Introducing #StartYourStory

After each of our eight-day expeditions, advocates return to America feeling invigorated and excited about their journey to Haiti and back. They bring back hundreds of pictures and the desire to share their experiences via social media. The #StartYourStory posts will allow us to share these reflective sentiments with all of you!

(Image captured from the Facebook profile of Karen Li, UMass YSI Vice President)

Before our expeditions, we host recruitment events at each of our associated schools—UMass, Brandeis, Clark, Villanova, UNH, and Mount Carmel College of Nursing. We advertise these events by asking our advocates to use the hashtag #StartYourStory for one day on social media, flooding people’s newsfeeds with heartfelt reflections and words of encouragement for YSI. When I witnessed this event for the first time, I was overcome with joy and pride by the way our organization came together for one day. My newsfeed was like a video reel, bringing me back to the warm sun and the friendly smiles of Haiti. I look forward to periodically sharing some of these posts with you.

(Image captured from the Facebook profile of Jane McWilliams, a UMass YSI public health advocate from the January 2016 expedition)

Interested in #Start[ing]YourStory? Apply for one of our programs or check out more photos from our expeditions!

(Image captured from the Facebook profile of Sam Kehoe, a UMass YSI public health advocate from the January 2016 expedition)