April 27, 2012
Wofford Fellow Amber Buckley-Shaklee: “We’re Part of the Global Community” 0
“It is high time to broaden the opportunities for international service and diversify the teams of volunteers representing our country to the world” – Harris Wofford, former U.S. Senator and advocate for national service and volunteerism
This entry is the first of a three-part series introducing three Harris Wofford Global Service Fellows with disabilities, who will be volunteering in an overseas community with Cross-Cultural Solutions.
Meet Amber Buckley-Shaklee
Age: 27
Disability: I have congenital muscular myopathy which results in generalized muscle weakness. I use a powerchair for mobility and a personal assistant for daily living activities.
Recent volunteer experience: Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Center, National Council on Disability, Illinois Imagines Public Policy Committee
Why do you think it’s important for people with disabilities to get involved in citizen diplomacy? It shows that we’re part of the global community. Our participation in citizen diplomacy shows that we are concerned about world events and that the needs of people with disabilities around the world should not be ignored.
What do you hope to accomplish by volunteering abroad? I hope to help the community in which I am volunteering in whatever manner they deem best. Many people have helped me throughout my life, and it is my goal to “pay it forward” and help others in whatever way I can.
Which volunteer site will you choose, and why? Hopefully, I will be going to Lima, Peru in June – August 2013. I have always wanted to visit South America, and I would like to be involved in educational programs, such as teaching English as a second language.
What is one interesting fact about you? I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and I was at the game when they won the 2006 World Series.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress of Amber and other Wofford Fellows with disabilities as they continue their citizen diplomacy journeys!
The Harris Wofford Global Service Fellowship is a national initiative of the Building Bridges Coalition, which is an association of organizational leaders promoting international volunteering. Learn more about the Building Bridges Coalition here.
