Globe Aware volunteers intending to arrange flights or travel through these countries should be aware of the current situation.
Latest travel advice for Israel, Iran and other Middle East countries
With recent attacks between Iran and Israel threatening to escalate tensions, here is the latest Foreign Office travel advice for countries in the region.
By James Hockaday 15 April 2024 Yahoo! News
British foreign secretary Lord David Cameron has said Israel should think “with head as well as heart” as he urged it not to retaliate to a drone and missile attack by Iran. The strike in the early hours of Sunday has raised fears of escalation towards a wider regional war in the Middle East, but Israeli officials said 99% of more than 300 drones and missiles had been intercepted.
Vietnam has secured the 5th position among the top 10 best graduation trips to undertake in 2024. It’s the perfect destination for Globe Aware volunteers planning one as a gift to a graduate!
Vietnam among top 10 graduation destinations of 2024
By Bich Phuong March 4, 2024 VNExpress
PTVietnam has secured the 5th position among the top 10 best graduation trips to undertake in 2024, recognized for its affordability, according to travel magazine Lonely Planet.
Vietnam stands out as the only Asian destination on Lonely Planet’s list of 10.
Songkran marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is usually celebrated from April 13-15. It is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for Globe Aware volunteers to visit.
By Karla Cripps April 5, 2024 CNN
On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival appears to be just one great big water fight.
Every April, people young and old take to the streets all over the country, armed with plastic guns and water buckets, and engage in hours-long battles from morning till dusk.
And while that’s certainly the most famous aspect of the celebrations, Songkran is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for travelers to visit.
Globe Aware volunteers may not be surprised to learn that five out of the six biggest six US airlines have raised their checked bag fees since January 2024. Here are the reasons why.
By Jay L. Zagorsky March 28, 2024 CNN
Five out of the six biggest US airlines have raised their checked bag fees since January 2024.
Take American Airlines. In 2023, it cost $30 to check a standard bag in with the airline; today, as of March 2024, it costs $40 at a US airport – a whopping 33% increase.
Here are some great tips for our Globe Aware volunteers who are also retirees with health issues. Find out what steps you can take before you depart on your volunteer vacation abroad.
Savvy Senior: Healthy Travel Tips for Older Travelers
March 31, 2024 By Traci Bishop Savvy
What tips can you offer retirees with health issues who are planning some trips? We’ve been looking forward to traveling again after staying home the past few years, but my husband has a heart condition and some back problems that worry me.
Concerned Wife
Dear Concerned,
A dream vacation can turn into a real nightmare if you get ill or injured while you’re away and aren’t prepared. Before setting out, here are some tips to help ensure a safe and healthy trip for you and your husband.
Get prepared: Before you go, talk with your doctor about your travel itinerary and what precautions you need to take before traveling. You should also have your doctor’s contact information with you when you travel, as well as a list of the medications you’re taking in case you need emergency medical care while you’re away.
It’s also a smart idea to locate health clinics or urgent care facilities near the areas you’re visiting. Your hotel can help you with this or a simple internet search can identify nearby health care services. If you’re traveling abroad, the U.S. consulate or embassy in the countries you’re visiting (go to step.state.gov to enroll your trip) is a good place to get a referral. Or use the International Society of Travel Medicine’s directory at ISTM.org.
If you’re traveling outside the U.S., you also need to find out the health conditions of the country you’re visiting and what, if any, vaccinations and/or preventative medications are recommended. See CDC.gov/travel or call 800-232-4636 to get this information.
Check your insurance: If you have private health insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan through an HMO or PPO that covers in-network doctors only, check your plan to find out what’s covered if you need medical care when traveling outside your geographic area.
Beneficiaries that have original Medicare are covered everywhere in the U.S. But if you’re traveling abroad, you won’t be covered outside the U.S. and its territories except in rare circumstances, although some Medicare Advantage plans and some Medigap supplemental policies do provide limited coverage. Most private health plans don’t pay health care costs outside the U.S. either. Be sure to check.
Many retirees traveling abroad purchase travel insurance with medical coverage, which may cover expenses if you cancel the trip, need to be treated while traveling or need to be evacuated for medical care. Make sure the policy will also cover your preexisting medical conditions. To shop and compare policies visit TravelInsurance.com, InsureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth.com.
Organize your medications: Make sure you have a sufficient supply of medications to last the entire trip.
If traveling by air, you need to pack your medicine in your carry-on bag, so if your checked luggage gets lost or misdirected you won’t be without. It’s best to keep your medications in their original containers to get through airport security without delays. It’s also a good idea to bring along a note from your doctor that explains why you take these medications, especially if syringes or other medical supplies are involved.
