The unpredictable nature of international development work and the complex logistics involved in coordinating hundreds of volunteers has taught us to expect the unexpected. Sometimes this means we must make the best of things. For example, after a hotel in Antigua cancelled our reservations the night before our arrival, an impromptu overnight camping trip on the Pacaya Volcano was one of the best (and coldest) experiences we’ve ever had.

Oftentimes, these surprises manifest in ways that allow us to increase the impact of our projects. By their senior year, many of our students are such successful fundraisers that they exceed their goals. Seniors pool their extra funding and decide the best way to put these funds to work (e.g. building a playground in their host community, or contributing to a B3 scholarship fund).

The stories below are meant to serve as reminders that we should always be ready to adapt, make the best of things, and be cognizant of new ways we can help others. If you have an example of an Unexpected Benefit that you’d like to see included on this list, email us and let us know.

• Yoga for Wheelchairs
• Claudio’s Leg
• Solar Panels

Is it worth keeping this added benefit? Can we just keep it as a series of blog posts? Would it be better to change that to something like B3 Partners, a page dedicated to the NGOs we work with and a resource for them to learn about suggesting projects?