Art Beyond Borders, Ethiopia
Have you ever wanted to take a trip where you experience a foreign culture and touch lives? Are you looking for a meaningful way to spend your vacation next year? If so, this trip is for you! Email us if you'd like to be considered for our 2024 journey!
Drawchange has committed 6 years to one of the poorest communities of Adds Ababa, Ethiopia. The children often go to the community center for their daily meals and tutoring. The center accepts community children during after-school hours for their daily meals and tutoring as well as provides staple food items for their families.
If you join us on our next journey to Ethiopia, know that your life will never be the same after a trip with us.
Click here to apply for our 2024 journey
What Is The Trip About?
Art Beyond Borders is designed to provide empowering art experiences to children who otherwise would not be allotted the privilege of leisure art activities. Art Beyond Borders seeks volunteers who believe in the empowering properties art has in the lives of children. Art should not be excluded from global aid; it provides the creative element that no other form of aid can provide. We are changing the poverty mindset to one of hope through the use of art! We connect our volunteers with the resources necessary to become global advocates of the life-changing ability of art for children. We provide a safe, friendly, and fun environment to our volunteers. We travel together as a tight-knit team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We have visited Addis Ababa several times and have an extensive in-country network to guarantee safety and ensure an unforgettable cultural experience. We have previously created a self-sustaining program with a school in Costa Rica, and now it is our goal to do the same in the two community centers of Ethiopia. However, we cannot do it without your help! Please visit our photo albums on facebook for our past journeys and how we have previously helped the community.
"My apologies to any and all that have been expecting an update on our trip but honestly, I’ve been exhausted. We’ve been here since Saturday and it has been a whirlwind of community visits, art projects, playground games and pouring every bit of energy into the kids. After three years, this place still amazes me. Equally as amazing are the volunteers, from all walks of life, that show up just to do some good. Several I’ve known for some time now and others I’ve just recently met but each of them and many of the children and families now have a place in my life that I’ll never forget. I just finished sharing another meal with the amazing group assembled here during which I paused for just a split second and almost felt a tear welling up. The time feels like it’s flying by and, as I stare down the mountain into the city below, thinking about having to return to the “real world” I am reminded that we are already in it. This is the time that counts. These are the moments that will be remembered for a lifetime. I owe everyone that helped make this a reality a huge debt that I will never be able to repay." ~ Justin Oulton, 2015 Costa Rica Team Member
Our Wish For You
We truly want for you, the volunteer, to become a partner of Art Beyond Borders. We like to keep in touch with our volunteers and include them with further developments on programs they were a part of and helped to make a success. Volunteers work one-on-one with the program’s creators and get in-depth insight into the many layers of community development. Volunteer opinions count toward the success of our programs.
Project Dates
August 1-12, 2024 - tentative
We understand all volunteers may not be able to stay for the duration of the trip. To ensure a team environment, it is mandatory to be present the first 12 working days of the project.
Cost and Fundraising
Team members are encouraged to fundraise for their trip fee. We will set you up on a fundraising portal where you may interact with your donors and track your progress.
Approximate cost of trip: $3600-$4000.
Due at signing: $250 before May 15, 2024 or $400 after.
Your deposit fee is included in the overall cost of the trip minus a $50 administration charge.
Trip fees include the following for 10 days: airfare, ground transportation, most meals, lodging, taxes, and tips.
Payment Schedule*:
1/3 cost of trip is due by May 30
2/3 cost of trip is due by June 30
Total cost of trip is due by July 30
Daily late fees will be assessed.
Checks may be mailed to drawchange Inc, po box 55627, Atlanta, GA 30308. Daily late fees will be assessed. Cancellation and refund policy **
Who Is Eligible To Go And Application Procedures
Participants will be chosen from information provided on application forms, the skill set needed, and group demographics. Know your application can only be processed upon receipt of the initial deposit of $250. Email us if you are interested in joining us for our 2023 journey!
*Under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian.
If You’d Like To Support The Project But Cannot Physically Join Us
The team needs your tangible support. If you can support the trip financially, please do so by visiting our secure donation page here. Please notate “Ethiopia Project” in the special instructions box. Those who stay can be as important as those who go, and every little bit counts! You are important to the success of the trip’s mission!
Itinerary Snippet Or Example
Overview: We will arrive in Addis Ababa and will rest that day and evening. Bright and early the following day we will begin visiting the community centers and touring the area where we will be spending the remainder of the trip. During the rest of the week, volunteers will work with the program directors to execute the intensive Art Beyond Borders program. Volunteers have the opportunity to create strong bonds with the students and have 100% involvement in creating lasting change for the children. The language barrier between the volunteer and students dissolve in the process of connecting through art! It is a wonderful experience that our volunteers value.
Ethiopia, often referred to by scientists as the, “The cradle of civilization”, is a country with a long and storied history and the home of unparalleled natural beauty. We are pleased to offer our volunteers the last two days* of our trip as excursion opportunities to explore the wonders of Ethiopia.
On our final day with the children, volunteers are invited to share final moments through an inter-cultural exchange art exhibit and party. Volunteers are encouraged to record video logs on the final day expressing the experience for future volunteers.
Recap
Prior to departure: Several team meetings will be held to solidify our team, answer any questions, and provide all the information necessary to make your trip a success!
Average trip size: 5-7 Team Members
Full trip cost: $3600-$4000*
* Subject to change dependent on costs of accommodations and airfare
** Cancellation and refund policy
All cancellations must be in writing, emailed to drawchange and must be made before February 14, 2023. In the event that drawchange has to cancel the trip, a full trip cost refund minus taxes, fees, and administrative costs will be issued or used towards the project’s success. You may choose to save your funds raised for the following year's trip and only the following year for you to go. In the event that drawchange does not return to Ethiopia or you decide not to go the following year, monies will be used towards drawchange's programs.