Staff Interview with Marc Tan

What inspired you to work for All Hands and Hearts?

The profound sense of community that is gained from being on an All Hands and Hearts project has been the driving factor for my continued work with the organization. On every program that I've been on, I find myself surrounded by the warmest, kindest, most caring individuals.

These people come from every walk of life, and every possible background, but share the most important thing in common; they have the desire to work with a community in need to rebuild after a disaster.

No one deserves these disasters to happen to them but everyone deserves help, and the people on our program are there to do just that. People who come to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts are there to help in any way that they can, and that shared drive brings everyone together.

The gratitude that is given by the homeowners that we work with is something that continues to warm my heart to this day. We are able to bring hope to communities and help them on the path to recovery. This organization rallies around the community that is fostered on program, and that is something that I wanted to continue to be a part of.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the launching of new programs. So much hard work goes into the preparation of a program, and I am the one that gets to push that content to our audience. Launching new programs means that there is another affected community that we will be able to help, and more lives will be impacted by our work as an organization. 

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

A constant challenge that I face is project management. As Website Manager there are so many projects happening at once, on so many different timelines, that it can be difficult to keep track of everything. Things are constantly changing and flexibility is a necessity.

I've found that in order to stay on top of things, it’s important to track how much time I am spending on projects, and schedule out specific time to get organized. 

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

To further immerse myself in the culture and lifestyle of wherever it is that I was going. One thing that I've found in my travels is that I enjoy my time a lot more when I go with the flow and follow what locals tell me rather than what I've read in guidebooks or online.

And on that note, take more trips by yourself! The most fun that I've had while traveling has been outside of tour groups, and instead, adventuring on my own. I get to travel at my own pace and see what I want to see, and skip the things that I don't.

Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?

All Hands and Hearts has modified our volunteer model in response to the global pandemic to allow us to continue to serve communities affected by disasters. With our DM12 model we have continued operations, and have been able to launch new programs. Our DM12 initiative is now accepting applicants for 2021!

What makes All Hands and Hearts easy to market to potential participants?

Our organization offers programs that are of no cost to participants. We cover the cost of lodging, food, transportation, and training. There is no experience required; our expert team will teach you everything you need to know. All that we ask from volunteers is that they commit their time to helping rebuild affected communities.

If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

I would travel to our program in the Bahamas. I have seen pictures of the devastation and I want to be able to help. Our Bahamas program is currently working on rebuilding schools and the interiors of private residences. I've never been to the Caribbean and I think it would be a nice place to spend the winter.

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

People need to broaden their horizons, and see that the world they live in is a tiny fraction of what is out there. I think that it's important for people to experience different cultures, be around different languages, see different types of architecture, eat different types of food, and talk to people with different perspectives. Not everything is the way the way that people experience in their home, and it's important to know that different is out there, and it's quite likely better than your norm. 

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

I think that learning a new language is important because the framework of languages are different, and it requires you to think of things in a different way. It helps you to further connect and communicate with other cultures.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

I would suggest that people who are thinking about going abroad simply do it. Whether it be as an individual or a group, traveling abroad opens your eyes to the rest of the world. Your world will change. What seems normal to you, may be completely absurd to another individual, and it's grounding to know that the way that you live isn't “right” or “wrong”, but that the world thrives when diversity is accepted and celebrated.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is travel that has pushed you to grow in one way or another. I believe that it requires reflection, to look at how your life has changed because of an experience. Meaningful travel is an experience that you walk away from as a different person due to insight or experience gained.