Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknifer and recent university graduate is hoping to take Yellowknife with him when he visits India to do volunteer work.

Mitchell Callahan recently graduated from the University of Calgary with an undergraduate degree in political science and geography.

Mitchell Callahan

Instead of jumping right into work, Callahan applied for a chance to travel overseas as a volunteer raising AIDS awareness.

"In the selection process they really wanted to represent all parts of Canada," Callahan said.

He applied last year for the chance to go abroad.

"It all started when I saw the advertisement and I applied," he said.

"AIDS is one of the biggest challenges that India is facing right now."

Callahan will be paired with someone from India in Ontario, and he then will be moving to India with them for the two month period.

He said he will be in Ontario from September to the end of November. He won't be returning to Yellowknife until February.

"I just wanted a challenge. It will offer a lot of experience and education," he said.

One of Callahan's challenges is to learn the local dialect.

"I have to start practicing Hindi."

He said that the response from friends and family has been overwhelming, especially when it came to fundraising.

"I was really shocked, I sent out letters to friends and family and the donations were huge. I've been really fortunate."

Another challenge he's facing is packing. He can only bring one backpack full of stuff with him.

"A few pictures from home definitely," he said of what he would pack. "An MP3 player. Nothing much, I'm packing light in case I bring some stuff back."

He also intends to bring some gifts from Yellowknife with him.

"I want to bring some Canadian memorabilia. I was thinking of bringing something a little different, maybe some Aboriginal art. Or, you know, something Northern."

But there's one thing that did scare him briefly: the temperatures.

"We're going in the winter season, so it's a little more bearable. I was really scared about (the heat)."

He did add with a grin, "This is the first time I get to skip a (Northern) winter, that's going to be exciting."