Volunteering throughout the world

Valley residents lend experience to those in need

JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer

Flo Wagner, left, and her husband David volunteered in Cambodia with American Jewish World Service this summer. The couple helped foster social and economic development.

Photo courtesy of Flo Wagner

Jews have a long-standing tradition of reaching out to those in need - Jews in Israel, Jews in Argentina, Jews in Ukraine or Jews in Europe. But sometimes, as two Scottsdale couples and a Tempe man have discovered, Jews must look beyond their own community to find others truly in need.

Joan and Irving Lowell, Flo and David Wagner and Victor Aronow dedicated their time and individual talents to the American Jewish World Service Jewish Volunteer Corps to help citizens of developing countries create a better life. Their contributions ranged from developing small businesses and marketing to assisting with AIDS prevention and sexuality courses in Asia and Central America.

Their trips mark the most recent in a long line of volunteer excursions. The Lowells spent two years in Kazakhstan with the Peace Corps and traveled to Russia and Ukraine with other volunteer organizations. Aronow traveled to Uzbekistan with an American Bar Association volunteer project. The Wagners are so frequently out of town that their grandchildren play "Where's Grandma?," their own spin-off of the popular children's books "Where's Waldo?"

Therefore, volunteering with AJWS seemed a natural next step - and the Jewish component further encouraged the couples and Aronow.

"I saw a newspaper article about AJWS when I was looking at an article for relief groups during Hurricane Mitch," Aronow recalls. "They had the usual cast of characters - Catholic Relief, Baptist this, Protestant that. And then I saw AJWS ... and I said "Whoa, what's this? A Jewish organization that isn't directed toward Israel or helping only Jews?"

In fact, the AJWS was established in 1985 to help alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among "the people of the world, regardless of race, religion or nationality," according to the organization's Web site. The Web site goes on to say that "(AJWS) breathes life into Judaism's imperative to pursue justice and helps American Jews act upon a deeply felt obligation to improve the chances for survival, economic independence and human dignity for all people."

The AJWS works in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) encouraging education, community building, health care and economic development. They also provide emergency and reconstruction aid to project partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and the Ukraine.

Aronow was so impressed by the AJWS mission that he sent the organization a monetary contribution. Two years later, he received a phone call from Joan and Irving Lowell requesting that he fill out an application to make a volunteer trip himself.

"They had a representative from AJWS at their house ... and they thought the program would be perfect for me," says Aronow. "That was the beginning of April (last year), and in May I was on a plane heading for El Salvador."

During his eight-week stay in Ciudad Romero on the southern coast, Aronow taught English to school children and adults. He worked underneath La Coordinadora, an NGO attempting to foster cooperative economic development and democracy in the country.

Aronow slept in a warehouse and began his days well before the sun came up.

"At 3:30 a.m., the roosters and chickens all over town would start crowing. They reach a crescendo at about 4, which would start the dogs (barking). Once the fowl stopped, the low tones of the donkeys and cows would set a basso line to the dogs. At 5 ... it was time to get up," he recalls.

Each morning, Aronow would enjoy breakfast cooked by a village woman and then hike about a mile to the main road where he would hitchhike to his classes.

"I would be on my way to an abandoned medical clinic turned classroom to teach English to a group of teenagers who wanted to talk to American visitors (that passed through their village)," he recalls.

Aronow, an adult education teacher for Mesa Public Schools, has a master's degree to teach English as a second language.

"The English comprehension was not high," he says. "I had to start all the way at the beginning with the alphabet. I always carried a piece of chalk with me, and a piece of paper and tape. There were no books."

But Aronow's students wanted to learn more than speaking English - they also wanted to know about Jews.

"People had a lot of questions and we would have discussions about the Holocaust and Jewish history," he says. "They kept asking the same question over and over again. 'How is it that the Jews have managed to survive?' We had a lot of interesting discussions about that."

In turn, Aronow learned much about the history of El Salvador - a country plagued by civil wars, malaria and economic depression.

"It's interesting because here is the Jewish Volunteer Corps sending these people to help build the liberation philosophy (in El Salvador)," he says. "It really isn't far from Jewish philosophy. I was in an area that was contested during the civil war. The people in the village I was in were forced to flee ... to Panama after their villages were burned to the ground."

But history of Jews and Latin Americans aside, Aronow developed a deep appreciation for what he coined "hard-working, ethical and friendly people."

