Welcome!Nicole Amorim (GSL Team Leader)Leadership Development Coordinator

Darcee Carnes (GSL Support)Student Engagement Coordinator

What is Global Service Leadership?

• Global Service Leadership (GSL) is a component of the Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) Leadership Development Program

• Opportunity to volunteer in a community abroad, experience a new culture, travel, and connect with others

• Highlights include: • Pre-departure team bonding• Fundraising support• Education about the destination• A trip of a lifetime!

GSL Program Benefits

• Develop skills including teamwork, communication, fundraising, and more

• Meet new people and form friendships

• Unique experience: volunteer, travel, and cultural immersion

• Actively engage in a volunteer project contributing to community development

• Complimentary tickets to the CSI Leadership Conference

• Credit on the Co-Curricular Record

Trip Overview

Winter GSL: Costa Rica

Date Saturday February 23 – Sunday March 3, 2019(Student Success Week)

Destination San Jose, Costa Rica

Project Construction and Renovation

Partner Organizations International Volunteer HQMaximo Nivel

Cost $2,700

Price and trip details are subject to change.

What’s Included

• Most meals

• IVHQ registration and program fees

• Airfare

• Travel insurance

• Accommodations

• Airport transfers

• Private ground transportation

• Excursions and cultural activities (4)

What’s Not Included

• Meals while in transit/on flights and lunch on the first Sunday

• Vaccinations

• Visas (if required)• Some International Students

may require a visa to travel to Costa Rica

• Police criminal record check

• Work gloves

• Safety glasses

• Water purification tablets/drops/device

• Personal expenses, which may include: luggage, snacks, souvenirs, etc.

Eligibility

• Full-time, fee-paying student at Conestoga College for Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 semesters• From any campus, but you must be able to attend meetings at Doon

• In good academic standing

• At least 18 years of age

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months from return date)

• Commitment to attend and participate in pre-departure events/activities including meetings, fundraisers, and team nights• Must be able to attend meetings on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Fall 2018

semester – Winter 2019 meetings dates to be determined

• Genuine interest in global issues and the betterment of global communities

• In good health and physically prepared to do manual tasks for 3-4 hours a day

• Able and willing to do various tasks depending on the project’s need

Safety

• Government of Canada Travel & Tourism website (www.travel.gc.ca) Travel Advice & Advisories• Local safety and security conditions and areas to avoid• Entry and exit requirements• Local laws and culture• Possible health hazards and health restrictions• Natural hazards and climate• Where to find help while you are travelling abroad

• International Department & Security Services: international travel safety presentation

• Comprehensive travel insurance

Safety: International Volunteer HQ

• In-country support available 24/7

• Volunteer safety tips

• Program Guide

• Risk audits of volunteer programs

• Actively monitor country-specific risks, including:• Natural disasters

• Civil unrest

• Terrorism

• Disease

Safety: Zika Virus

• Present in many regions, including Central America.

• Zika is a virus which typically causes mild illness lasting only a few days

• There is no vaccine or medication that protects against or treats Zika virus

• Primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito

• Mainly a concern for pregnant women, partners of pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy - Zika virus can cause serious birth defects

• To learn more, please visit the Government of Canada travel website: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices/152

International Volunteer HQ

• Travel and volunteer abroad organization, founded by Dan Radcliffe and based in New Zealand

• 93,498 volunteers placed since 2007

• Affordable, safe, high-quality volunteer placements

• Work with local organizations to ensure ethical and responsible volunteer programming

• Dedicated Program Manager to answer questions or concerns and liaise with the local organization

• Pre-departure support including an in-depth program guide, interactive training, packing list, and access to a crowdfunding platform

Maximo Nivel

• Family-owned organization founded in 2003

• Offices in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru

• Work with 4,000+ students, volunteers, and travelers every year

• Partner with community members to ensure all volunteer work directly benefits the local community

• Meet at airport and provide orientation upon arrival

• Multilingual Field Manager available 24/7

• Construction Foreman / Field Manager on-site at volunteer project

San Jose, Costa Rica

• Costa Rica borders Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south

• Population of Costa Rica: 4.95 million

• Population of San Jose: 335,007

San Jose, Costa Rica

• Elevation of San Jose: 1,170 metres

• Temperatures range:• 18°C at night

• 28°C during the day

• Spanish-speaking country

• San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica

• Rainforests, sloths, coffee, bananas, waterfalls, beaches, and more

A Typical Day

• 6:30am – Breakfast

• 8:00am – Volunteer Project

• 1:00pm – Lunch and Excursion

• 6:00pm – Dinner

• 7:30pm – Group Reflection Time

• 8:00pm – Free Time

• 10:00pm – Quiet Time

Accommodations: Home Stay

• Stay with a family in the community (screened by Maximo Nivel)

• Shared rooms with bunk beds and single beds (2-8 people/room) - bedding is provided

• Men and women sleep in separate rooms• Living is comfortable (electricity, running

water, Western-style bathrooms) but do not expect all the amenities of home

• Home-cooked meals• Cultural integration

Meals in Costa Rica

• Breakfast (at Home Stay)• Gallo pinto (rice and beans, mixed), bread with

spreads, eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and tea

• Lunch and Dinner (at Home Stay and/or a restaurant)• Meat, beans, starch (typically rice), vegetables

• Dietary restrictions can be accommodated

• Bring snacks

• Water is not drinkable (water purification drops, tablets, etc.)

