This Is Raw Impact!
Why The Game Count Is SPECIAL!
"I can tell you that my daughter was blown away by the full-tour this year. The difference between visiting Victoria Falls and lounging at a resort for a week, then working at the school and being at the pan for the Game Count, is night and day. She expressed how she had seen "The Real Africa" on this version of the trip. The opportunity to spend two (very full) days at the school, to make friends with the children, and to do something to improve their lives, was extraordinary.
So, yes. This year was special. It was special because, again, I got to experience the "real" Africa. Up close. Personal, and sometimes in-your-face or behind the Land Rover. We had two very large male elephants sneak up behind us to see who and what we were. Have you been sniffed by a 6-ton male elephant? I can't believe how quiet they can be. We were merrily counting away, look over there, see that one coming from the west - when 'sniff, sniff WHAT?!' How did he get behind us? OMG! Once we noticed them, they ran away in terror, but what a rush to have them that close.
The trip was special. Thanks for the great adventure." - Jeff Burtner, Game-Count, 2026
Why The Game Count Is SPECIAL! Cont.
This was Jeff's third time returning for the Game-Count in Zimbabwe, and having his daughter Morgan by his side made it extra meaningful as they experienced the week together.
Before the official Hwange National Park Game Count kicked off, Jeff and Morgan rolled up their sleeves for some hands-on community development:
* School Upgrades: They helped assemble brand-new desks and chairs for local students and spent meaningful time connecting with the kids in their classrooms. They also took the time to help repair a faulty ceiling in the school.
* Sustainable Farming: They helped build a chicken farmhouse to support local livelihoods. The project, which even supplied the initial chickens and feed, is designed as a long-term initiative to help sustain the local school.
We are immensely grateful to Jeff for returning to share his dedication with both the wildlife of Hwange National Park and the vibrant communities nearby.
The Game-Count happens only once a year! And we already have info available on the 2027 program.
Moving Forward & Nepal Update
"We need beds."
After speaking with residents, that was the most urgent request our team received upon reaching the Uttargaya Betrawati relief camp, situated on high ground above the flooded Trishuli River in Nepal's Rasuwa District, where the August 26 floods destroyed everything in sight.
Our team listened. Despite destroyed roads, broken bridges, and severe weather during their journey, they purchased 80 new beds, providing two beds for each of the 38 displaced families, plus additional beds for camp staff.
Getting them to the camp was no small feat. Working hand-in-hand with locals and staff, our team carried every piece up by hand, navigating piles of mud and rock over 30 feet high. Before these beds arrived, families were sleeping on the cold, wet ground inside temporary tents.
Devastating flooding continues, and an approaching winter in the Nepali mountains is brutal. But our work doesn't stop here. Thanks to your donations, our next priority is gathering and distributing warm winter clothing to protect these families as the cold season approaches, and some additional games for the children.
We are deeply grateful to the residents who guided our team and welcomed us with open hearts along the way, including the relief camp caretaker, Astamal, and the artist who shared his story and home and assisted with the beds, Dhobhal.
Your generous donations made all of this possible. What better way to celebrate the season of giving than by ensuring these families are safe, warm, and feel at home? Best of all, when these families rebuild, they can take these beds with them to their new homes.
We'll continue to share moments our team experienced during their week of volunteering.
“The Nepal Flood Relief Expedition was an experience that touched me deeply and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. The journey was dangerous, emotional, and full of uncertainty. We witnessed devastating floods, landslides, roads washed away, and scenes that are difficult to forget. Our car even broke down, and there were moments when I felt the real risks of the journey. But something inside me kept saying that we had to reach the people who needed help. Finally, when we reached Betrawati Market, I felt that every challenge we had faced on the way had brought us closer to our purpose.
Meeting families living in temporary camps and seeing what they had been through made me reflect on life in a completely different way. I felt sadness, helplessness, gratitude, and a strong desire to do more. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget how much we already have. This journey reminded me that I may not be able to solve everyone's problems, but I can always make an effort to stand beside someone in their difficult moments. I went to Nepal with the spirit of helping others, but I returned with a stronger sense of humanity, a deeper appreciation for life, and the realisation that sometimes, we must step into uncertainty to do something that truly matters.” - Team Leader Rahul Gupta, Nepal Relief Camp Oct.-Sept. 2026
Learn About Our Kathmandu, Nepal Program
More Than Just A Treat: Cuba
Thanks to your support, Globe Aware Coordinator Jorge successfully distributed 47 full food bags to 40 families. Confirmed packages, plus extra standalone provisions to families in need. He identified those with particularly challenging circumstances; he supplemented the packages or provided two complete kits. All aid focused primarily on two areas: Old Havana and Central Havana.
What Was Inside Each Kit:
* 1 kg Rice
* 1 kg Black Beans
* 500 ml Vegetable Oil
* 500 g Spaghetti
* 1.7 lb Powdered Milk
* 3.7 lb Chicken Pieces
* Treats & Snacks (allocated based on the number of children in the household)
Extra Impact: To provide maximum support, almost every single kit had at least one item doubled up!
Your generosity ensures no family has to face these hard times alone. Together, we will continue showing up where the need is greatest.
Globe Aware Gives Local & Podcasts
You thought we only volunteer overseas!?
This past month at Globe Aware Gives Local, we gave truckloads of essentials to families in need in Terrell, Texas! We want to spread joy not just abroad, but in our backyards too!
Want to get involved locally too? Just email us at office@globeaware.com to learn more!
Podcast Selections For The Month
Don’t Let These Airport Scams Happen To You!
Travel is back in full swing, but so are the clever tactics used by scammers targeting unsuspecting tourists in airports around the world. In a recent episode of the Globe Aware Adventures in Service podcast, host and intern Pei dives into the hidden risks travelers face before even leaving the terminal.
Making Travel a Force for Good
Travel has an incredible power to shift our perspective. But when we transition from traditional tourism to intentional, community-led service, our journeys become much more than a vacation. They become catalysts for global connection.
In this inspiring episode of Speaking of Travel, host Marilyn Ball sits down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, to explore how purposeful travel can change lives—both abroad and at home.
