public service

“Technology is meant to create connections between people who are far away, not create new distances between people who are already near.”

Normally I am advising people on how to conduct service work in a way that build relationships and forges connections, but the same things apply to the challenge of communicating about your work back to people at home. Being an ambassador after all is not just about going one place and helping there, it’s about bringing the value of what you have done back home, and helping others find meaning in what you have done. It’s a two way street. But it’s HARD to tell stories, especially in 600 words or less! Not only is there too much to say, but sometimes you haven’t even processed it yourself anyway! So here are a few tips that can help you pull together poignant, meaningful stories – even if you’re still figuring it out.

focus This is a great opportunity to lay out the broad outline of your story, and you will fill in the blanks as you go. This first piece is precious, but can easily become trite, or wandering, without unique focus. Why did you choose to do this trip? What question do you hope to be able to answer? You probably have a million reasons and a million questions, but just pick one each. You’ll realize this becomes a theme in effective storytelling: you need to give your audience something clear to cling on to. It won’t be the full picture that’s going on in your head and that’s OK! People are more likely to engage and be intrigued with a simple, straightforward “Journey” storyline.

“Before you get daunted with the millions and billions of people that you’d like to help, just start with the one you can help right now.”

empathy We spend so much time listening to ourselves and thinking about what we want to say to the world (or not say to the world) – sometimes this means we forget how to just sit back an experience the world outside of ourselves, and understand others outside of ourselves. When you arrive in country, you will definitely think about your own reactions and challenges, but as you prepare the 1st post, take time to build relationships with foreign friends so that you can build empathy as well. It can get boring to read someone’s reflections live-journal style – challenge yourself to give your readers insight into the hearts and minds of those you came to serve. How are you being perceived? Do people really want what you came to offer? If no, what would have been better? If yes, what is the best part of what you’re offering? Aim for empathy with others in your new home, and sometimes you’ll find you discover yourself in a whole new light.

“Believe that you need to engage with people who are different from you in order to grow.”

patience As you prepare essay #2 think about what you originally set out to learn or do and assess progress. What are people capable of understanding if they have not been where you have been? I guarantee you it will feel frustrating when you get back to assimilate back to a place after you have changed so much. So think of ways to positively channel that frustration by writing a great story. You won’t be able to include every nuance in a blog post, but remember to stick to your core point. Keep looping in the question you began with!

“Time spent listening, developing rapport, and earning trust proved to be critical to the design of our organization, and to the community’s role in investing in and shaping our path.”

HUMILITY When you sit down to write your final post, try to stay away from sounding like you’ve figured out the solution to universal primary education in a few weeks or months in-country. You may have years ahead of you to properly understand an issue, so don’t take on too much in one post. Be honest about what challenges you encountered on your trip; things you didn’t know, things that made you vulnerable. Recount a specific encounter as an example of a point you want to make, those are the most powerful kind.

“Even if you are an expert on a topic, you have to show that you are teachable.”

1. Focus 2. Empathy 3. Patience 4. Humility Disconnectivity Paradox When you sit down to write your final post, try to stay away from sounding like you’ve figured out the solution to universal primary education in a few weeks or months in-country. You may have years ahead of you to properly understand an issue, so don’t take on too much in one post. Be honest about what challenges you encountered on your trip; things you didn’t know, things that made you vulnerable. Recount a specific encounter as an example of a point you want to make, those are the most powerful kind.

@EverydayAMB WWW.EVERYDAYAMBASSADOR.ORG KATE@EVERYDAYAMBASSADOR.ORG