162. SkillCorps® Journey, with Team Rwanda

Discover what’s possible when passion drives purpose. 

In today’s episode, we’re continuing to highlight our recent SkillCorps® trip to Rwanda. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities. 

This carefully curated 10-day journey includes developing culturally-relevant and sustainable training with our partner staff, listening to local Autistic Self-Advocates and family members to learn about their lived experiences, sharing meals with community members to brainstorm ideas and solutions, and executing a high-impact project to build on existing work being done in the country. 

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear our SkillCorps® Rwanda team members’ personal experiences and takeaways. Special shout out to SkillCorps® Alum and leader Kelly Cotter, who helped me guide this professionally diverse team of 10 global visionaries on this transformational journey. Even though the team members were complete strangers before they met in New York for orientation, by the end of our trip they had formed friendships that will last a lifetime. 

Apart from collaborating with our partners at Silver Bells, our SkillCorps® team also took in Rwandan culture through a range of activities, such as shopping at a night market, learning a local dance, and visiting an important historical museum. Each day left us surprised, inspired, and moved. 

The team had a virtual reunion two weeks after returning from our trip. We reviewed what we had learned and reminisced about some of our experiences. 

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• Memorable moments from the trip
• Global collaboration
• Sustainability
• The Global Autism Project’s model of Do With Not For
• Personal and professional growth
• Leadership
• Each team member’s post-trip commitment to their own community
• Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers

We’re currently taking SkillCorps® applications for travel in October 2024! 

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee. 

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