Volunteering is an incredible way to gain an insight into another culture and at the same time give something back to the communities you visit.

ExplorerGirls Ambassador, Karen Graham, shares her experiences of volunteering with Conservation Volunteers Australia and Service Civil International, as well as chatting with Erin Courtenay, Communications Coordinator with Global Volunteer Network (GVN).

Two of the volunteer organisations I’ve travelled with over the years are Conservation Volunteers Australia and Service Civil International. In Australia, I’ve participated in tree planting and weeding on Montague Island in Southern NSW, and seed collecting in the rainforest near Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

Overseas, I’ve worked at a bear refuge in Kutervo, Croatia, where we assisted with the creation of a walking trail from the village to the mountaintop, and occasionally got to feed the bears. I’ve also worked at Ballytobin (a community supporting disabled and disadvantaged youngsters) in Ireland, where the work was making apple juice. All projects were fantastic and unique experiences and I would encourage everyone to include a few days of volunteering (or even a few weeks, if time permits) into your travel plans.

Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA)
CVA was started in 1982 by a farmer in regional Victoria (after he realised the need for regenerating his land and providing wildlife corridors), and has since grown to become Australia’s largest not-for-profit, non-government, practical conservation organisation. Last year, 15,000 people volunteered with CVA around Australia.

“CVA is all about engaging people in meaningful conversation and research,” says Joanne Davies, CVA’s Naturewise Project Manager. “We work in partnership with government agencies, private conservation organisations, landholders, and tourism industries, to actually make a difference on the ground and have tangible conservation outcomes.”

CVA has a range of programs to suit everyone:
For travellers to Australia and New Zealand there is the Visit Australia and Visit New Zealand options, where work includes tree planting, erosion and salinity control, seed collection, construction and maintenance of walking tracks, endangered flora and fauna surveys and monitoring, weed control, habitat restoration and heritage protection.

For Australians and New Zealanders there is voluntary work in your local regions with Conservation Connect or you could participate on an eco-holiday in Australia with Naturewise. On these projects you combine a unique travelling experience with some hands-on conservation work, in wonderful destinations such as Broome, Arnhem Land, Cape York, Kangaroo Island, Montague Island, and the Great Ocean Road. To read more about Naturewise, check out my recent blog: Volunteering with Naturewise

CVA also has World Conservation, giving volunteers the chance to join longer projects in the USA, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America and Africa.

For further information about any of CVA’s projects: www.conservationvolunteers.com.au

Service Civil International (SCI)
SCI is one of the world’s largest volunteering organisations (with 43 branches and local partner organisations across the world), and they promote peace and intercultural understanding through volunteering. More than 60 countries host short term work camps (lasting two to four weeks) and the choice is endless – monitoring wildlife, building a house, planning festivals, running activities for refugees or disadvantaged youngsters, or even living and working in an eco-village.  

Most projects are inexpensive (designed to cover food and accommodation expenses), and they can easily be slotted into an itinerary, as I did on two separate trips to Europe. Here is a short description of my wonderful experience at Ballytobin in Ireland, followed by a photo montage of my experience with the bears at Kuterevo in Croatia.

Ballytobin
My arms are elbow-deep in a sticky mush created by the juicing machine as it devours countless apples. Taking a break to taste the syrup, I listen to Sean airing his opinion about the IRA. Suddenly he bursts into song, ‘…and the band played Waltzing Matilda…’ chosen specially for me.

I’m in County Kilkenny, Ireland participating on a short-term voluntary work camp at Ballytobin, a community providing a sheltered environment for children in need of special care. Placed by International Volunteers for Peace (the Australian branch of SCI), I am one of ten participants from around the world.

Our job is making apple juice. We collect apples from the orchard, then wash them, crush them, boil and bottle the juice.

We also get to know some of the young residents, including Sean with his unique brand of storytelling. Aidan, who cannot speak, uses a basic sign language and enjoys helping. We learn to trust him and he gives us happy hugs at the end of each task.

