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Loy Kratong “Festival of
Lights” in Thailand: During
Don’t have a semester to take off?
this festival, on the night of the
full moon (which generally falls
You can still do a world of good and absorb some
in November), volunteers,
serious culture on a variety of programs around the
together with legions of Thai
world. Globe Aware offers one-week tax-deductible
people, honor the original
volunteer vacations in 15 locations around the globe.
Buddha in a variety of
beautiful displays. Once
The organization sets out to accomplish two
darkness falls, they launch
missions: to promote sustainability and cultural
thousands of handmade hot
awareness. They believe in the motto, “Have Fun,
air balloons into the skies to
Help People.” And why not do just that by
ward off bad luck. Everyone
participating in an international volunteer program
also gathers to release
during a unique cultural festival? By celebrating side
individually made “candle
by side with community members during times that
rafts” about the size of a
hold special meaning for them, your window to their softball into rivers around the
cultural world will be especially revealing. The country. These “loy kratong”
events discussed here are both picturesque and are often made from banana leaves,
packed with cultural meaning. 
 flowers, incense and more. The word “loy” means “to float,” and


“kratong” means “little basket of flowers and offerings.” The act of floating
Globe Aware® is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit charity that
one’s kratong downriver is symbolic of letting go of one’s negativity, and
mobilizes short term volunteer programs around the
makes for a spectacular site! Some also believe this honors the Goddess
world with no religious or political affiliation. All
of Water. Loy Kratong Day in 2010 falls on November 21, 2010.
volunteers are accompanied by a bilingual volunteer
Volunteers on Globe Aware’s Thailand volunteer program (just outside
coordinator to assist the volunteer throughout their
Bangkok) during this time participate in all the local evening festivals;
during the day, volunteers work closely with monks on a variety of
program. The program fee and the airfare to get
community projects.
there are fully tax deductible to the full extent of the

law. Globe Aware is a member of International

Volunteer Programs Association, Volunteers for
Semana Santa in Peru: For Christians, the last week before Easter is
Prosperity, the Building Bridges Coalition, is in
“Holy Week;” which is the most important Catholic festival in South
Special Consultative Status with the United Nations
America. It begins on Palm Sunday and commemorates the last week of
Social and Economic Council, and administers the
Jesus Christ’ life on earth, culminating with his crucifixion and
President’s Volunteer Service Awards.
resurrection on Easter. In 2010, Semana Santa begins March 27
th
and
goes to April 5th. The week is marked by many colorful ceremonies and
The organization has been featured in numerous rituals. During the Globe Aware Andean Village Experience, the week
documentaries and profiled by ABC World News includes a midnight candlelight procession through the cobblestone town.
Tonight, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, National
Day time community work projects vary from English teaching, adobe
Georgraphic Traveler, USA Today, Time Magazine,
stove building, etc.
the New York Times, Business Week, Newsweek, and

many others.



Additionally, Globe Aware offsets its carbon

emissions with Carbonfund.org, the country’s leading

carbon offset organization. The organization’s carbon


footprint is estimated at less than 70 tons annually,

and they have chosen to support carbon-reducing

projects in renewable energy to offset the CO2 that is

produced in running our offices worldwide,

from powering our offices to the transportation used

to get to and from our work sites. This commitment

places Globe Aware as an environmental leader in

the volunteer abroad community and demonstrates

proactive steps being taken in the fight against global
climate change. To participate, call toll free 1-877-
588-LUV-GLOBE (588-4562) or online Other Festivals:
www.globeaware.org.
Tet in Vietnam: Feb. 14, 2010 – Year of the Tiger

Carnival in Jamaica: Feb. 16 2010
Hogbetsotso Festival in Ghana: 1st Saturday of Nov. (Volta Region)
Mass picnic & sing-a-long at Junii Brasovului in Brasov, Romania: April



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