Volunteer Work Leads to Emmy Nomination  by Sarah McCarty

“Either way, you will be forever changed!” LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE... Approaching his last year at the University of Utah, Ryan Oliver Hansen was working hard to polish his résumé and felt volunteer work would add character and integrity to his professional appearance. “The Loreto orphanage, a child refugee center run by Catholic nuns, was the place I called home for seven months of 2004.”

Ryan Oliver Hansen PictureSource: Daily Utah Chronicle

SUPPORT ABROAD... Ryan and the local coordinator in Ecuador drove into the country and arrived at a desolate orphanage. “When searching for a volunteer program, no one was able to offer an orphanage project. Alliance Abroad Group made a personal connection with me and understood what I wanted to do… They helped get me there.” After only a week at the orphanage, he felt comfortable and at home, and surprised by how easily he made the adjustment. “My American world of school, stress, cars, fast food, big malls, nice clothes, dating, hot water and tabloid-magazine, checkout lines seemed light years away. My every minute was spent doing what matters most, loving and serving. I had completely forgotten about the importance of being cool.”

THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT... “Orphans have a way of surpassing the emotional depth… a way of looking you in the eye that comes from nobody else but a helpless child who has never been loved by anyone.” In the remaining two weeks, Ryan made a dramatic decision, “I only wanted to sacrifice the summer, three months, but after everything I had been through and with only two weeks left, I knew I couldn’t leave. I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t done.” Ryan changed his program length from 3 months to 7 months, the longest length his visa would allow. “Originally, my trip was meant to be a summer-only endeavor; a fun, feel-good experience that would look smashing on my ever-improving résumé.”

RYAN’S ADVICE... Back in Utah, Ryan shares advice from his experience in Ecuador. Before you leave, “Be prepared to come home a completely changed person. Don’t be surprised if your career goals change, it can easily happen. Your life path may change as well, as did mine. Either way, you will be forever changed.” When returning home, “Be prepared for separation anxiety from the children and people, depression for not being able to save them and return culture shock [when you return home and have to readjust to your own country]. It sounds crazy, but believe me, when you decide to move to another country and live with a group of people in need of your help, they become your family and you become a stronger person from the love and appreciation they have for you.”

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE... Ryan stressed communication is a key component to getting the most out of your volunteer experience appreciates the service provided by Alliance Abroad Group was able to offer him, “I felt very secure with Alliance Abroad. Christina [Outbound Program Director] was there for me, everyday, answering questions and coordinating the placement, visa process and paperwork. She covered all aspects of the program and explained how to best prepare for it. Even while I was in Ecuador, Christina was still able to provide support through the local coordinators. It was a great first experience. It changed my life.”

WHERE RYAN IS TODAY... Ryan Oliver Hansen returned to the U.S. to complete his senior year at the University of Utah. Ryan had cancelled his fall semester classes when he decided to stay in Ecuador longer than his summer vacation. He returned to school in January 2005 and took summer classes to catch up. Now graduated, Ryan and his older brother, Patrick Hansen, have co-founded Green Eyes in Africa, a non-profit organization helping orphans in Africa. Ryan is currently living in Yaounde, Cameroon and working at the Marie Cecile Orphanage.

RYAN’S EMMY AWARD...
While completing his senior year at the University of Utah, Ryan wrote an article and about his experiences in Ecuador. Later Ryan took his article further and produced, An Orphan’s Gift, a documentary which won the 2005 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for a Student Production.

To read Ryan’s article and first-hand experience, click here.