Staff Interview with María Kausalya Gowda

What inspired you to work for Connecting Worlds Abroad?

Having travelled for many years and to many different cultures myself, I know that there's nothing as enriching and as mind broadening as to experience the lifestyles and cultures of other people. And I believe that volunteering is definitely the most rewarding experience anyone can have. Our volunteers always leave their programs feeling that they've been transformed into someone better, wiser, and stronger than they were before.

So for me, to be part of this organization is being part of the change we all want to see in our world. It gives me the chance to share with others my own experiences and to be part of the adventure in which they are embarking when they choose any of our wonderful programs.

What makes Connecting Worlds Abroad special?

The warmth of our team and the high quality of our programs. All the members of our organization have travelled and lived abroad, so we can all relate to our volunteers and interns and share with them our firsthand experiences. We also have a great variety of programs and internships conducted by highly qualified professionals and experts in their different fields of expertise.

How do you help support participants throughout their journey with Connecting Worlds Abroad?

I'm available for them 24/7 from the moment they land till they take off. I also contact them regularly to check on them and give them all the contention and support they may need throughout their volunteering experience with us. So even though they are having a very personal and independent experience, they never feel lost or alone.

Why do you do what you do?

Because I feel the need to share my experience as a globetrotter and I love to encourage others to travel and to engage themselves in the daily lives of the local people, which is the only way to really get to know another culture.

I'm convinced that if we all had these sort of experiences, we'd live in a more peaceful and friendly world; once you get to know other cultures firsthand, you realize that deep down inside we are all the same.

What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite task is to give our volunteers their first online orientation before they take off to their destination. They are usually very anxious and have a lot of questions to ask. I love answering their questions and giving them some safety and cultural tips that make them feel more reassured. And from that moment on, they know they can contact me anytime all throughout their program, so they feel that even though they're embarking on an adventure, they're not going to be alone at any time.

What challenges do you face in your role and how do you overcome them?

Sometimes volunteers have certain expectations on their programs, which don’t always match with reality. Of course, this leads to frustrations and sometimes to disappointment. In such situations, my challenge is to make them understand that accepting things as they are and still trying to make the most of whatever situation they are in is part of the challenge they accepted and what will enrich them most.

Learning to be flexible to to adapt to the local conditions is certainly the most valuable lesson anyone can get from traveling abroad! It allows you to discover skills and qualities you ignored you had, which will transform you for the better.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

I studied many languages and it's always useful to be able to communicate in the volunteer's native language. Besides this, I'm talking to them from my own first-hand experience, so I can empathize with them and understand their fears, and even share the unavoidable frustrations they'll have to overcome sometimes. I can also share with them all the knowledge I've gained in more than ten years of travelling around the planet!

Why do you think learning other languages is important in the world today?

Languages are the entrance-door keys to other cultures. In my personal experience, they have not only allowed me to really get to know people from very distant cultures, but they have also granted me a lot of working opportunities that I would have never had if I hadn't known these foreign languages!

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

It means not only sightseeing, exploring wonderful places, and trying exotic food! Meaningful travel implies life-changing experiences, the kind of interactions with others that transform you into a new and more interesting human being.

What do you hope participants take away from Connecting Worlds Abroad programs most?

I hope they learn to love and respect the local people and culture that hosts them and that they discover qualities and strengths in themselves that they didn't know they had. Volunteering abroad is a life-changing experience and I believe it always changes us for the better.

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

Because that's the best way to get rid of our prejudgements and fears about other cultures! To understand that we're all sharing more or less the same ideals, or are suffering for the same things, and longing for the same kind of peaceful and friendly human environment, wherever we go. The differences lie mainly on the surface, but once we live and interact with others, we quickly realize how alike we all are deep down inside.

Are there any new developments in recent months within your organization that you would like to share with us?

There's actually a new Medical Program in Buenos Aires that started a few months ago and has already proven to be a great success! The interns that have participated in it have left it absolutely fascinated. Dr. Javier Mastropierro, the program's director, is not only a prestigious surgeon, but he’s also a wonderful host. I highly recommend this program to all medical students and health professionals. They will not only learn a lot about our local health systems (public and private), but they will also have a wonderful time getting to know Buenos Aires and it's amazing culture.

What hopes do you have for the future of Connecting Worlds Abroad?

Our director, Cristina, is always looking for new programs and the international conjecture is favouring our destinations, as our programs and internships are now more economic than similar ones elsewhere. So, I believe that in the coming years our organization is going to attract more volunteers and interns, who will in time recommend our programs to others.

I definitely see a bright future for CW Abroad and I'm eager to be part of the changes ahead of us!

If you could participate in any Connecting Worlds Abroad program, which one would you choose and why?

I would probably choose the Child Care program in Bolivia. I love working with kids and I have not yet been to Bolivia. I believe that this particular program would make me feel very fulfilled.

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

To go for these experiences with an open mind, trusting their capability to adapt to different lifestyles. And, if possible, to have a local contact to turn to in case they find some difficulty or need some advice. This can save them some bad experiences and unpleasant surprises.

This is why I particularly recommend young people to organize their first trip abroad with one of our organizations.

What hopes do you have for the future of the field of international education?

One of the things that I hope for is that volunteering abroad will eventually become part of the regular education curricula of every country. I strongly believe that, if every youth had the opportunity to go to work abroad for a year, actively integrating him or herself in a different culture, then in less than twenty years this world would be a completely different and much better place for all human beings.