August 3 to August 14 are the dates that have been chosen this year for about 10 AMSG’ers to make the world just a little better, while having a life-changing experience.
This will be the third year that AMSG will send Team Members to work with a non-profit organization helping communities around the world to address economic and environmental challenges through our Global Impact Program. Previously known as the International Philanthropy Program, AMSG sent volunteers to Kenya in 2023, and Honduras in 2024. After a great deal of due diligence, Jasmin Hester, who manages the Global Impact Program for AMSG, along with our CEO Jim Farrell and other AMSG leaders, have chosen Wellkind to be the non-profit organization that AMSG is partnering with for this year’s volunteer trip.
Wellkind describes themselves as, “…a grassroots, local, non-profit that works with indigenous communities in Guatemala. Founded in 2019 to address the ecological and economic challenges of local communities, Wellkind now works in over 8 municipalities, benefiting over 5000 people, with programming in native tree reforestation, support for local farmers, native species propagation, and environmental education.”
This year the destination is Guatemala, and a place called Lake Atitlán. Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America and sits among seven volcanoes, one of which is still active. Shad Qudsi, Executive Director of Wellkind participated in a call with AMSG Team Members who were interested in joining the trip, and the pictures that he shared from the area were stunning. He answered questions about the area, the people, logistics, and safety. It was hard to leave the call not wanting to be a part of the journey.
I had a chance to speak with Jasmin separately, along with Zach Taylor, who works on Project Controls Analyst/Junior Pricing Support for AMSG, as well as serving as the Global Impact Program Coordinator.
I asked Zach to tell me a little about what it was like to go on a volunteer trip like this and he talked about our Global Impact trip to Africa. “I met an incredible musician in Kenya named Mighty Joshua. He plays reggae music, and he is one of the coolest, most inspiring people I’ve ever met.”
“When we arrived in Africa, we had a couple days where we were just running all over the place, you know, chickens with our heads cut off, eventually, we made it to the desert where we’d be camping and exploring. As we looked around, we realized we were surrounded by wildlife such as hyenas, elephants, and even lions, all watching us from a distance. We were traveling with a caravan of camels, alongside an incredibly competent group of guides/guards who carried bull whips and machetes. ”
“And I’m sitting there, kind of in awe, and Mighty Joshua looks over at me and says, ’Welcome home.’ “
“And it just. It just kind of changes you.”
AMSG is sending volunteers to help people in Guatemala this August, but it seems pretty clear that this program helps AMSG, and our Team Members, as well.
Written by: Jeffrey Dewhurst