Our Global Connectedness
Kelli’s in Belize, 2013.
Belize captured my attention and stole my heart the first time I landed in the small, beautiful Caribbean country in 2013. Similar to most travelers landing in country, I was eager to learn about the culture, explore the barrier reef, meet the unique people, and strike that balance between relaxation and adventure. Little did I know at the time … my first trip to Belize had set my life’s sails in a new direction.
Taking the time to meet local leaders, better understand the history, education systems, and natural habitats was the opportunity of a lifetime to gain an appreciation for just how much we have in common with the country of Belize. I was absolutely eager to partner with these individuals for the long-term to be of service and create international experiences for curious minds of all ages.
It was on my return home when the landing gears had not been released to descend into my hometown airport and I had decided I was going to start an organization. Only days after my life-altering travels in Belize and I was fully engaged in and directing Global Service Partnerships (GSP).
For the last eight years, GSP has been focusing on English language development among primary aged youth in Belize. We organize international programs for global citizens of all ages to engage in meaningful and relevant service programs. Our goal(s) are to partner with the hard working educators to boost their language goals and be of support however possible. Belize is a young country – quite literally. As a whole, the country gained its independence in 1981. When you reflect upon those who call Belize home, nearly half of all Belizeans are under the age of 25. In all senses of the word, youth are truly the future and it has been a joy to work alongside this population.
The national language of Belize is English, but as you quickly learn … it’s a diverse, rich melting pot full of many languages! In fact, more languages are spoken in Belize than any other country in Central America. Among the many languages, you’ll hear three different dialects of Maya, Garifuna, Spanish, English, and one of my personal favorites: Kriol.
My favorite phrase in the Kriol language is “All ah we dah one.” In English, “All of us are one.”
Mural painting in downtown San Ignacio Town, Belize.
As an individual like many who are captivated by the wonders of travel, that phrase stopped me in my tracks. One of the greatest lessons I have learned along this life-long journey as a woman traveling this world and in my role facilitating international service programs is not that education is our ultimatum. Rather, it’s that putting ourselves in experiences to foster human understanding and empathy toward others is everything. I look at GSP as the avenue and channel to foster cross-cultural relationships and global citizenship in curious world travelers.
My journeys in Belize have taught me some of the greatest global citizenship lessons of my life. As we reach out to understand one another, we quickly realize that we all wish for health, safety, love, and security in our lives regardless of the borders we live within. Each individual walking this earth shares in the same emotions of grief, joy, sorrow, and gratitude. Understanding one another has little to do with how we present ourselves. Rather, understanding has everything to do with the desire and our willingness to reach “oneness” with one another.
We all want to dance when we hear our favorite beat.
We all start to drool when we smell our favorite foods.
We all crack a smile when we see the people we love.
The individuals we meet on our travels and journeys become friends, and if we’re lucky, these friendships remain and they become our sisters and brothers in this world. Our travels to befriend may not always be far. This may look like the neighbor next door, the familiar face at the grocery store checkout lane, or the new friend helping us reel our fish in the boat (and it’s a red snapper if we’re lucky!).
This entire world is home and what better proof of our humanity than to extend our warm hearts and open arms as we learn about one another. We share stories with one another, describe our parents, our families, our homes, and we quickly realize that we are one.
If we can take anything from this present global experience, it’s that the greatest forces in life are those we cannot see with the naked eye. Have you ever seen love cross a border? Perhaps not … because we are the carriers. It’s in you and me. We are the transporters of this binding glue that fosters such beautiful cross-cultural experiences and life-long relationships.
Let’s let our love be that gooey white Elmer’s glue that always seeps out and runs off the paper. Let’s let it take no shape so that it touches everyone we meet on our journeys. If we’re lucky, it won’t get wiped off the paper soon enough so it hardens and we keep these relationships for life!
This interconnected, love-bound world is an organized, beautiful masterpiece made of each of us from our respective homes. Our love knows no border. How do we truly analyze space and distance when we hold one another in our hearts while needing to be distanced? We cannot capture the greatest, positive forces in this world, so let’s let it fly!
We each play a role in the world we want to live in and I hope we keep our empathies and curiosities present in our next chapter forward. Here’s to looking forward while leaning on those deep appreciations we have created for one another near and far.
New memories, adventures, and relationships are on the horizon, and sooner than later, I cannot wait to let all of this shine at St. George’s Caye!
Kelli Soll (left) and Marni Henderson (right) on Ambergris Caye the final evening of our previous retreat. Look at that Caribbean Sea!
JOIN US ON ST. GEORGE’S CAYE!
This October, Kelli of Global Service Partnerships and Marni Henderson of Coalesce Discovery are hosting their annual Horizons Retreat at St. George’s Caye! Please consider joining us on this small, remote island!
Marni and Kelli joined forces to provide a unique, authentic Belizean retreat to take time for ourselves and realign our intentions. 2020 has given each of us a challenge to navigate and this is a great opportunity to rejuvenate and replenish.
Take time to be guided in every detail of this experience. Marni facilitates a phenomenal curriculum as Kelli is our Belizean travel guide.
In service and with gratitude,
Kelli Soll
Founder, Global Service Partnerships