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(Image Copyright Planetary Visions Limited) The 2009 Travel Grant Winner is Jessica Lah Read Jessica's story HERE (pdf) In 1991, the Los Angeles Council of HI-USA created the "Spirit of Adventure Award." This honorary award recognizes an individual (or individuals), regardless of age, who, through his or her experiences, has demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and curiosity while traveling abroad. Primary consideration will be the spirit and manner in which the nominees undertook their travels, their ability to give interesting presentations, and their experiences in hostels. The recipient of the award will be honored with special recognition and a HI-USA Life Membership, both of which will be presented at the HI-Members Annual Meeting & Party. The exact date will be announced on this web site and via our print and E-editions of our newsletter The Wanderer. The award recipient must be able to attend the Annual Meeting & Party to receive the award. After receiving the award, the recipient will make a presentation on his or her adventures and travel experiences. Maybe you know a person you would like to nominate? Do they have an itchy foot and curious mind? Is it someone whose life plan involves meeting people of different cultures and visiting the far off corners of the globe? Do they have an unquenchable desire to see the world and meet its people? Is that person someone who understands that travel is a vehicle for better human understanding? Maybe that person is you! Take a look at the stories (written below) about a few of the more recent Spirit of Adventure Award recipients and see the kind of adventurous travelers we wish to honor. If you wish to nominate someone, including yourself, please send us the name and contact information for your nominee (including phone numbers). Tell us about your nominee and their travels and why you believe they should receive this award. Go ahead. Impress us (we love photos)! State your reasons for submission and mail the information to: SOAA Award Committee or, Submit your nomination electronically to programs@lahostels.org
Past Spirit of Adventure Award (SOAA) Recipients
If you are 17-26 and live within the greater Los Angeles area, HI-USA can help make your travel dreams come true! The Los Angeles Council of Hostelling International USA presents an annual Travel Grant in the amount of $1,000 to an individual who is just beginning his or her travel experiences in life. It is the goal of the Los Angeles Council to encourage and promote the pursuit of world exploration and experiential learning (i.e. learning from direct life experiences) through this grant. The applicant’s abilities to learn from his or her unique real-world experiences and to share these experiences with HI-USA members upon returning from the trip play a large part in the selection process.
In addition to the $1,000 award, the Travel Grant recipient will be given an HI-USA Life Membership (a $250 value). The $1,000 will be split into two payments: an initial $500 payment prior to departure, and the remaining $500 upon the recipient’s return and submission of his/her completed project. Please Note: The application process for the 2010 HI Travel Grant is from January 1, 2010 - March 15, 2010. Download the application here for more information! Download the 2010 Travel Grant Application (right click, save as...) CHECK IT OUT! Past Travel Grant Recipient Projects Samuel Byker of Los Angeles, 2008 Travel Grant recipient Sam is a nineteen year old Economics and History double-major at Brown University. With six of his classmates, Sam traveled four weeks in the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam. Their goal was to collect footage for a documentary about a newly created non-governmental organization, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), that pioneered the Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) initiative. Sam and his team immersed themselves in towns and remote villages, illuminating the impact that artificial light has on communities and individuals. Sam stated in his application that "LaBL provides a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, satisfying a fundamental need for electricity while also stimulating entrepreneurial activity. Its innovative model is replicable throughout India -and beyond- but the organization remains in the early stages of growth." This project will boost TERI's international presence. See Sam's photo journal colorfully depicting his trip and commentary explaining what he witnessed. In the 2008-2009 school year, Sam and his classmates will create media for LaBL, such as videos, podcasts and slideshows. Additionally, a shorter documentary will be presented at the Clinton Global Initiative Summit. After university, Sam wishes to pursue a public service career. Sarah Holden of Claremont, 2007 Travel Grant recipient Sarah is a graduate from Scripps College with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Religious Studies. Sarah planned a European trip, focusing her time mainly in Italy. She viewed this trip as an opportunity to enrich her understanding of what she pursued in college “in person rather than on a page.” Throughout Italy she stayed in convents and monasteries that operated also as hostels. With her sketch book in hand, Sarah recorded images for future reference in her art-making. After her three month journey Sarah submitted this essay and two-dimensional mixed media art examples, documenting the lives of the Italian nuns she met and the various sacred spaces she traveled to along the way. Kimberly Bautista of Pasadena, 2006 Travel Grant recipient Kimberly was a student at Pitzer College with a double-major in Media Studies and Spanish. She participated in a Study Abroad Program in Ecuador, and planned an independent study project where she interviewed Colombians living in Ecuador to see how they had assimilated to Ecuadorian culture and society. Kimberly used her travel grant money to visit Colombia. She was able to compare the cultural challenges of those she interviewed for her documentary, on Colombian identity, to her own struggles of being a person "struggling to be accepted as Colombian and gringa (North American) at the same time." Kimberly stated in her application that she "would love to receive a grant to travel from Ecuador to Colombia to explore the theme of a displaced people, ‘mis compatriotas,’ more deeply." Footage she shot in Colombia served as the material she used for her senior theses. See Kimberly's photos and five minute video showcasing her interviews with Colombians and her explorations of what it is to be in a country full of displaced people and the struggles they have maintaining their national and cultural identity. Kim Kurcab of Irvine, 2005 Travel Grant recipient Kim is a graduate from UC Irvine with a career objective to work in ecological restoration and conservation. She joined the Global Volunteer Network to work on an environmental community service project in New Zealand. This was the perfect trip to compliment her years of university education and give her fieldwork experience in a volunteer capacity. Her volunteer program was based in Wellington and the southern part of the North Island. Kim helped in a variety of projects from wildlife surveys, native species restoration to areas that have been invaded by exotic alien species and national park environmental maintenance. In addition, Kim worked with a team of volunteers from all over the world, learning about indigenous and immigrant people from the area. Upon the return from her two month trip, Kim created a detailed photo journal of her experiences in New Zealand. For more information or to obtain an application please call the HI-Travel Centre at (310) 393-3413 or email us at programs@lahostels.org, or Download application.
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