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Have you ever watched the news, witnessed the devastating misfortune of others in some remote part of the globe and wished there was a way you could help besides sending a check that could end up in the pockets of some unethical middleman?
If you walk into the über-groovy Liquid Assets Wine Bar on Ashland’s Main Street, order a glass of Merlot from a tall, fair-haired young man with sky blue eyes and ask him what he does in his spare time, his extraordinary answer just may inspire your next vacation.
Doug Peterson is involved with Project Helping Hands (PHH), a non-profit organization that facilitates humanitarian emergency relief efforts to third world countries. Recent recipients include Haiti and Sudan.
The organization relies almost entirely on the noble efforts of volunteers (referred to as “team members”) like Peterson: goodwill Samaritans from around the country who choose to donate two weeks of their time to address the chaos and misery in the world.
PHH founder, Jeff Solheim, a registered nurse, author and motivational speaker from Oregon, says the mission statement is simple: “Our goal is to provide quality health care where there is none and to develop locally operated clinics in these locations. And to provide an unforgettable personal growth opportunity for the volunteer.”
It’s a goodwill vacation of sorts, but, make no mistake, this is serious work. Just about anyone can volunteer and, although medical experience is desirable, it is not necessary.
“Everybody has skills,” says Peterson. “I like to communicate and problem solve, until I find a way to make myself useful. And there’s always a use. You show up with your plans and ideas but you have to be ready for change. You have to deal with the situation as it is.”
Duties can include everything from organizing and maintaining a clinic to dealing with triage situations and the less glorified but equally important role of initial assessment of patients who pour into the clinic every day. “It’s a sea of need,” states Peterson, “It can be incredibly stressful. But at the end of the day, you feel like you’ve made a difference in the world.”
Some people walk for many miles and many days to get to a field clinic. When he was in Sudan, Peterson met one man who complained of a headache and when asked how long he’d had it, shrugged and said, “Six or seven years.”
The resilience of patients is at once shocking, admirable and humbling. “We get to go back to the comfort of home,” says Peterson. “These people stay here. Their life is day-to-day survival.”
Team members can expect massive inner shifts from spending two weeks performing acts of selflessness in a remote, often harsh climate. “It changes you,” says PHH founder Jeff Solheim, recalling a doctor who began volunteering with PHH and now lives in Tanzania full-time, devoting his life to working with local people.
Not every team member will be drawn to make such a drastic commitment; for many, being a PHH volunteer offers a glimpse into a different way of life and is a commendable way to gain experience with and perspective about the world’s cultures.
PHH provides a safe environment, where team members are well taken care of and the food is always excellent, say volunteers. Plus, they are exploring parts of the world very few people see while interacting with locals in a way that’s just not possible when traveling as a traditional tourist. Additional benefits include the bonds that develop among team members and between team members and locals, which transcend language and borders.
But it’s not exactly a five-star experience, says Peterson, who echoes the PHH motto: “Adventure with Heart” and advises volunteers to be prepared, be flexible and bring an adventurous spirit.
How flexible are we talking? Peterson pauses and reflects. “Well, I haven’t had to sleep on the ground yet.” Sounds reasonable. Where do I sign up?
To find out more about Project Helping Hands, visit www.project-helping-hands.org. c
