Monthly Archives: June 2011

Global Service Corps Launches New Food Security Program in Cambodia

By | IVPA Members, Volunteer opportunities | No Comments

 

Next month, IVPA member Global Service Corps (GSC) will be launching their new New Cambodian Food Security Program. This program will use the successes and lessons of GSC’s 16 years in East Africa in community development, sustainable agriculture and management and will partner with the Cambodian government.

GSC says “The goal of the project is to stabilize food supply in rural Cambodia through community development, education, and training by establishing an educational and training center where community leaders, schools, local teachers, educators, families, and children can gather to learn about subsistence farming, crop diversification, feasible post-harvest methods, and sustainable agriculture techniques.”

For more information on GSC’s new programs please click here or check out GSC’s Newsletter.

Also, if you are in the San Francisco area please look into the amazing fundraising dinner GSC has organized.

 

“Change the Course Fundraising Dinner,”

http://cambodiafoodsecurity.eventbrite.com/

Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (PT)

San Francisco, CA

What’s it Really Like to Volunteer Abroad?

By | Tips for Volunteering Abroad, Volunteer opportunities, Volunteer Stories | No Comments

If you’ve never been abroad to volunteer, you may be wondering what it is like and the truth is no one volunteer experience is the same. But reading through volunteer stories, first hand descriptions of volunteers’ own experiences can be enlightening.

I’ve compiled a list of out IVPA members’ blogs where they feature volunteer accounts or other news about their programs.

Global Service Corps I love the photography of GSC’s blog!

Amigos de las Americas This is a recent update from an Amigos Project Director in Nicaragua

Child Family Health International News and information about Global Immersion Programs

Cross-Cultural Solutions A whole list of individual CCS volunteer blogs!

Global Citizens Network Some great information on GCN programs

Habitat For Humanity This links to some of Habitat’s Global Village volunteer stories

Projects Abroad A blog that posts on a variety of experiences of Projects Abroad staff and volunteers

I love Theresa Ball’s description as a novice traveler about her experience in Romania taken from Projects Abroad’s post

“I have been trying for almost a year now to describe to others what my time in Romania was like. I’m sure there are many flowery adjectives and humorous anecdotes that I could used to describe my experiences there. Yes, it was beautiful. Yes, the experience changed my life. Yes, I recommend that you all go there. Mostly though, it was the right place for me at the right time. I came back a different person, ready to take on anything and knowing that if I really wanted something, I could achieve it. I found a part of myself that I didn’t know existed.”

I think everyone can have a life changing experience but, like Theresa, volunteers need to find the right fit and follow what “calls” to them.

Voluntourism and “Do-Good Vacations”

By | Volunteer opportunities | No Comments

IVPA Members Cross-Cultural Solutions and Globe Aware were recently spotlighted in a Huffington Post article titled “Making A Difference: The World  of Giving — Voluntour and Do-Good Vacations”

Cross-Cultural Solutions and Globe Aware were highlighted as quality organizations with great reputations, and flexible options for a volunteer vacation.

The article also focused on “Do-Good Vacations” and states:

“Do-Good Vacations are money raising adventures combined with European vacations to Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland and Spain and include nights in historic castles and visits to lesser-known areas. Do-Good Vacations are about traveling to a distant land, working with a nonprofit outfitter to raise money for a cause — unlike voluntouring you will not be working with the local community and its residents.”

To be honest I haven’t heard much about these type of fundraising vacations. One of the examples the article gives is For A Cause which combines the fundraising concept of participating in  races, like “Race for the Cure” with traveling.

I agree that this sort of fundraising vacation wouldn’t fit into the concept of volunteering abroad or voluntourism but it is interesting how the traditional lines of vacation, volunteering, sustainable travel etc are being blended.

Voluntourism Conference

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Alexia Nestora of Voluntourism Gal and LAsso Communications has put together a great one-day conference on Voluntourism, June 28th in Denver, CO.

I am excited about the topics and the people. It looks like it will be a great event.

Take a look at her blog for more information.