Volunteer and Community Tourism
There are many organisations worldwide, most non-profit, which offer
travellers the opportunity to experience living in a community
as a "local".
While some are highly localised, others are international. From
social and educational programs to environmental projects,
there's something to suit everyone.
Programs range from casual and flexible, through to those which
are structured and charged for much like a standard tour package. You "earn
your daily keep" by dint of your physical labour, or by transfer
of some of your knowledge and skills to residents in your host
community.
At the apex are the long term overseas volunteer programs, where
you live and work in a community for up to two years for local
wages; and the Humanitarian Aid and Non Government
Organisations (NGOs) providing support where a natural disaster
or human conflict has occurred, resulting in displaced persons
and refugees.
- Australian Business Volunteers "ABV
is an overseas development agency ...[that] exists to help alleviate
poverty in developing countries and create sustainable development.
We do this ... by offering
the work skills and experience of mature Australian men and women who are experts
in their various fields. ...
ABV believes that practical work skills training is the best form of aid we can
provide because it enables our clients to run their businesses or organisations
more effectively and efficiently. Benefits then flow through to the larger community,
with a more highly-skilled workforce, better governance practices and the creation
of more employment opportunities. The long-term results are an improvement in
economic stability, confidence, prosperity and independence.
We particularly focus on capacity building within micro, small and medium-sized
enterprises in the private sector, but we also work with public sector agencies,
local NGOs and other community-based organisations. "
- Conservation
Volunteers Australia "Conservation
Volunteers Australia offers a number of different volunteer opportunities
from one day local environmental projects through to two week
expeditions to remote outback locations that provide and
amazing working holiday experience."
-
Cross Cultural Solutions
was "founded in 1995 ... has been operating international
volunteer programs for over 10 years, and has more than 10,000 alumni
who have traveled to countries around the world. CCS has a worldwide
staff of over 200 people in 10 countries, with administrative offices
also located in the United States and United Kingdom." From
community projects in India to Humanitarian Aid in Kosovo, Cross Cultural
Solutions have a variety of programs available, and an email list to
keep you updated.
- Global Vision International
(GVI) "... was formed in 1998 to
provide support and services to international charities,
non profits and governmental agencies. Through our
international network of over 100 personnel in over 30 countries
GVI continues to support many of the most critical conservation
and humanitarian projects around the globe."
- Global Volunteer Network
is a non profit organisation based in New Zealand. "The Global
Volunteer Network offers volunteer opportunities in community projects
throughout the world. We currently provide volunteer programs through
our partner organizations in Alaska, China, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, New
Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South
Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam.
The network continues to expand with new programs currently being researched
and assessed." Smartly designed, fast loading and comprehensive
web site with lot's of projects for you to choose from!
- Habitat for Humanity International
"Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda
Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated
more than 150,000 houses with families in need, becoming a true world
leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing. ... A
nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate
poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent
shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of
all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership
with families in need." Whether you're
a student, independent traveller or RV/caravanner, HFHI has a project
for you to participate in, just about anywhere in the world!
- Habitat
for Humanity Australia
- Tabitha
Foundation Australia was established in 2002 to support Tabitha Cambodia,
a non-profit organisation active in Cambodia since
1994. In 10 years of operation, Tabitha Cambodia
has lifted over 250,000 Cambodians out of poverty
and despair into lives of dignity, joy and active
participation in their communities. One goal of the
foundation includes encouraging volunteer house-building
teams to work with Tabitha Cambodia.
- Into Africa
This page gives links and short descriptions to websites maintained
by organizations having work and study opportunities in Africa.
- ISTC - International Student Travel
Confederation A nonprofit confederation of student travel
organisations around the world. "Student
travel services, discounts, information & inspiration
for young independent travellers
The ISTC network - 5000 offices - 116
countries - 10 million student and youth
travellers."
- Pacific
Crest Trail Association
Not only a great deal of info. on the trails and how to walk them responsibly,
but you can help with their upkeep too.
- PEPY
 PEPY
stands for "Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself". PEPY's
mission is to aid rural communities in improving their own standards
of living, with a focus on increased access to quality education.
Through our partner government schools, and our informal education
initiatives, PEPY is supporting education for over 1,700 families
in 12 villages and 6 schools in rural Siem Reap, Cambodia. - SolarAid "Power
to the people. Two of the biggest threats facing humanity
today are climate change and global poverty. SolarAid helps to
combat both, simply by bringing clean, renewable power to the poorest
people in the world." The best ideas are simply brilliant
and brilliantly simple. Great idea, great web site!
- Transitions
Abroad "Now
well into its third decade, Transitions
Abroad Publishing has spawned not only
the renowned magazine, but also a selection
of other essential resources for the person
who wants to travel, really travel, without
being a tourist." Work,
Study and travel overseas. A comprehesive web
site focussed on the print magazine, but with
oodles of info. for anyone interested in international
study and work.
