Being an Intern at Ascend Alliance

Personal Account of Being an Ascend Intern from Tyler Olsen 
We value our interns and work diligently to provide a strong and supportive internship environment with opportunities for hands on experiences. 

When Becky Olsen, the Ascend Marketing Manager and my loving mother, suggested that I do an internship here at Ascend, I was dubious about whether or not I could balance that on top of the 15 credits I had already committed to up at the U of U and my part-time job. She asked me to visit the office and talk with Matthew Casto about being an intern anyway. That chat convinced me. I added 3 more credits to my course load, and I started. It was very easy to get registered for the internship course. the Hinckley Institute of Politics has been a dream to work with. They challenge us as interns to do our absolute best in our positions. The main course assignment is a research paper that is related to the internship and current events. Doing research about humanitarian work is very different than what I to what am used to. Working here has been such a good experience. There will always be space for another intern or volunteer, no matter what their passions are. If they want to be an accountant, an artist, or a writer, there is always something for them to do here. All levels of experience are welcome; all fields of study are welcome. It is impossible to walk through the front doors of this office and not change for the better. Volunteer work, on every level, helps a student gain a global perspective. Finding your niche in society starts in college, and doing an internship at Ascend will help you practice what you learn at school. The interns at Ascend Alliance work intimately with the executive team to reach their goals. Participants have opportunities to connect and network with top leaders and businesses and build long lasting relationships. If you are interested in more information, please contact Brenda Rindlesbach at 801.601.8810 or at brenda@ascendalliance.org.

Cusco Orphanage Playground Inauguration

Through selfless fundraising efforts and a collaboration of resources the Girl’s Orphanage San Judas Chico in Cusco, Peru inaugurated a beautiful new playground on Sunday, September 16th! The PC5 and the North Ogden service expedition groups raised $2,400 for the construction of this new playground.  Through the accomplished coordination of Ascend Alliance, Ascend Travel, and these dedicated service expedition groups that came to Peru last June, the girls at San Judas Chico now have a safe place to relax, exercise, play and be kids in a place they can finally feel at home.
Before the improvements:



There are three orphanages in Cusco that take in boys and girls ages 5 to 17.  These brave young children are either orphaned, have impoverished families that are unable to support their children, or are victims of domestic abuse, social risk, or sexual abuse.  All three Cusco orphanages are directed by Señor Luis Alberto Palma Gonzales, the President of the Sociedad de Beneficiencia Publica del Cusco (a state run organization that serves neglected youth, the mentally challenged, and a retirement community). The Hogar de Niñas San Judas Chico Girls Orphanage where the playground humanitarian project was installed is run by Señora Maruja, and hosts 36 amazing, intelligent, and inspiring young Peruvian girls.
After at the inaugeration:




As an intern with Ascend Adventure Travel, I have had the pleasure of working with these girls in their vegetable garden over the past three weeks, and I have never seen them so happy as the day we first opened their playground!  The ceremony itself was a congregation of children from all three orphanages in Cusco.  When Timothy Marti, the CEO of Ascend Travel and Regional Manager for this project, cut the tape to signify the opening of the new playground nearly 100 children went bolting for its castle, monkey bars, and teeter-totters! Tim and I where both relieved that it was finally inaugurated, yet scared for the children’s lives, hoping our Chief Operator Señor Felipe had made the castle feature strong enough to withstand 50 enthusiastic Peruvian children!  We looked at each other with a slight grin, both thinking “no better way to test it out than this!”  As I savored my delicious, authentic Peruvian lunch with all the children and their mentors, celebrating our new playground, I felt accomplished, gratified, and most importantly I felt like their friend.

A Message from our CEO

The other day at a family barbeque my father asked me how I was enjoying my new leadership role at Ascend Alliance.  It was noisy with children playing their favorite summer games and I was not really sure how to answer him without evoking a deep conversation.  Instantly, flash of images rolled through my mind, recounting a number of exciting events from the past four months.  Almost without restraint, one word flashed to mind and leapt from my lips – ENTHUSIASM.

