Give Back Cincinnati is one of the region's largest and most successful volunteer organizations. With more than 5000 YP members, it's most known for its massive one-day and weekend events where hundreds of people at a time go to Cincinnati neighborhoods cleaning, painting and fixing up deserving homes.
But a smaller group of dedicated do-gooders aren't content with lending a helping hand only to fellow Cincinnatians. They're members of
Give Back Beyond, a domestic and international volunteer program, in partnership with overseas chapters of
Habitat for Humanity.
Give Back Beyond started five years ago, with the first of what has become an annual trip to hurricane devastated New Orleans. From there, the group traveled further, with recent trips to Guatemala and Romania. For the first time this year, Give Back Beyond will be heading to Vietnam and has plans to go to Ghana.
"I first got involved with Give Back Cincinnati a few years ago through going to some of their social events, then I got involved with volunteer events," said Megan Lobaugh, who's organizing this year's Guatemala trip in April. Then she found out about Give Back Beyond.
"I love to travel. Any opportunity I have to travel, especially internationally, I try to take advantage of it," said Lobaugh, a radiological engineering grad student at the University of Cincinnati. Lobaugh's first Give Back Beyond trip was to Romania.
She'll travel with at least a dozen other YPs to Xela, a large city to the Northwest of Guatemala City. While there, the group will build brick and mortar homes and visit a school members' sponsor in partnership with a local anti-poverty charity
Cooperative for Education.
They'll also get some down time, visiting Antigua's open air markets and shops.
"It's a great tourist city," she said.
Give Back Beyond is still taking applications for Guatemala. You can find out more about the organization, or apply
here. The cost for the Guatemala trip is approximately $1,400, which includes a $500 donation to Habitat for Humanity.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Megan Lobaugh, Give Back Beyond member
You can follow Feoshia on twitter
@feoshiawrites
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