Yvonne Strachan, head of equality, human rights and third sector division, of the Scottish Government said “What they are doing is incredibly important for our future.”

During these seven months Jean learnt about business planning, marketing, branding, leadership, resilience and herself! It was an invaluable experience and has made Crossing Countries a more realistic and sustainable business, although like all the other amazing social enterprises on the programme they will continue to dream big and fight for everyone to be seen as valuable members of society

The post Crossing Countries graduates. appeared first on Crossing Countries.

The post New Accessible web site Thanks to 8i2016 and Skyscanner appeared first on Crossing Countries.

BIG THANKS to Jordi, Noelia and the rest of their team.

The post Cosmopolita Scotland appeared first on Crossing Countries.

Here is a little collection of our favourite memories of the gorgeous ginger known as ‘Bethers’….

The post For Beth appeared first on Crossing Countries.

Laura and I were also invited by Professor Thilo Kroll, to the Social Dimensions of Health Institute, which brings together researchers from both Dundee and St Andrews Universities. Our reflections about our trip can be heard on the link here.

Crossing Countries is now a member of the Scottish Disability Equality Forum and we have been to our first meeting where the Scottish Government Draft Delivery Plan 2016-2020 was discussed.

We have also applied to join Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and Social Enterprise Scotland.

The post Getting ourselves known appeared first on Crossing Countries.

The learning doesn’t stop here as I have also completed the sighted guiding training course with RNIB. It not only brought home to me the amount of trust that is required by a blind person but also how your sight makes you pay so much more attention to what people are saying. I was reminded that it is through listening we understand.

I have also signed up for an online Excel for business course, the challenge of using a long drop toilet in rural SA is nothing compared to the dreaded spreadsheet!!

The post About being an incubee, wearing a blindfold and spreadsheets appeared first on Crossing Countries.

Sometimes my big toes skiffed the sand for a second before the ocean sucked up its strength and crashed over my head again.

‘Jeannie. Are you OK?’ shouted Jude from three feet away.

‘OK?’

Some of the salt water dripping from my nose and chin had nothing to do with the sea. It was tears, tears of joy and pride. Was I OK? Hell yeah! More than OK!

Sometimes there are moments in your life that are perfect, they epitomise your dreams, they exceed your expectations and you have an all-consuming need to capture them. Like a luscious plum, a moments sweetness that becomes part of you… to savour on dull days when procrastination and frustration bleed you of purpose and worth.

I’m in the Indian Ocean; a blurred and shimmering Durban skyline appears mirage like between waves. Two lifeguards hover close to Jude. I did this… I made this happen… me… who is worried about getting a train to Glasgow, who says something then doubts whether it was correct or how it might be interpreted.

I’m just an ordinary Scottish Mum who stayed at home and brought up her three children. Twenty years of jam making, seed planting, zoo visits, homework negotiations and furniture polishing. Someone once told me, children are your greatest sorrows and greatest joys, and in those years the joys certainly outweighed the sorrows…and yet…something was missing. An English higher and some classes led to a university degree which in turn led to a job as a note taker for disabled students at university. Agata was one of those students.

Rising up out of a wave I can see the animated outlines of Beth and Agata, arm in arm, laughing as they walk through the simmering water to the beach. They have just had their first surfing lesson. Not part of our volunteering itinerary but Crossing Countries believes in flexibility and challenges. Agata’s smile as she rode her first wave, a reminder of her smile when she introduced me to her first guide dog, when she graduated from university and when we decided to go on our African adventure.

Africa…has always held a place in my heart. A trip, through my father’s work, to Nigeria in the 70s, sowed the seed. Then my son’s visit, with his school to Durban, was the catalyst for a family holiday. We quickly discovered why he loved the place and people so much. I found myself doing things I never thought I could. Nine visits later, I have taught in township class rooms, done art with street kids, danced in shacks, created a vegetable garden and spent many hours talking and arguing about life, the universe and everything with my Zulu friends and family.

And from all these disparate life journeys an idea was planted, a team was created and Crossing Countries was born.

Guiding the beach wheelchair and a dripping and elated Jude back to the sand of the golden mile I realise how Crossing Countries is Ubuntu in action. The South African philosophy of Ubunto has been an integral part of my journey and is complicated to explain. My understanding is that when we can recognise both the differences and the similarities in each other we recognise that we cannot flourish without all of us flourishing. Desmond Tutu says ‘”A person is a person through other persons.” In essence…I can only be the best person I can be if you are the best person you can be.