Enthusiasm is definitely the word to describe how I feel about my short tenure as CEO of Ascend Alliance. The word enthusiasm literally means a strong excitement or feeling; taking its origin from the Greek word enthousiasmos, meaning to be inspired.  As I have embraced my leadership role of this wonderful organization I have truly been inspired; inspired to carry on a powerful legacy and motivated to craft a new and exciting vision for the future.

Since 1982 the founders of Ascend Alliance and their supporters have been changing lives by promoting self reliance across the world. The impact of this organization can hardly be quantified with numbers or described by words.  Let it suffice to say that great things have been accomplished. 

The great Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”.  I would concur that enthusiasm is the mother of all greatness.  Enthusiasm has been, and will continue to be, a driving force here at Ascend Alliance.  Personally, I have never been so passionate about my life.  I fall asleep every night and wake up every morning thinking about the opportunities that lie ahead. 

Join with the team at Ascend Alliance and let the power of enthusiasm infuse passion in your lives and purpose in your actions!

Go.See.Serve

Go.
Where, you might be asking.

How about somewhere beautiful...
See.
See what, might be your next question.

How about seeing some of the worlds wonders and wonderful people.
Serve.
Whom, could be your next thought.

Why not serve those who are ready to have the opportunity to lift themselves and are just waiting on someone to show them how.
We want to help make all of this happen for you and them!

There are friends and memories just waiting to be made!

Meet Matt Casto

 With a 30 year legacy of service, there are bound to be changes, adjustments and innovations. If you attended the most recent gala or have popped into our headquarters, you might have had the opportunity to meet the embodiment of the latest version of those dynamics. Matt Casto and his wife Sabina had recently moved back to the states after years of raising their family abroad. They were looking for opportunities to serve and divine intervention led them to our offices!


Matt has many years of international business experience. Combine that with a dedication to honor the legacy of those who have previously served and a desire to develop innovations in humanitarian service he is providing his time and talents to take Ascend Alliance to new heights as the new CEO.
He has been a whirlwind of energy around here, has a contagious smile, an intense desire to serve and asks weighty questions of purpose. If you would like to meet him in person please stop in and visit, we always welcome visitors!

 

Leaving Past Traditions, Finding New Horizons

 

My name is Tyson Hardcastle.  I am 22 years old living in Salt Lake City.  A year ago I returned from serving an LDS mission in Samara, Russia.  In all, I spent about two years serving Russians in the cities of Orenburg, Balakova, Talyatti, Samara, Saratov and Marks.  My time spent there was and still is a meaningful and important part of my life. 

As a missionary for the LDS church, my focus was to help people improve their lives through developing faith.  However, we were also involved in humanitarian efforts and I anxiously took the opportunities given to serve the wonderful people in whatever way possible.   Through these efforts, I saw individuals who were at first strange and foreign become my very closest friends and even family.  Although I spoke very little Russian to begin with, and with only moderate improvement as time passed, the efforts of love and service between us allowed a strong bond to form which has forever changed my life and hopefully improved upon theirs as well. 

I can remember my first thoughts and feelings as I entered Russia.  A strange mixture of influences had created both a fascinating and interesting environment.  Among the plain, simple and very often dull architecture and appearance of Soviet-Union-era buildings and vehicles, there were glimpses of the culture which existed when Czars had power.   Ornate designs were visible on homes of humble artisans and hard workers that represented a time when feelings were more free and expressed openly.  In all, I found the contrast between the two very intimidating and an attempt to fully understand the history was only possible first-hand. 

In all of the cities where I served, there were always three main areas.  First, the city housed most of the commercial structures and government facilities and large apartment buildings, and was always busy with people going to and from work, the movies, stores and other interests.  The second was a section of dirt roads, some of which were or became during the snowy months usable with only rugged four-wheel drive vehicles where individual family residencies were located.  The last was even further from the center where families possibly had a dacha, a small shack-like structure used only in the summer months.  In the latter two areas, these families had often if not always, beautiful and incredible gardens.  Neat rows of vegetables were admired as my companion and I traveled through these areas.  It is often the case in America that such gardens are the result of a hobby or an attempt to avoid unhealthy pesticides in commercially grown produce.   In Russia, these gardens exist for survival. 

