Longitude

Our first car ride to Gumallapaddu Village was the perfect formula for paradise: the sun shining overhead, a gentle breeze flowing through the window, and the kind of vast landscape that you’d imagine when listening to Toto’s “Africa.”  Every so often a holy cow would roam casually into the path of our jeep, which coming [...]

It is my first day back in Japan after a truly amazing time in India and as I pore over the many photographs I took in GP village I am transported back there by the children’s beaming smiles, the warmth of which I can physically feel despite the cold of my [...]

The fish farm-lined road to Gummallapadu holds a healthy bit of traffic this morning. The car bumping along it is blasting Bollywood tunes as it winds through the bustling crowd: a few nervous goats pick at the grass; a lazy water buffalo stubbornly refuses to move off the path; a chicken crosses the road (why? [...]

Although it was only yesterday that we received what I believe to be the world’s warmest welcome, I can easily say that this won’t be my last visit to GP village.  As I write this, I’m sitting with Prasanthi, the woman with the very important job of tutoring the village children and keeping track of [...]

The morning started out with promise of a  full healthy group, but
sadly, two of our group members, Michelle and Claire, had to go to the
hospital for stomach problems.  It isn’t truly a trip to India until
you have some form of Delhi Belly.
Upon our arrival at the work site, we divided up into much smaller
groups.  After [...]

Longitude’s Building Communities program which Ravi and his Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV) have created, has so much to offer to the Dalit community. The villagers are provided with stable, long-term homes and the education to fight for greater recognition and support from their government. Ravi’s continuing commitment to the Dalit community is my reason [...]

After the longest train ride of our lives, due to the current political situation in Hyderabad, we finally arrived safely in Eluru yesterday morning. It’s been surreal being back here just six months later. Even though we’re staying in the same place, it feels so different with a different group of people. Jonathan and I, [...]

It’s late and I’m awake. I’m lying in bed thinking about the second Rhode Island student– another 12-year-old suburban girl– to die of the H1N1 flu virus in the last two weeks. My mind knows that there are over one million people in this state and that two is not a significant percentage to warrant [...]

Dear President Obama,
This morning I listened to your speech before Ghana’s parliament.  I heard you address the leaders and citizens of Africa through inspirational calls for action, “You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your [...]

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA — June 24, 2009) – On June 20, Longitude founder, Shawn Rubin learned he would be receiving AmeriCorps Alums highest award at an event headlined by First Lady Michelle Obama. Just two days later, he was backstage at the event, waiting in the green room with luminaries like actor Matthew McConaghey, singer [...]

I woke up to a phone ringing at 6am this morning, as I have most
mornings this week. Sometimes the call is earlier, later, doesn’t come
at all, or in the case of this morning, the sleepy young man
inexplicably rings again one minute later to say “Hello.” “Hello”, I
respond. “It’s 6 o’clock.” “Thank you.” A few leftover [...]

Waylaid by a quick bout with the infamous Delhi Belly, we are now a day behind schedule…actually, we had a contingency plan for just such an occasion.  I was planning to fly back south to catch my flight home, but Ravi canceled that and then booked two train tickets for us, so that we can [...]

…getting to India was an adventure in and of itself. How could a simple 30 hour transcontinental journey get any more exciting? Well, before leaving Dallas the ground crew packed someones dogs in the wrong luggage compartment, so we had to turn back from the runway before takeoff and return to the gate, where it [...]

Dear PROFESA Supporters,
I will like to take this opportunity to thank you and also to inform you about the new changes that have taken place in PROFESA.
To be honest, there has been many changes in the school, both the environment and the academics.  In the first place, we have got a new building which is more [...]

It’s hard to believe my stay in Ghana has come to an end already. The time always flies by so fast as Meshach and I run from one task to the next. The rest of the volunteer work crew will be here until late Thursday evening, but I head home tomorrow night as my “new [...]