At 62 years old, the last thing Andrea Vowell thought she would learn was how to ride a motorcycle.
As a part of her volunteering venture with Cuso International, riding a motorcycle was one of the requirements Vowell had to partake in order to travel to Cambodia for two years.
“At first I thought no way, I didn’t want to go to Cambodia,” laughed Vowell. “And then I had to question why.”
Vowell had originally applied for a position in South America, but was informed that position was already filled.
After much debate, Vowell realized she still wanted to volunteer and make a difference, and went ahead with the application process.
“It is a long commitment and something that I had concerns about for that length of time,” she explained. “It eventually evolved to me learning how to ride a motorcycle, going to Ottawa for training, and now I’m very excited to go.”
Her decision to volunteer abroad was spurred by a month spent teaching English in a mountain school in Peru last year.
Vowell had recently retired from teaching and while she wanted to do something different, she still wanted to be involved with children and the education system.
“It was really an eye-opener,” she stated. “I think it’s a real education to go to poorer countries and see what is life and to experience totally different cultures. It makes you appreciate Canada and it also makes you appreciate how lucky we are here.”
When Vowell arrives in Cambodia, she will be working as a teacher and learning advisor.
“I’ll be working for the department of education in a north west province of Cambodia in three different school districts,” she said. “I’ll be working with schools in those districts, working with teachers and observing the classes to try and help them develop strategies that may help them in their teaching.”
A fundraiser is planned for Jan. 21 at 5 pm. in Studio B to raise money for Cuso International. All donations are matched 10:1 by the Canadian International Development Agency, in which a $10 donation will be worth $100 to Cuso.
Cuso International is a non-profit organization that focuses on development work through volunteers. Volunteers collaborate on development projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Vowell will be leaving for her new adventure in February.