MONROE - A week-long trip to Costa Rica in February is not going to be the typical tourist vacation for Juliana Champion of Monroe.
"It is definitely a different type of work, but I like helping people," said Champion, a hair stylist working in Madison.
Champion will be doing volunteer work in Cartago, Costa Rica, through Cross Cultural Solutions, a non-profit organization with volunteer programs in 12 countries.
Based on their abilities and interests, volunteers working in Cartago are placed in local organizations that provide education and social services for the city's residents.
Champion will be assigned her duties before she leaves in February.
"I will be happy no matter what I do," she said.
During her stay, Champion will be spending her days doing her assigned job, but the program also has free time planned for the volunteers to see and do other things in the community.
Cartago, an historic city near the center of Costa Rica, offers shops, markets and Internet cafes. It is a popular tourist draw, but many residents have limited access to education and social services.
Champion said a community service excursion is something she has wanted to do for a long time.
"The location, I wasn't picky about; it's about the service," she said. "The first step was to make the commitment."
Champion said she researched Cross Cultural Solutions, read many good reviews about it and determined it to be a credible organization before signing on to volunteer. Then she began the process of raising the fee, which pays for housing, food, water transportation and other needs. The cost of her flight is not included.
For a young woman who has never flown in a plane or traveled out of the county before, the commitment was a big one, but she has already raised 75 percent of the money. Champion turned to friends, family and businesses for help, including the Paul Mitchell School in Monroe, where she trained as a hair stylist.
"I'm in the last stretch," she said. "I never had to do this before."
Champion expects her experience will move her to become more involved in community volunteerism at home, and she hopes to one day share the volunteer spirit with her daughter, who is only 19 months old.
"I know the economy is hard for many people, including myself, but I have become humble and remember how lucky and grateful we are for what we have," she said. "I can still give a helping hand to those who need it more."
"I think the main thing is the moral support I am getting from people," she added.
Champion has a blog started at www.volunteercartago. blogspot.com. She intends to have updates on her fundraising and will also be updating the page during her trip.
More information about Cross Cultural Solutions is available online at www.crossculturalsolutions.org. The site includes a link to sponsor Champion.
Her phone number is (608) 426-0158.
"It is definitely a different type of work, but I like helping people," said Champion, a hair stylist working in Madison.
Champion will be doing volunteer work in Cartago, Costa Rica, through Cross Cultural Solutions, a non-profit organization with volunteer programs in 12 countries.
Based on their abilities and interests, volunteers working in Cartago are placed in local organizations that provide education and social services for the city's residents.
Champion will be assigned her duties before she leaves in February.
"I will be happy no matter what I do," she said.
During her stay, Champion will be spending her days doing her assigned job, but the program also has free time planned for the volunteers to see and do other things in the community.
Cartago, an historic city near the center of Costa Rica, offers shops, markets and Internet cafes. It is a popular tourist draw, but many residents have limited access to education and social services.
Champion said a community service excursion is something she has wanted to do for a long time.
"The location, I wasn't picky about; it's about the service," she said. "The first step was to make the commitment."
Champion said she researched Cross Cultural Solutions, read many good reviews about it and determined it to be a credible organization before signing on to volunteer. Then she began the process of raising the fee, which pays for housing, food, water transportation and other needs. The cost of her flight is not included.
For a young woman who has never flown in a plane or traveled out of the county before, the commitment was a big one, but she has already raised 75 percent of the money. Champion turned to friends, family and businesses for help, including the Paul Mitchell School in Monroe, where she trained as a hair stylist.
"I'm in the last stretch," she said. "I never had to do this before."
Champion expects her experience will move her to become more involved in community volunteerism at home, and she hopes to one day share the volunteer spirit with her daughter, who is only 19 months old.
"I know the economy is hard for many people, including myself, but I have become humble and remember how lucky and grateful we are for what we have," she said. "I can still give a helping hand to those who need it more."
"I think the main thing is the moral support I am getting from people," she added.
Champion has a blog started at www.volunteercartago. blogspot.com. She intends to have updates on her fundraising and will also be updating the page during her trip.
More information about Cross Cultural Solutions is available online at www.crossculturalsolutions.org. The site includes a link to sponsor Champion.
Her phone number is (608) 426-0158.