lbernas

About Laura Bernas

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Laura Bernas has created 17 blog entries.

Our African Focus

Looking forward to all that Himalayan Institute Cameroon has in store for 2018, a question often posed by sponsors, interested guests, and other humanitarians who learn about our work comes to mind: Why Africa? Why Cameroon? In 2017, Himalayan Institute Global Humanitarian Projects recommitted its humanitarian efforts abroad by focusing solely on our flagship program [...]

Ignite the Power of Women! HIC’s Annual Campaign Coming to An End!

WHOA! We have reached over 78% of our goal to raise $100,000 in our Annual Campaign supporting the expansion of our Women’s Empowerment Program at Himalayan Institute Cameroon! Thank you so much to all those who have donated and fundraised for this cause so far! With just one week left to go in our 2017–2018 Annual [...]

Looking Forward—It’s 2018!

It’s 2018! Happy New Year from Himalayan Institute Humanitarian Projects and Himalayan Institute Cameroon! Thank you to all our generous supporters throughout 2017. Without your donations, words of encouragement, advice, and steadfast support of all the work we do, Himalayan Institute Cameroon would not be where it is today. Non-profit (especially humanitarian) work largely depends [...]

Approaching the Topic of Foreign Aid

According to the World Economic Forum, when it comes to developmental foreign aid, there are typically three distinct groups of opinions that people will fall into: Official foreign governmental assistance is ineffective and has harmed poor countries throughout the years. Current aid levels are too low, and large increases in foreign aid would help [...]

Western Plans in Foreign Lands

Let’s talk about culture. Our modern definition holds culture as all pertaining to the collective knowledge, belief, and behavior surrounding social norms, social forms, characteristics of everyday life, intellect, practice of arts and humanities, and the ways in which we transmit all this information down from one generation to another. Within the context of culture, [...]

Developing the Sustainable Way

In talking about development, often times the word “sustainable” gets thrown into the conversation. But what does it truly mean to develop a region or community sustainably? Let’s take a look at Northwest Cameroon. 70% of people within this region rely on subsistence farming for their main source of food. Access to technology also [...]

What Service Gives to Us

In recent years, more and more studies indicate the positive, holistic effect that volunteering has, not only on us as individuals, but on our sense of purpose, belonging, and community too. With an incredible impact on both psychological and physical health, being intrinsically motivated and doing what you love is shown to create a better [...]

A Space for Learning

More and more, researchers are beginning to see that it is not just teachers, topics, and classroom materials that matter, but the specific space a student learns in also has an effect on educational outcomes. At Himalayan Institute Cameroon, part of our Public Library Network’s prime initiative—to offer students structured learning opportunities—relies on the safe, [...]

Cameroon Awaits! Service, Community, Adventure 2018

If you have ever traveled on a service or spiritual excursion with the Himalayan Institute, then you know just how special, unparalleled, and life changing these excursions can be. In 2018, Himalayan Institute Cameroon will host the 7th group of individuals embarking on a journey of community service, humanitarianism, and epic adventure to Cameroon, West [...]

Trekking the Himalayas

The Importance of Pilgrimage The beginning of 2017 brought people from across the United States to ancient temples, shrines, and villages rooted in the Himalayan tradition. The most recent excursion to Tungnath—the highest Shiva temple in the world—gave participants the opportunity to connect with the places and practices they had learned about in their [...]