Icho

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Hope to meet friends to explore Nairobi together! And I may join a volunteer project during the period.
Description
Hi, I'm Icho, who choose to live an experiential life in my late 20s!

After 5 years of working as a marketing manager in toxic Asian working culture, I decided to quit my job and start my gap year in 2023, to pursue the dreams that I had always wanted to give it a try.

I'm traveling to explore the world (already 30 countries!), at the same time learning psychology and photography, also strong passion for animals, nature, art, sports and tech.

I love meeting people, especially when we could have deep mindful talk and exchange super amazing ideas! No wonder who you are, we can always learn a new world from each other.
Interests
Sustainability
Technology
Photography
Pets
Nature
Movies & TV
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Events & social
Drawing & painting
Dancing
Culture
Camping
Art & design
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent
French: Beginner
More details about my language interests
French learning beginner
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Charity Work
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Able to teach about:
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
5 years of marketing working experience in tech companies（social media marketing, marketing strategy, app user growth, user research, customer relation management, data analysis, e-commerce);

Photography and videos (courses learnt in University of the Arts London);

Psychology (courses learnt in Cambridge);

Good Chinese cuisine cooking; Excellent English and Chinese; Cat sitting

Willing to take any challenge!
Age
27
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Friends

Feedback

21 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Icho) for host (Help us create a brighter ...)

This is the story of me volunteering in Kenya, and the experience became the highlight of 2023 that helped me find my deepest values.

Three months ago, I booked a flight from London to Nairobi with a great curiosity about the land of Africa: why people choose to come and stay here, why the African people are so optimistic, and how people and… read more animals live in harmony in this land. So I embarked on a solo trip to Kenya.

It was an unknown, adventurous and lonely adventure, but it opened up life experiences beyond my imagination: haggling with street vendors in the most chaotic local markets; teaching Chinese pinyin to children in the slums ; witnessing the world of animals in the grasslands of the Maasai Mara; bouncing around with my friends in the local bus matatu; and dancing around with the children and locals in the church. Now I know that the dancing gene of the African people is engraved in the blood. When these vivid life jumped in front of my eyes, I can not help but be infected by the people who love life here, barren land can also bloom sunflowers.

However, what I gained from coming to Africa alone is not just these experiences. I spent a month living as a volunteer in this organization. When I first arrived here, I was swarmed by lively and cheerful children, each with a big smile, hanging on to me like a gummy candy, wanting to be kissed and hugged, wanting to be photographed together and wanting to be loved. They can't go to school because they can't afford the tuition fees, their parents can't take care of them during the day (most of them only have their mums as well), and they may only eat one meal a day. Here, I started to think about how I could help them with online fundraising and sustainable business projects.

However it was at this point that I fell ill. I had a bacterial infection that burned me up to 40 degrees and at one point I couldn't speak. Accommodation in the slums was quite basic as I expected, (but the dishes made by hostess Grace were amazing). I struggled internally whether to end my trip early and go back home. But I hadn't even told them about my project idea yet, and there were so many things I hadn't had the chance to do yet... When the motivation to give far outweighed my inner fears, I decided I had to stay on.

A month later in this organisation where I had contributed with love, the first nail training course sprouted, and more than a dozen young girls were given the opportunity to train in nail art; the coloured bean bracelets made by the teenagers became a commercial product that could keep the organisation sustainable, and more than 200 love bracelets crossed the ocean to China; the first women business fund was set up; the second and third Chinese volunteers came and welcomed; and three, four, five new children were donated to go back to school. I could never have imagined any of this before I came here.

'A true happiness blossomed when I felt useful to others', as Adler's Gemeinschaftsgefühl described. It seems that up until this point all I was after was what I wanted, I believed that if I just found what I loved most I would find meaning in my life, but I never thought about what I could bring to the world. This is what really matters for my life purpose, now and future.
This is the life lesson I've really taken here. And I believe it worth for everyone.

(Excellent )

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