- UNV Online Volunteering "United
Nations Online
Volunteering service connects development organizations and volunteers
over the Internet and supports their effective online collaboration. ...
It is a free service for development organizations and individuals worldwide."
- Willing Workers On Organic Farms
(WWOOF) Australia, " is a form of cultural
exchange in which WWOOFers live and work as family with host
farms, and learn about: the skills of organic growing, the
area they are visiting.
- Working Abroad ... "is
an international networking service for volunteers and travellers
on volunteer projects in over 150 countries worldwide. On this
site, you will find professional and personalised information on
voluntary work abroad, including: organisations that are looking
for volunteers TODAY, personalised reports on grassroots organisations
in Latin America & the
Caribbean, Asia & Pacific,
Africa & the Middle East, Europe & North America,
volunteer feedback stories, teaching English courses, WorkingAbroad
Projects and lots more!"
- WWOOF Korea "More
than 200 foreign WWOFERS experienced the Korean WWOOF program and
many foreign WWOOFERS visit Korea each year.
There are many kinds of WWOOF hosts such as organic farms, dairy farms, training
centers for Korean traditional martial arts dance, educational institutions of
English and Japanese including dormitories, etc..
WWOOFERS can enjoy traveling and experience Korean traditional culture when he
participates in the Korean WWOOF program." Slick, fast loading Flash base
web site in English and Korean, with extensive listings of participating Korean
WWOOF hosts, and more.
-
Yahoo's directory of volunteerism A selected list of links, some
with descriptions, to a large number of orgranisations offering volunteer
and overseas programmes.
See also Activism, Development
and EnvironmentEcologically Sustainable Development and Ecotourism
Projects |
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Humanitarian Aid, Non Government Agencies (Non
Government Organisations - NGOs)
- AUSTCARE's " programs
focus on improving lives for refugees, returnees, internally displaced
people and those affected by landmines. Our humanitarian work
in post-conflict countries, for returning refugees and landmine
impacted communities, is vital for peace building and ending the
refugee cycle."
- Australian
Himalayan Foundation "Our
vision is, simply, a better life for the people of the Himalaya.
Our goal is to achieve this through improvements in
three key areas:
education , health and medical services, environment
and sustainability. We want to give something back to the
Himalaya—a
region which has touched the lives of millions of
people from all over the world."
- Oxfam Australia (Community
Aid Abroad) "is
an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based
aid and development organisation. ...
"Australia's
leading agency working with communities around the world for solutions
to poverty and social injustice."
- International Red Cross Established
in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement. Site Languages; English, Français,
Español. "The International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent
organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect
the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and
to provide them with assistance."
- Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) Australia (Doctors Without Borders)
"Internationally, through its network of 18 offices, Médecins
Sans Frontières sends out some 3,000 volunteers per year. Working
alongside over 15,000 local staff in teams around the world, our volunteers
bring life-saving emergency medical assistance to populations who would
otherwise be denied access to even the most basic health care. Find
out more ..."
- Overseas Service Bureau
"From accountants in Papua New Guinea and teacher trainers in
Timor-Leste to speech therapists in South Africa and vets
in Viet Nam, our range of assignments reflect changing needs
in developing countries around the world. AVI volunteers
work in a wide range of occupations in response to job requests
from overseas employers. We are seeking volunteers with recognised
trade or professional qualifications and experience in their field
of work."
- ReliefWeb ...
"is the world’s
leading on-line gateway to information (documents and maps) on
humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle
of information, designed specifically to assist the international
humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance,
it provides timely, reliable and relevant information as events
unfold, while emphasizing the coverage of "forgotten emergencies" at
the same time. ...[and] offers various resource sections
specifically targeted to relief professionals ".
Welcome to the world of international humanitarian
aid and volunteering. A smart, clean, slick web
site which is the authorative gateway to Govt and NGO
aid organisations worldwide, with one of the best databases
for finding organisations by type, country, field of
expertise, current emergencies, issues, policies, and
professional resources including vacancies.
- United Nations High Commission for
Refugees UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights
and well-being of refugees. UNHCR strives to ensure that
everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge
in another
state, and to return home voluntarily.
- Australia
for UNHCR "was
established by UNHCR in 2000 and raises funds to support
the humanitarian programs of the United Nations Refugee
Agency, UNHCR. We also undertake educational and public
awareness activities to promote greater understanding
about the situation of refugees worldwide." Vibrant
colour scheme which may be hard for some people to
read, OK once you click on an area of interest. Also
laods ActiveX scripts.
- "Humanitarian
aid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia" Brief
definition and background, with links to many other organisations
in the field.
See also Democracy
& Human Rights, Development
and Environment,
Sustainability
and Ecotourism Projects. |
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