News & Newsletters

22 July 2008

GVI LAUNCH PHILANTHROPIC FAMILY BREAKS

Ethical volunteering organization, Global Vision International (GVI), due to popular demand has opened up a selection of volunteering trips to families. The expeditions will offer families the chance to provide vital assistance on some of GVI’s community and conservation projects, while experiencing life in a different culture.

Previously, GVI only catered for volunteers over the age of eighteen, but after receiving enquiries from altruistic families wishing to volunteer together, GVI decided to open up their application process to family units too. Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis, to ensure that parents can find the perfect volunteering adventure for their families.

GVI’s volunteering project in Nepal could provide the perfect opportunity for parents with older children to volunteer together, as teenagers are able to get involved teaching children in the Nepalese communities. Families with younger children however, may be more suited to a project such as GVI’s ‘Stoves’ project in Guatemala. Children as young as twelve will be able to work alongside their parents on this volunteer project, to build energy efficient stoves which are less damaging to the environment, cause less air pollution, and enable local parents to provide better meals for their children.

Chris Ash, GVI’s International Projects Director, says: “Volunteering provides families with an amazing opportunity to get together and take part in a unique and bonding experience. GVI volunteering opportunities are tailored to a family’s individual needs and we will be working hard to ensure that families are placed on projects where they can enjoy making a valuable contribution together.”

The trips will also give families the opportunity to take side trips and explore the local attractions and more of the local culture. Volunteer families in Guatemala, for example, are able to take a two day adventure trip to Lake Atitlan, where they can take part in numerous activities including kayaking and cycling as well as visiting a local volcano.

Chris continues: “Families volunteering in non-English speaking countries will also have the opportunity to learn a new language, which is particularly beneficial for younger children, who tend to pick up languages easily. Older children may find their time volunteering will benefit them in other ways, as they will pick up new skills that may help them boost their CV before their first job or improve their chance of getting onto a University course.”

04 June 2008

GVI Partner wins International accolade

Yachana Foundation win the International National Geographic and ASHOKA 'Changemakers' Competition!

Yesterday Ecuador won an international prize in the World of Ecotourism, Conservation, Education and Sustainable Development. The Yachana Foundation which counts within its various activities Yachana Lodge – a rainforest Lodge, Yachana Gourmet – a Fair Trade chocolate company, and Yachana High School – a practical school for the youth of the Amazon is one of three winners in the National Geographic and Ashoka Changemakers competition.

It's with great pride for Ecuador that Yachana receives this prize and at the same time recognition of the work that the Yachana Foundation is doing in promoting and funding the protection and conservation of culture and the environment in this wonderful country of Ecuador.

The objective of the competition was to identify and show the organisations or individual projects that support and promote Geotourism. Tourism that takes into account the geographic characteristics of an area, its environment, its culture, its traditions and the wellbeing of its people.

The competition started with 322 participants from 83 countries and 15 finalists remained in a first selection, from whom 3 were chosen by international voting on the internet and one is Yachana! Winning is a great honor and represents a window on Ecuador where the whole world can see both Ecuador as a country and Yachana's Sustainable Development and Education project.

Its the first time that Ecuador has been a winner in a competition of this stature and Yachana is proud to represent Ecuador in this.

How Can I Get Involved?

Find out more about working on the Ecuador Amazon Expedition with Yachana and GVI

18 May 2008

GVI New Website Launch

Global Vision are celebrating their 10 year anniversary with a new look! With expanding numbers in expeditions and projects and more and more volunteers helping in critical conservation and community work we felt it was time to freshen up and keep moving on.


Although we have a new look, rest assured we still have the same goals and ethics instilled from a decade ago. Striving for long term sustainability in all works, GVI is guided by a unique commitment to its volunteers and to its partners.


GVI helping to Change Your World.

22 September 2007

SURVEY PUTS FOREST ON ROAD TO PRESERVATION

A team of English volunteers have just taken the first step towards saving a unique Kenyan forest and its resident population of endangered Colobus monkeys. On Monday, September 18, a group of 17 volunteers working as part of a project organised by humanitarian and conservation organisation GVI finished recording every section of the Shimoni Forest, 80km South of Mombasa, on the Kenyan coast – the first step towards allowing the local population to take control of the forest and thus prevent it being chopped down. Shimoni, whose trees grow on a base of coral exposed due to rising sea levels, is home to a group of rare Colobus monkeys whose habitat would have been threatened had deforestation continued. Graham Cortie, leader of the expedition, said: “Like most of Kenya, this is a very poor area, and locals had been chopping down the trees for firewood, thus endangering the unique wildlife and the forest itself. However, thanks to the process of ‘transecting’ the forest that we have just completed, we are now on the road to allowing the locals to own the forest in which they live. This will have several positive benefits. Firstly people will become more environmentally aware, and will not want to damage something they now own. Secondly, they can now promote the forest as a tourist area, and bring money into their community. This is a great step forward for a beautiful natural environment and the people who live in it.” The project was first begun in early January, and is being run by GVI, an organisation which allows ordinary men and women to take part in conservation and humanitarian projects worldwide. Besides mapping the forest, GVI volunteers on the Kenya project researched marine mammals such as Bottlenose Dolphins and Humpback Whales passing through the local coastal waters, relocated elephants to nearby National Parks, and redecorated and upgraded the village’s orphanage. Graham Cortie said: “This has been one of the most fulfilling projects to have worked on because it has resulted in benefits to the local people, the local wildlife, and the local environment. Shimoni has a dark but important past – it was the first port used in the Kenyan slave trade. It is also home to some magnificent and important caves. Thanks to this project, these pieces of history will remain unchanged, and the people of Shimoni have a little help towards living their way of life the way they want to.”