It was my blessing to assist a dear friend early in 2011 with his garden.  Sascha was a polite and hard-working bachelor living on his own about a half hour from the center of the city.  He had a large playful dog that would always jump on us each time we visited.  Over the course of several months, I came to know Sascha on a personal level and I can attest to his bright and friendly attitude despite the well-known prosperous circumstances I had come to him from.  This was the case in most of my relations with those who I came to know very well in the country. 

On that day early in 2011, my companion and I spent no more than an hour or so turning the soil in his garden, preparing it for the vegetables that would soon need a rich and firm place to grow.  Our efforts were minimal in the grand scheme of gardening but the experience was irreplaceable.  It felt good helping a friend who I knew would soon rely on that garden.  It felt good receiving the warm thanks and friendly smile from Sascha. 

I guess it’s too easy to get lost in the world of material goods.  Especially when we have it all.  Pursuing the latest technological release and keeping up to date with entertainment today can distract us from realizing how blessed and fortunate we are.  It’s good to enjoy life.  But to use one’s life to enhance the lives of others by sharing the resources we often take for granted is paramount to every other experience we can have.

Stilettos to Hiking Boots

When I was presented with the opportunity to join the Ascend Team in 2005, I was energized by the opportunity to fulfill my desire to help others.  After learning more about the organization my excitement grew, however, I was not enthused about the idea of trekking to a third world country on expedition.  I was content serving others from the comfort of my familiar surroundings in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Although I began to grow fond of the adorable, smiling faces in the photos that were regularly sent to the Ascend office from the South American and African staff and expedition participants, I still had a fear of scabies, lice and well…dirt.   I could not imagine a week with out my stilettos and designer hand bags.
After a few months, Carolyn Dailey, Ascend’s CEO, who has participated in countless expeditions, had me talked into going on an Executive Oversite Expedition to Peru.  For a girl that had never been out of the country or even camping for that matter, this was a monumental commitment.
I purchased a new pair of hiking boots because the only other flat shoes in my closet were my pool flip flops and my gym shoes.  Those not so pretty, very comfortable and practical hiking boots lead me on the adventure of a lifetime.
Peru is a beautiful country with beautiful people.   I had the opportunity to serve in urban and remote rural villages.  The tremendous need of the Peruvian people is undeniable.
Tears fill my eyes as I reflect on the opportunity I had to teach Peruvian children the importance of hygiene and hand washing.  I had the blessing, despite language barriers, to wash and paint the fingernails of tiny hands that had not been cleaned in weeks or longer.  My purell obsession and scabies phobia disappeared as I became acquainted with the smiling faces that surrounded me.
I was not qualified to prescribe medication or provide dental care as others on our expedition were able to do, however, my insignificant contribution may help keep some of those little people healthier this year.
Experiencing an expedition is truly a life changing experience.  It is not a vacation at a lovely spa, however, it was the best vacation money I ever spent.
My fondness for fabulous clothes and five star hotels has not diminished, however, after my brief time in Peru, I have a renewed commitment to use my talents and abilities to help others.  I look forward to another expedition in 2007.
Rachel went on an expedition to Ecuador in 2007. We are so happy to have her part of the Ascend team.

Peru Rail and Ascend Working Together

Beginning the 29th of March, train service will restart between Piscacucho and Machu Picchu.  Because of this, more than a thousand visitors will pass through Piscacucho per day.  Among these people will be locals and tourists, and so that this experience is as positive as possible, PERURAIL is working on education initiatives in this small town.

 

In fact, last Friday March 19th, PERURAIL did a training workshop for the artisans and merchants that sell food in Piscacucho.  First, there was talk about business management, sales, and expense control in order to teach the locals how to better administer a business.  This portion of the class was provided by the NGO Ascend and was delivered by instructors Rubén Auccahuaque and Tim Marti. This class had 25 food merchants in attendance who were very pleased for going.

 

PERURAIL would like to thank NGO Ascend and SERTURAM, as well as the merchants from Piscacucho who attended the talk.  We are also proud of the interest these people have shown in learning about and improving their businesses."

 

To see the original article in Peru, http://www.agenciaorbita.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4894:perurail-capacito-a-comerciantes-de-viandas-y-artesanias-en-piscacucho&catid=94:turismo&Itemid=152.