That woman who found it easier to plant vegetables than to visit her best friend in London has come a long way, she has founded Crossing Countries, a social enterprise, which enables disabled people to volunteer abroad, to have the same experiences as their non-disabled friends.

Today with my feet in the ocean and my hand on Jude’s shoulder I am so, so proud of this team of adventurers who have come on this journey with me.

Reflection time over… Jude is talking to me.

‘Jeannie are you ok? You’re not crying again?’

The post Scottish Book Trust Journey Story appeared first on Crossing Countries.

April has been a mixed month for us, with both good and bad news. Unfortunately, Beth and one of our Travelers have dropped out of our 2015 trip for various reasons. We are sorry they will not be joining us this year but their cards are marked for 2016!

The good news is that the trip plans are all coming together. Flights have been booked (leaving on 23^rd July and returning 10^th August!!) and accommodation is being booked this week. Plans are also being made for placements in Durban; this year there will be an artistic slant to our volunteering. Partially because this is where the team’s interests lie, but also because Crossing Countries wants to launch an online shop that will sell the work of young South African arts and crafts people. By doing this we will be able to build Crossing Countries while also supporting new art in Durban. Our small team will also give us the flexibility to research new and varied placements and look for accessible accommodation for 2016 as we have a number of wheelchair users interested in next year’s trip.

We have two events planned.

Crossing Countries Pub Quiz with Edinburgh’s hottest Quizmaster Goose.

Pub Quiz Flyer

Our second Crossing Countries Pub Quiz is at the Links Hotel, from 6pm on 26^th May. Bring a team along and win one of our amazing prizes either at the quiz or the raffle.

Crossing Countries Ceilidh with the Cracking Columcille Ceilidh Band

Our first ceilidh will be at the Columcille Centre (2 Newbattle Terrace) on 3^rd July 2015 at 7.30 pm till 11.30pm Tickets are £10 which includes haggis, neeps and tatties provided by Macsween.

We are delighted to have the Columcille Ceilidh Band with us whose members include musicians with and without learning disabilities, another social enterprise who believe in equal opportunities.

The post 2015 Trip News & Two Exciting Events: May 2015 appeared first on Crossing Countries.

Well where did March go?

Although the web site has been very quiet we have been really busy… a bit like swan gliding along while paddling furiously under the water.

On the 28^th February Suzi walked a marathon to raise funds for Crossing Countries. She raised over £700 and funds are still incoming! Well Done Suzi. Here’s a little word from her about her experience.

“It was the most challenging thing I have ever done. I expected to really suffer with fatigue throughout the latter part of the journey but what really knocked me was severe pains in my hips and knees. These started around mile 7 and just got worse but at that point Jean dropped off my dog Bailey to do the next 10 miles with me so that took my mind off the pain a lot. The last few miles were the worst, the rain came down and I was all alone with no phone battery for music or contact. I made it, 8 and a half hours later I stumbled very sore and wet through my front door to be greeted by my housemate, our dogs and of course the Crossing Countries team who had made a lovely roast dinner, apple crumble and a very large glass of prosecco.  Walking through the door was strange, I suddenly realised how cold and wet I was and that I had actually completed what I set out to do. The overwhelming happiness and relief was not something I had expected. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated, sent well wishes and joined me on the walk. I really couldn’t have done it without you.”

A random letter sent by Jean after listening to Dame Julia Cleverdon on Desert Island Disks resulted in connections with George Fielding at Whizz Kids and Ronnie Davidson at Character Scotland. Thanks to Julia, George and Ronnie for their advice and we hope to see George on next year’s trip! We also want to say a big thank you to Character Scotland for awarding us their small grant fund.

The post Suzi walks a Marathon & Character Scotland Small Grant Award: April 2015 appeared first on Crossing Countries.

Jean had a productive meeting with Ian Edwards for First Port who is helping us to create a business plan.

We are having our first meeting on Saturday 18^th April with our new recruits and like all good adventure stories you will have to wait to meet them….

The post Presentation Video and Business Advice: February 2015 appeared first on Crossing Countries.