Nicola Valley Institute of Technology student William Sandy’s first trip abroad is a big one.

The 26-year-old is venturing to Chamazi in the Mbagala ward of Tanzania for six weeks as a volunteer with Canada World Youth.

While he’s there, Sandy will work on environmental sustainability projects in the mornings.

“I’ll be working in a botanical garden, planting, watering, pruning, and compost-making,” he said, adding that the volunteer organization encourages members to work on personal projects in their afternoons, such as working at orphanages or schools. “I want to experience as much as I can while I’m there.”

Sandy said he is one of 10 First Nations applicants from across Canada selected for the trip as part of the all-aboriginal Youth Leaders in Action program. The group of volunteers will also be joined by six Tanzanian youth volunteers. The volunteers will stay in pairs with host families for several weeks, Sandy said.

“I already recommended that I get paired with a Tanzanian youth just so that I’m totally immersed in their culture and traditions,” Sandy said. “I’m excited to learn as much as I can and take it all home and share it here.”

Although he applied and was accepted to the program in February, Sandy said he deferred the trip because he didn’t want to take a semester off of school.

The timing was right when the organization accepted him for its first summer program.

“I reapplied and got accepted in May and now I’m going,” Sandy said.

Sandy, who has been volunteering in the community since his teens, was introduced to Canada World Youth through Katimavik, a youth volunteer travel program within Canada, when he was 18 years old.

That program took him to Ontario and Alberta to volunteer.

“They introduced it as kind of the next step because it’s international,” Sandy said.

Sandy said one of the things he’s looking forward to most is learning about the way of life of indigenous people in another nation.

“We’re both indigenous people, and I’m sure we’ll share some similar identities but it’s going to be different being across the world and seeing how they live and experiencing it first-hand,” he said. “I look forward to sharing my story when I get back.”

The area he is staying in is close to the equator, and although it’s winter in Tanzania, it will feel like summer to him, he said.

Sandy said he had to fundraise $2,000 for the program, which he did with a community fundraiser. He also had to pay $250 for registration and take care of his own pre-departure preparations such as vaccinations and passport updates. Canada World Youth covers travel and accommodation costs.

Sandy said his community fundraiser was about more than just raising money.

“I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve got from the community at large, which has helped me be able to take part in this program,” he said. “I want to bring awareness to the program and future youth who may be interested in getting involved with Canada World Youth.”

Sandy just finished his first year of the associate arts degree at NVIT after deciding to go back to school two years ago.

“I was putting it off and putting it off. I didn’t think I would be successful,” he said.

Sandy said his confidence grew after he excelled in the upgrade courses he had to do before being accepted into the program at NVIT.

“I actually got really good grades and the valedictorian for the college readiness program,” he said. “Last year for my two semesters, I got an A- average. I’m doing well and I’m proud of myself.”

Sandy said he is weighing his options between social work and teaching once he graduates next year. One thing he is sure about is that he wants to continue his volunteer efforts with Canada World Youth.

“After this trip, I do want to look into becoming a project intern supervisor for Canada World Youth to go on another trip and supervise on the exchange,” he said, adding he would like to supervise in Nicaragua or Peru, where the organization has ongoing projects.

A few days in Toronto before the trip for orientation and debriefing after his stay in Tanzania will bring Sandy’s trip to eight weeks in total. He took off for Toronto out of Kelowna last Tuesday.