For airport security requirements visit TSA.gov – click on “Disabilities and Medical Conditions.” You can also call TSA Cares at 855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint.
Maximize technology: Keep a list of your medications and other important health and medical information handy on your smartphone so you can easily access and share it with emergency health care providers when you’re traveling. Some good apps that can help with this are Backpack Health (BackpackHealth.com) and Capzule (Capzule.com).
Passport checks for air travellers lifted as Bulgaria and Romania join EU’s Schengen
News from Romania for our Globe Aware volunteers planning travel in Europe. Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport checkpoints for those departing to or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open-travel zone.
Passport checks for air travellers lifted as Bulgaria and Romania join EU’s Schengen
By Reuters March 31, 2024
SOFIA, March 31 (Reuters) – Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport check points for those departing to or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open-travel zone.
The two countries reached an agreement late last year to join Europe’s free-travel area by air and sea after Austria opposed full membership, including land crossings, saying Romania and Bulgaria needed to do more to prevent illegal immigration.
A pension risk consultant’s journey to Africa as a volunteer with Globe Aware evolved into a significant initiative for a remote village in Ghana, profoundly altering both the village’s prospects and the consultant’s own life.
A pension risk consultant’s volunteer trip to Africa became an impactful project for a small village in Ghana—and a life-changing experience for him.
By ALEX ORTOLANI Art by JOHN CUNEO March 26, 2024 PLANADVISER
When Mike Devlin turned 40, his one request for a gift was about giving: He wanted to fulfill a lifelong goal of doing volunteer work in Africa.
Did Globe Aware volunteers know that the locals in our program locations like Goa and the Philippines also celebrate Easter? Discover how across this vast continent, Easter is a vibrant testament to Asia’s diverse cultural heritage.
Celebration of Easter in Asian countries with tradition and rituals
March 19, 2024 Travel and Tour World
Easter, a time of reflection and joy across the globe, unveils its unique splendor in Asia through a mosaic of cultural festivals that blend tradition, spirituality, and community celebration. Across this vast continent, Easter is not merely a religious observance but a vibrant testament to Asia’s diverse cultural heritage.
India, renowned for its lively festivities, celebrated Holi, the festival of colors, this past weekend. Globe Aware volunteers can find out what’s the meaning of this happy celebration.
Holi 2024: Date, history, significance, and how to celebrate the festival of colors
The Economic Times Mar 23, 2024
Synopsis Holi 2024: As vibrant festival of Holi arrives, it brings a period of renewal and positivity. Holi, a jubilant celebration of camaraderie, commemorates tales of love and bravery from Hindu mythology, fostering unity and joy. Celebrate with loved ones, organic colors, and traditional rituals, spreading love and forgiveness amidst festive treats.
Follow along on this reporter’s account of Kimberly Haley-Coleman’s circuitous journey from the world of finance and museums, to founding Globe Aware, an organization facilitating one-week volunteer vacations in 21 countries, catering to individuals with demanding work schedules. Her initiative emphasizes mutual learning, community involvement, and sustainable progress, transcending traditional volunteerism narratives. Additionally, she launched an innovative affordable luxury concept, The Tickle Bar, during the pandemic, aiming to spread joy and create jobs. Through her ventures, Haley-Coleman embodies a fusion of business acumen and compassionate engagement, fostering a global community invested in sustainable change and meaningful connections.
By Kathryn Orr SMU Journalism Undergraduate for Southern Methodist University’s “The Daily Campus”
Kimberly Haley-Coleman is an entrepreneur redefining the contours of philanthropy, transcending conventional business paradigms to foster impactful global change.
A graduate of Emory University, she embarked on a journey through the realms of finance, working for various organizations such as CNBC.com and developing the stock prediction tool Dcipher. Haley-Coleman defined her work as fulfilling and found that her constant travel liberated her from a desk-bound routine.
However, Haley Coleman’s childhood was also filled with perpetual travel, encouraging her wanderlust, and thus, by the time she began traveling for work, she found a need to engage in cities beyond the tourist attractions. Haley-Coleman approached non-governmental organizations abroad on her days off but found getting involved with short-term volunteerism challenging. NGOs needed her help, but with the time it takes to train someone, they needed her to be able to stay long-term.
Haley-Coleman, however, began taking matters into her own hands and organizing her own service opportunities. Instead of going through NGOs, Haley-Coleman would go directly to schools, people’s homes, and corporations and ask them what they needed, if anything could be done, and how they wanted it done. After a few trips, she began to realize the level of demand these communities had for her help. In addition, each time she returned home, she found a high level of interest with her peers in what she was doing and would have several people ask to join her on her next trip.
