and career goals,” she added “We encouraged children to think about these goals they had and how to put their dreams into action.” This is the foundation Bound For Peace was constructed upon: the importance of education. Education has the power to change people’s lives and empower them to achieve their desires. The workshops were constructed in order to empower the kids and show them all the opportunities that lay ahead of them. Another volunteer, Ashley Diodonet said, “Honestly one of the most memorable experiences was the look on the kids faces when they were writing down their goals and realizing that they really can accomplish more than they previously thought.” Not only did volunteers form bonds with the children, but each other as well. As Ashley also explained, “I met so many beautiful people with loving hearts that welcomed us with open arms and friendships that will last forever.” Besides conducting the educational seminars, volunteers also had the opportunity to explore Cartagena through excursions and other activities, which included a trips to Volan del Totumo and Playa Blanca. Our trips seek to not only help empower the young minds of the cities we visit, but to help everyone involved grow. Our volunteers immerse themselves in the Colombian culture, through the food, music, and just overall aesthetic of Cartagena. Bound For Peace will be returning to Cartagena this summer in May with the same vision and goals in mind. Empower children through education. In every group, one can always find someone that shines bright. When it comes to our Children Within Our Borders (CWOB) volunteers, we found that shine in Olivia Batshon. Olivia began volunteering with CBOB after hearing about the program through an involvement fair at the University of Central Florida, where she is currently studying Elementary Education. At the fair, she obtained a sticker which she promptly put on her wall as a way to remind herself to get involved. Taking this initiative, Olivia searched on Facebook and once finding the nearest CWOB event, she signed up to volunteer and has been returning since. CWOB has been so influential in Olivia's life because she is always in search of new ways to impact her community. Our programs allow her to interact with local children in different ways and really make a change in their lives. By doing this, she hopes to be better prepared to be a great educator. While having focused on the Children Within Our Borders program, Olivia definitely has plans to one day attend a Bound for Peace service trip. With the desire to be a greater asset, she is improving her Spanish and hopes to be able to communicate effectively with the children we work with in South America. Olivia has given us a description of what it’s like to be a CWOB volunteer and we couldn’t agree with it more.
"Volunteering with Children Within Our Borders is the most rewarding experience I have ever encountered. Yes, sometimes it's hectic, yes, things never go as planned, and yes, sometimes the children are a lot to handle. But at the end of the day, none of that matters. All that matters is the impact that we, as a collective group, are able to make on each and every child living in that hotel. The children living in this hotel have very monotonous routines. There is not a playground for them to run around on. There is no park around the corner. There is no basketball court for them to shoot hoops with their friends on. They are confined to their hotel rooms and the parking lot that lies a few feet from their doors. This, to us as college students, is not a life we are able to imagine. We get up everyday in our dorm rooms or apartments, with the nerve to complain about our "uncomfy" beds. These kids live a life that is unimaginable to any person that has never lived through it. This volunteer experience for the past six months has given me a glimpse into a cruel world that I never opened my eyes up to see before. We all hear about homeless children and families. We all hear about the statistics and the millions of kids who go hungry every year, but homeless children do not go panhandle on the streets of the city. They are tucked away in hotel rooms, cardboard boxes on the streets, or hiding in plain sight in their classrooms. It is completely impossible for any of us to understand this experience, and without understanding, it is hard for us to find a way to help. Go out and ask anybody on the streets "Do you want kids to be homeless?" The answer would be hell no. But who actually has the perspective on this issue to either A. Decide to help with the problem or B. Actually think about this problem for more than 30 seconds after the question is asked? We all want to live in a perfect world with great education and happy people, but how is this possible if we can't even begin to understand all that is wrong with the world? This organization has given me my first step, my first glimpse into this part of the world, that I never took the time to understand before. This organization has given me the opportunity to work and talk with children, and look into their eyes and understand their pain. This organization has given me the opportunity to begin to be a solution to this problem. It has allowed me to be creative and not only think of new ways to integrate knowledge into activities, but to execute them. My ideas are able to be brought to life, impacting each child in their own distinct ways. This organization has given me the tools to better understand the problem of homelessness in education and our at-risk youth, and I am now able to take action, one child at a time. Without Children Within Our Borders, I would still be left blind, sitting in my dorm room, aimlessly complaining about how the world should be a better place. You may criticize me and say, "Olivia, this is just one hotel. There are only so many children here, and your monthly appearance will soon be forgotten as they get older." But you know what I would say to that? That is completely wrong. Let's not forget that this is not just a hotel that they are lodging at. This is their home. This is where they eat, sleep, and cry. This is where they make friendships, break friendships, do their homework, and spend family time. This hotel is where their childhood memories will lay. Take a minute to think to yourself. What was your childhood home like and what was your favorite memory in it? This hotel is where that will lie for them. They will remember the rugged walls, torn up grass, cracked parking lot, and smell of smoke. But they will also remember our organization. They will remember us, as the people who came, not to take them away from their families, not to arrest one of their parents, not to give counseling to their mothers, not to bring a clipboard in and evaluate their home lives - they will remember Children Within Our Borders as those people who came to their homes for one sole purpose: to bring joy to them. They will remember the games we bring, the things we teach them, and how many times we all laughed. They will remember us as one of the only peoples who came solely for their well being. All that we want is their happiness and to empower them through education and knowledge. We want them to see that they are more than a product of their environment. This is what they will remember when they are 25 years old and reflecting on those childhood memories. Yes, it is just one hotel. But we, as an organization have come together and found one spot that we can make the biggest difference. We have found our sweet spot. We will continue to be the highlight to their day, week, and month and we are only beginning to grow in their community. Yes, right now it is just once a month. But with time, we will change that to twice a month, bi-weekly, weekly, and eventually, even daily visits. We will eventually integrate ourselves and our goals for their development and prosperity into their daily lives. We will become part of that monotonous routine of living in a hotel, and give them a positive outlet to look forward to. Our growth is exponential. We just started under 6 months ago, and it gives me chills when I think about all of the lives we have touched already. This organization brings me pure happiness, and this, right now, is just the beginning." - Olivia Bashton
|
Archives
July 2021
|