From Ellicottville to Africa
From Ellicottville to Africa
Callie Rounds raising funds to build an orphanage in Tanzania
As August gives way to September, most local 17-year-olds are gearing up for their final year of high school, a year devoted to last hurrahs, fun with friends, and college plans. Ellicottville native Callie Rounds is not like most 17-year-olds, however. Not only did Callie double up on high school courses in order to graduate at 16, but she’s also spent the past year and a half traveling the world full-time, with 16 countries under her belt. This fall, she’s undertaking an impressive goal of fundraising in order to return to Tanzania, where she spent five and a half weeks volunteer teaching in one of the region’s most impoverished communities.
A couple of years ago, a friend whom Callie met at a singing camp told her about a volunteering experience she’d had in Fiji. Intrigued, Callie researched countries that needed the most help, which led her to International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), a global non-profit organization that hosts travelers from hundreds of countries in over 50 locations worldwide. IVHQ connects prospective volunteers to their destination and project choices for trips of one week or longer and provides lodging, food, and airport transportation.
Since 2015, IVHQ is the first and only volunteer travel provider to be a certified B Corporation, a process which involves a rigorous external audit based on the highest social and environmental standards. IVHQ is also the only volunteer travel company to be a member of the Volunteer Groups Alliance (VGA), which is aligned with the United Nations and its 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
At 16, Callie’s choices for solo traveling through IVHQ were somewhat limited, as travel to unsafe countries, such as Kenya, required her to be 18 or older. “In Tanzania, there was a real need for quality childcare and schools, and I really wanted to be in a place where I could make a difference,” said Callie. In January 2020, Callie departed for Arusha, Tanzania, an experience which would forever change her life.
“Hitting the ground there was amazing,” Callie recalled. “There was definitely a bit of culture shock. The situation there was devastating.” She stayed in a volunteer house hosted by IVHQ with many volunteers, including nurses and other hospital volunteers, and those with no medical experience who were trained on the ground.
Callie worked in the local schools, many of which had one teacher for 30 or more children ranging in age from two to 12. On many occasions, Callie would volunteer in the schools all day and then volunteer in the evening at the local hospital, where she’d talk to and comfort parents who were waiting for their children to come out of life-saving surgeries. Although she learned the basics of Swahili prior to her departure, Callie learned even more on the ground.
“There was just not enough help there, even before COVID,” Callie pointed out. “I extended my trip for as long as possible. When I left after five and a half weeks, all I could think about was coming back someday.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, several childcare centers, schools, and orphanages in Tanzania have shut down due to a lack of funding. Callie plans to return to Arusha at the beginning of 2022 in order to work with the manager of TGM Childcare Center to build a small six-room orphanage with classrooms on the bottom floor to meet the many needs of the community. Callie is excited to be working with the friends she made at TGM, a trusted organization that aims to create programming that can eventually become run by members of the Arusha community, rather than volunteers.
Callie has set a fundraising goal of $30,000 to fund construction costs of the orphanage/school, build a large garden to start a self-sustainable food system, beds, desks and chairs, books, pens, and toys for the children at school, and a fund for temporary and long-term teachers. “I’m currently collecting clothes in sizes two to 12 for kids, as well as bedding,” said Callie. “All of the money I raise will be going towards this project. I will be paying for my own airfare, food, and lodging.”
Toward that end, Callie has been working to raise money to cover her expenses. Most recently, she traveled to the state of Washington to work for a company that does drone photography for three different vineyards. “I’m not sure if college will be what I want to do, but I love learning,” said Callie. “I love taking courses, but not in the traditional way!”
Once Callie has raised enough money, she plans to return to Tanzania, possibly as early as February. There, she’ll be sharing photos and updates of the progress she and her team are making on her website. To contribute to Callie’s fundraiser, visit https://gofund.me/eff0d8d0.