After witnessing the overwhelming interest from others to join her cause, she began to reflect on the life of an individual who works a typical nine-to-five. She expressed difficulty fathoming a life without travel or physical engagement. These contemplations drew the realization that there is a widespread desire for greater life experiences and that many countries need assistance, prompting Haley-Coleman to carve out a new path.
She explains that starting her own business scared her, but the idea of people being bound to a cubical devoid of physical connections scared her more.
“Clearly, if you’ve got a mortgage, children, or a job, you just can’t be away that long. And while things have been changing for many years in the United States, five or ten days of paid vacation has been a typical top-out. And that’s the genesis of how this all came about, to begin with.” Said Haley-Coleman
Thus, with the yearning for impactful travel experiences in 2001, Globe Aware was co-founded. The paradigm-shifting organization curates one-week volunteer vacations across 21 counties.
“Clearly, if you’ve got a mortgage, children, or a job, you just can’t be away that long. And while things have been changing for many years in the United States, five or ten days of paid vacation has been a typical top-out. And that’s the genesis of how this all came about, to begin with.”
Kimberly Haley-Coleman
This novel venture caters to individuals entrenched in demanding work schedules, offering them a gateway to contribute to communication worldwide. The ethos of Globe Aware revolves around fostering meaningful engagements devoid of the stereotypical volunteerism narrative. Its initiatives aim not for fleeting gestures but for sustainable, meaningful engagements.
Probably the best week of my life. We helped renovate a worn-down school for young kids. We added gardens and a driveway, painted it, re-did the roof, and made it more current. To be able to travel and volunteer with all my friends from my company was something I’ll never forget,” said Nori Schiller, volunteer in the 2022 Mérida, Mexico Volunteer Vacation.
The organization stands apart in its approach, advocating mutual learning and collaboration through the patronizing lens associated with volunteerism. Haley-Coleman emphasizes community involvement, ensuring locals lead initiatives and define their needs for sustainable progress.
In addition, Globe Aware offers financial assistance to the community during volunteer vacations. However, Haley-Coleman finds that the most benefit comes from the involvement between the community and the volunteers. The bond forged provides a unique insight into the local culture, providing an experience beyond the reach of ordinary tourists.
“…there are no heroes on our end…. Voluntourism has rightly been criticized for having a white savior complex where people are taking pictures of poor people and pretending to be Angelina Jolie. Well, here, that doesn’t happen.” Said Haley-Coleman
During her time in Cambodia, helping assemble wheelchairs for children impacted by landmines, Haley-Coleman experienced a profound emotional connection to the impact of Globe Adware’s work. She vividly recalls the immense appreciation from her parents, understanding that the gift was more than a wheelchair but a gift of mobility and sustainability. It was the realization that the volunteers also have care and concern for their child’s well-being.
“I mean, in many ways, this kind of service is incredibly selfish because of what it does for you,” said Haley-Coleman.
With over 20 years of volunteer vacations, Globe Aware came to a halt amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, Haley-Coleman remained persistent in creating positive change. Her entrepreneurial spirit surged forth in creating The Tickle Bar, a venture born from the desire to spread joy and create jobs in her hometown of Dallas, TX, in a beneficial way that would help people get back on their feet.
Haley-Coleman articulates that, even with the evident lockdown conditions, she longed for the physical sensations of massages and nail salons, especially the nostalgic, childlike sensation of back tickles. Thus, in a time of isolation, she was resolute in reintroducing the community back to Dallas.
Originally, Haley-Coleman aimed to manage The Tickle Bar until resuming full-time work with Globe Aware during post-pandemic travels. Yet surpassing its initial expectations, The Tickle Bar flourished far beyond the pandemic’s scope. Haley-Coleman noted even after tripling the prices, the demand continued to soar.
Globe Aware and The Tickle Bar testify to Haley-Coleman’s business acumen and dedication to community impact. Through these ventures, she demonstrated a keen ability to create sustainable models that benefit local and global communities.
“Working with Kimberly is nothing short of amazing. She and Globe Aware do an excellent job of making you feel at home in a place far away.” Said two-time Globe Aware Volunteer Kate Underwood.
Kimberly Haley-Coleman’s transition from finance to founding Globe Aware epitomizes an entrepreneurial journey underscored by a profound commitment to impactful change. Her venturers exemplify a fusion of business acumen and compassionate engagement, forgiving a global community to invest in sustainable change and meaningful connections.