Ascend Alliance Travel

 

Who We Are

 

Ascend Adventure Travel was first organized in 2011 by CEO Timothy Marti. Drawing on years of humanitarian and travel experience, Ascend Adventure Travel was established with the goal of bringing about positive social change and poverty elimination through participation in the travel and tourism industry. Our passion comes from many successful instances of facilitating intercultural change through reciprocal learning and service experiences over our 30 year history of organizing service expeditions!

 

How We Are Organized

 

Ascend Adventure Travel is made up of two legally established organizations under Peruvian law. One half of the project is a non-profit Civil Association which manages all service expeditions and project donations. The other half of the equation is our privately owned business (Sociedad Anonima Cerrada), which manages all of our tours operated in Southern Peru and pays the normal sales tax required by Peruvian law. By selling and operating tours, we are able to pay the majority of our operating and staffing costs without relying on donations or diverting money that would otherwise go to project costs. This unique, hybrid approach allows us to receive a broad base of support from donors, volunteers, service expedition participants, tour participants, institutions, and corporations; from countries all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

Underlying Values

Service

 

The world becomes better through voluntary service. As we become actively engaged in causes that alleviate human suffering we elevate and transform society. Meaningful, lasting service is found in assisting those who need it most become self-sufficient.

 

Stewardship

 

Each of us has stewardship over the resources entrusted to us. It is our responsibility to be wise and good stewards and to use those resources to become self-reliant and to improve the lives of others. Good stewards allocate rather than accumulate.

 

Unity

 

Every human being is of great worth. We should do all within our power to assist our fellow human beings to achieve their full potential without regard to race, religion, nationality, gender, social position or political affiliation. Ascend supporters and volunteers come from all walks of life and a variety of religious beliefs and political backgrounds. We view the world as a global community wherein we are all members of the human family

 

 

 

 

 

Approach

 

 

Ascend Adventure Travel projects and programs are accomplished in a collaborative effort with local community leaders. Ascend embraces the philosophy of providing "a hand-up, not a hand-out." Recipients are required to contribute in various ways to projects and programs and to be responsible for carrying them forward. Ascend initiatives are therefore designed to be:

 

Simple

 

Participants are able to understand, implement and replicate each initiative. Materials and instructions are available in country; so it is easy to replicate projects and also repair them if necessary.

 

Sustainable

 

Appropriate, sustainable interventions include training to ensure local participants are able to continue efforts and teach others as part of their stewardship. Initiatives are affordable, so while primary capital or resources may be beyond the reach of recipients, ongoing maintenance and repayment costs are structured to remain within their economic capacity. Ascend does not focus on aid, gift-giving, or disaster relief.

 

Sensitive

 

Ascend programs and projects are sensitive to the culture, political systems, and customs of the local people and community. We strive to preserve and respect their positive traditions. We also listen to those we serve, encouraging discussion and learning from them, so that we can suitably partner with, and empower them to achieve their goals.

 

 

 

What Sets Us Apart

 

 

Active Partnerships

 

At Ascend, we set aside territorial boundaries and egos to work together. Our active partnerships with like-minded non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations, civic organizations and government entities enable effective teamwork, efficiencies, economies of scale, leveraging of scarce resources, growth, and strength.

 

Methodology & Accountability

 

Ascend uses a literacy-based, capacity-building program for integrated community and family development, which includes documenting measurable objectives. Solution areas are: 1) Education, 2) Enterprise, 3) Health, and 4) Technology & Construction. Program progress is documented using web-based systems. Community-based councils are organized to coordinate with Ascend. These councils nominate community workers, who are trained in solution areas and survey the families they teach. In-country staff members check the data and enter it into an Internet database on a regular basis. Ascend Travel holds itself accountable to donors and provides them with specific information on the result of their contribution.

 

Graduation to True Sustainability

 

True sustainability requires what we define as "graduation." Ascend Programs work towards a phased-in, self-funding plan so that development activities and communities can operate using their own resources, and are no longer dependent on Ascend. This "graduation" enables Ascend to continue to expand its reach and impact, without taking on huge commitments for long-term maintenance of programs.

 

 

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