Some of the children are disabled, others have experienced tragedy, such as abandonment, but at Ballytobin they are accepted. Even after a few days I feel part of the community and share priceless moments. There’s an evening of singing in the local pub, plus a sightseeing tour and a hiking trip. Aidan skips and dances across the meadows, a huge grin adorning his face. It’s a moment of pure joy. And when we reach the top of the mountain our host reveals a thirst-quenching bottle of apple juice.

(Please note: names have been changed to respect the privacy of those at Ballytobin).

Photo Montage: Kuterevo

For further information on Service Civil International (and International Volunteers for Peace) visit: www.sciint.org / www.ivp.org.au

The Global Volunteer Network (GVN)
GVN is based in New Zealand and has been offering volunteer service opportunities in community projects around the world since 2000. They currently provide volunteer programs (through partner organisations in 21 countries) throughout South America, Africa and Asia. The GVN Foundation, which is the non-profit arm of GVN, was founded in 2005 in an effort to provide financial assistance to local community organisations around the world, including the recent victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Erin Courtenay, Communications Coordinator with GVN and fellow Explorer Girl (ErinGVN), chats candidly with me about the volunteer experience.   

Karen: How did GVN get started?
Erin: GVN was launched by Colin Salisbury (Founder and Executive Director) after he spent time volunteering in Ghana, West Africa. While he was there he saw the tremendous difference volunteers could make in helping local organisations achieve their goals. Upon returning to New Zealand he spent some time researching the different volunteer organisations around the world and was amazed at how expensive and limiting many programs were in terms of volunteer opportunities.

Karen: What sort of work do volunteers do on your projects?
Erin: There are so many options available for anyone wanting to volunteer through GVN, that there’s bound to be one to suit you! Volunteers can work in orphanages, teach in schools, assist in hospitals and medical clinics, contribute to building or community development projects, or in animal and environmental conservation projects.

Karen: How do the communities benefits from these projects?
Erin: At GVN we align with the idea of 'local solutions to local problems', so we work with local community organisations in each country. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

As an example, volunteers might work in an under-resourced school and provide valuable education for children and also help train the local teachers. In orphanages, volunteers provide love and affection; support and education to children in need; and helping them secure a brighter future in life. In community development programs, volunteers might train locals to start sustainable income generating projects for their families and communities.

Karen: What do the volunteers get out of the experience?
Erin: International volunteering is a great way to gain a unique experience of living in a developing country, learning about another culture and experiencing a different way of life.  Volunteering fosters personal growth, is a great way to utilise a volunteer’s skills and knowledge and can add to their CV. They also have an amazingly satisfying feeling knowing that they contributed to ‘being the change’ by helping communities in need.

Karen: Can anyone volunteer?
Erin: Our volunteer programs are suitable for almost anyone, as there are programs to suit people with any level of skill, experience, and age. A wide range of people volunteer, including families, individuals, and couples. There are people just out of school or university, others on a career break, and older people approaching or in retirement.

Karen: Why would you recommend including some volunteering into your travel plans?
Erin: Volunteering gives you the opportunity to interact with and get to know local people, to hear their stories, meet their families and visit their homes and schools, giving you a more genuine cultural insight and experience than a tourist is able to access. You still get to see the sights, sample the food and culture whilst doing something meaningful during your travels.

Karen: Voluntourism is getting incredibly popular. Why do you think this is?
Erin: I think it essentially stems from people wanting to be able to make a difference with their time, to help people or communities who are less fortunate than themselves, and to contribute to something meaningful in their life. These days I think people are looking for more than just a holiday where you only see the tourist attractions and the inside of hotels.

For further information on GVN visit www.globalvolunteernetwork.org

If you would like to read some inspiring stories from GVN volunteers, check out their FREE e-book Ripples of Differences, which can be downloaded online www.ripplesofdifference.org

Other organisations also worth checking out:
www.i-to-i.com
www.responsibletravel.com
www.crossculturalsolutions.org/volunteering-abroad
www.isvonline.com
www.statravel.com.au (select experience tab)

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Karen Graham

Images: Karen Graham, Erin Courtenay (GVN)