Flights

• Airline: Avianca

• Flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport• In San Jose, Costa Rica

• Flight is ~6.5 hours (with a 1 hour layover in El Salvador)

Flight details are subject to change.

Construction and Renovation Project

• Community centre, childcare facility, nursing home, clinic, etc.

• In mostly rural and/or impoverished communities

• Help improve life for the people in the community

• Project is based on the community’s needs at the time of the trip -determined by early February

Construction and Renovation Project Volunteer Duties

Volunteer duties typically include:• Mixing cement

• Carrying and laying brick and/or tile

• Laying foundation for a structure

• Building walls

• Installing drywall

• Plastering and painting

• Landscaping and gardening

No experience is required

Past Construction and Renovation Projects

• Guatemala 2018 - after-school care facility: Built a classroom from the ground up and enclosed an outdoor kitchen space by adding walls and a roof

• Costa Rica 2017 - rehab centre: Insulated therapy rooms, painted a residence, installed drywall to create a meeting room, and moved playground equipment

• Guatemala 2016 - nursing home: Created space for a kitchen renovation and constructed walls

Excursions

Weekday Excursions:

• La Paz Waterfall Gardens

• La Carpintera Canopy Tour

• Ram Luna

Weekend Excursion:

• Jaco Beach day trip

Pre-Departure Meetings

• 2-3 meetings/events per month (expect to dedicate approximately 10 hours/month to GSL)

• Update meetings & workshops (10)• Teambuilding activities & icebreakers• International travel safety seminar• Spanish language training classes• Hear from experienced travelers & past

GSL participants• Fundraising 101 & planning• StrengthsQuest personality assessment

workshop• Wrap-up meeting after the trip

Pre-Departure Programming

• Team Nights: dinner + a fun group activity to help the team bond (costs are covered by CSI)

• Fundraisers

• Leadership Conferences

• Facebook group for GSL participants• Updates• Photo sharing• Asking questions• Meeting reminders

Sponsorship

• CSI approaches prospective sponsors to request financial support for students participating in both GSL trips

• Separate sponsors for the two trips

• Sponsorship dollars for each trip are split evenly among students

Group Fundraising

• Helps offset the cost of the trip for students

• Students are split into 3 teams and each team runs 1 fundraiser• Participation is mandatory

• Funds raised by each team will be divided evenly among the whole group

• Resources• Fundraising Package with ideas, tips, resources, etc.

• Marketing support

• Budget for fundraiser expenses

• Leadership Development Coordinator support

• Additional fundraisers in collaboration with the CSI Marketing & Events Dept.

Personal Fundraising

• Fundraising Package• How to make the ask

• Fundraiser ideas

• Pledge form

• Customizable email template

• Past successful student fundraisers

• Any funds raised from personal fundraising stay with the student that raised the funds

• Past students have raised anywhere from $200 - $1,200 from personal fundraising

Application Process

• Application forms available at conestogastudents.com and in the CSI Leadership Office in room 2A100 at Doon

• Deadline to apply: Wednesday October 31 at 4:00 PM

• Your application must include: • Completed application form

• Fall 2018 timetable

• Copy of most recent transcript

• Applications can be submitted to namorim@conestogac.on.ca or in the CSI Leadership Office in room 2A100

Important Dates

• Interviews: November 1, 2 & 5

• Fall 2018 Meeting Dates:• Tuesday November 13 at 6:00 PM

• Tuesday November 27 at 6:30 PM (Team Night)

• Tuesday December 4 at 6:00 PM

• $1,000 non-refundable deposit and photocopy of passport due: Friday November 9

• Balance due: Wednesday January 16

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many people go on a GSL trip?• A maximum of 14 students and 2 CSI staff members

• Why do you need a copy of my transcript?• Students participating in GSL must be in good academic standing. GSL is an

extracurricular activity and due to the time commitment required, participation may jeopardize your academics if you are not in good academic standing.

• Is GSL affiliated with a church, religion, or religious group?• No. There is no religious/faith-based component to the GSL trips.

• Since we do fundraising, do I still have to pay for the whole trip?• Yes. You pay the $1,000 non-refundable deposit in November and the balance in

January. Before the trip, you receive a cheque for your portion of the group fundraising and sponsorship dollars. In the past, this has been $200 - $700 per student.

Questions?

Nicole AmorimLeadership Development Coordinator

• CSI Leadership Office, 2A100 at Doon

• namorim@conestogac.on.ca

• 519-748-5131 x3598