"People everywhere are nice," he recalls. "The public transportation system was excellent. You can go anywhere in the country for just pennies. It was a rich and rewarding experience. ... Jewish tradition has much to contribute to the world at large."

Joan and Irving Lowell also felt they had much to contribute. They traveled to Chaig Mai, Thailand, for six weeks this summer, marking their first trip with AJWS.

The couple worked on two separate projects; Irving with WEAVE, a project to assist Burmese women with marketing handmade crafts; and Joan with the Thai Youth Aids Project, a series of workshops to educate Thai youth about AIDS prevention and sexuality.

Irving, who has 40 years of experience in business, helped Burmese women sell their weavings, tapestries and napkins to markets throughout the world - including the United States, Germany and Spain.

"The Burmese women come across the border to Thailand, escaping ethnic cleansing in their own country," says Irving. "But they do exceptional weaving and dying and they make very beautiful items - from eyeglass holders to wall hangings to slippers. I was trying to introduce them to some new products that might appeal to the modern market."

Irving also taught business English to Thai citizens interested in expanding their companies to the Western world.

Joan, currently the senior advancement officer for donor services at the Arizona Community Foundation, helped her group with strategic planning and management skills.

"They were a young group, mostly in their 20s," says Joan. "They educate other young people in the village about sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality and empowerment. AIDS is a major problem in Thailand."

But in between language courses and strategic management, the Lowells found time to do some light traveling and to explore the new culture around them.

"We lived a very simple life," says Joan. "We had one room that we shared, but we did have a private bath. We shopped in the local market and used the local transportation. It was a far cry from what we have here in Scottsdale, but it was absolutely wonderful."

The couple traveled to Bangkok, Laos and to a rice farm where there was no furniture.

"We sat on the floor for three days," recalls Joan. "The people were so wonderful. We never felt threatened or insecure."

However, the couple did get an e-mail from AJWS warning them of possible unrest toward Americans, due to the war in Iraq.

"I went to my client and I asked if they were uncomfortable with us there or if they felt we were putting them in danger," says Joan. "They said, 'Are you kidding? Please don't leave.' We never felt we were in any kind of uncomfortable situation."

Flo and David Wagner spent April and May in a placement with Angkor Participatory Development Organization in Siem Reap City, Cambodia. The couple focused their efforts on small-business development and grant writing - all in a country where most citizens are under age 45.

"I talk about it as an old-new country," says Flo. "It's a very old country, but they have only been on their own since 1996. The older generation is gone - killed in the Vietnam conflict or by the Khmer Rouge."

In spite of the absence of an older generation to guide business development, the Wagners found that Cambodians are eager to learn.

"They are extremely bright and ambitious," says Flo. "They want to learn everything and they soak it up like a sponge. They work six days a week, go to school at night and on Sundays they volunteer."

David worked closely with an NGO in Cambodia, strengthening community development and small-business growth.

"Economically, they are considered one of the poorest countries in the world," says David. "But, there is growth. It's not a democracy, but it's close to it. There are new initiatives for Cambodia from World Bank and others that consider it a key area for economic growth."

While David was assisting business development, Flo spent hours writing grant proposals and showing natives how to attract speakers for symposiums.

"I worked with one young man from beginning to end of how to recruit speakers, getting places to hold events and inviting people to listen," she recalls. "We did the whole entire thing together, faster than I've ever been able to do it here."

The Wagners also noticed that Cambodians speak English, and know lots of information about America.

"(Our accents) did confuse them because they have worked with the English, Canadians, Australians and Americans," says Flo. "That's enough to drive anyone crazy. But they know everything about America. They were protective of us. Most were Buddhists, a peaceful people, and they were kind, gentle, wonderful people that have been through some horrible situations."

The Lowells, Wagners and Aronow are convinced that their volunteerism will not end here. Whether with AJWS or other organizations, the group plans to continue making a positive impact on the world.

"I always feel like I'm between trips when I'm home," says Flo Wagner. "I love being out there. We've been in many countries. We come home and try to settle in. But then, inevitably, something interesting comes up and we go."

"We don't know what's next," says Joan Lowell. "But if AJWS comes up with something we're suited for, we would do it. We would love to do another assignment."

The AJWS supports more than 170 development projects in 40 countries, according to a press release. JVC volunteers from Arizona are assisted by the Lodestar Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

For more information, call (800) 889-7146 or visit www.ajws.org.

Contact the writer at jessica_barber@jewishaz.com.

Home