Like many young people, Michael Bustamante from East Hampton, New York, wanted to
have a "normal" life: go to college, graduate and find a good job to pay the bills.
But in some part of his mind and heart, he knew that he could do something for other
people, to work to create peace through service.
Through Aceneth, a social entrepreneurship multi-media company that aims to create
impact through diverse social initiatives, Michael learned about the Global PeaceMakers
program in Brazil, scheduled for December 2009. Though Michael didn’t know what
to expect on the Global Peacemakers program, he was enthusiastic about helping people
through a rural educational project in Alagado da Suzana, Brazil.
"I basically thought I was going to be placed in a village where much help was needed.
I honestly thought the living conditions were going to be tough. I thought we were
basically going to rebuild an entire building," explained Michael.
In Brazil, Michael learned how to work as a team, renewing the infrastructure and
providing equipment to a rural Internet and community center. International volunteers
worked with local Brazilian volunteers, local community members, and dozens of local
businesses, government agencies, NGOs, and individuals with a passion to serve.
Michael learned about the real necessities of people living in disadvantaged rural
areas and about the challenges they face like inaccessibility to job training, basic
education, health services, and more. Michael started to value the comfortable life
that the most American citizens have in comparison to this small community in Brazil.
"It made me realize that I am extremely wealthy compared to others around the earth.
I can eat anything I want whenever I want, I can further my education if I please,"
Michael said.
After Michael and the rest of the volunteers finished rebuilding the Internet and
community center and equipped it with new computers, books, and other equipment,
he returned home with an itch to change something in his life, but wasn’t quite
sure how.
Several months following the Global PeaceMakers program, Michael decided to start
a new professional plan and serve to others as a part of his lifestyle, and applied
to be a Peace Corps volunteer. In October 2010, he was accepted to the Peace Corps,
being one of the thousands of Americans effecting social service around the world.
"SFP was a big reason why I decided to join the Peace Corps. SFP opened up my eyes,"
Michael Expressed.
In the Peace Corps, Michael would like to work in the same community that he worked
as a volunteer with Service For Peace in Brazil, because he experienced a strong
bond with the people of the village. The sense of local empowerment that the community
members seemed to develop gave him hope that it could transform into a Community
of Peace. "Two weeks convinced me more needed to be done. So I joined the Peace
Corps," Michael said.
According to Charles Phillips, the president of Service For Peace, Michael is a
model citizen who, as a result of his experience volunteering with Service For Peace,
could transform his life and carry on the spirit of service and peace for in his
own community and around the world.
Michael Bustamente, 23, is a Colombian-American law student from St. Johns University
in New York City. Michael will start his year as a volunteer in Peace Corps in February
2011, and will spend 2 years serving in his future placement in Latin America &
the Caribbean.
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