Volunteers Needed In Nepal For Earthquake Disaster Relief

International volunteer organization Projects Abroad organizes special Disaster Relief project for volunteers to help with recovery efforts in Nepal

A group of Projects Abroad volunteers help put in a new floor at a school in Nepal

In the wake of the recent earthquake disaster in Nepal on April 25th, Projects Abroad is calling for volunteers to help with meaningful earthquake recovery work through its Disaster Relief project.

Projects Abroad has worked in Nepal since 1999 and has long-standing relationships with many organizations in Chitwan, Kathmandu, and Ghandruk, especially with schools, children's homes, hospitals, and conservation areas. All have been affected.

The main objective of the Disaster Relief project is to help rebuild these communities that have been our partners for over a decade, and to show them that we stand with them when they need it most.

The Disaster Relief project will begin on June 1st. Work will begin the Kathmandu Valley, in rural and semi-urban areas that surround the city. Volunteers will renovate schools and homes, build pit toilets, assemble tent schools in camps for displaced families and teach in them, as well as other give other outreach and childcare support. The project will expand into other regions as work is completed and participation grows.

Volunteers will be accommodated in basic housing, either a guesthouse or a camp ground, as conditions permit. Throughout they will be supported by full-time local Projects Abroad staff.

Volunteers can join at any time and stay for as long as they choose, for a minimum of one week. The project will run for as long as it is needed and the organization anticipates that volunteer aid will be crucial for the next several months.

For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Projects Abroad or visit www.projects-abroad.org/volunteer-destinations/volunteer-nepal/building/disaster-relief/.

About Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter Slowe, a geography professor, as a program for students to travel and work while on break from full-time study. The program had its genesis in post-USSR Romania, where students were given the chance to teach conversational English. After a few years just sending volunteers to Eastern Europe for teaching, the company expanded to sending volunteers of all ages around the world on a wide range of projects.

Projects Abroad is a global leader in short-term international volunteer programs with projects in 28 countries and recruitment offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, Hong Kong, Norway, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the United States.

For details on volunteering abroad, visit Projects Abroad's web site at
www.projects-abroad.org

Voluntourism Adds Exciting And Rewarding Experiences To Vacationing In Costa Rica

Volunteer activities help travelers make a positive impact on society and nature

Traveling to Costa Rica is always an enriching experience thanks to the destination’s wealth of natural and cultural resources. Now with voluntourism — travel that includes volunteer activities for nonprofit organizations — the rewards are even greater, as visitors make a positive impact on the environment, wildlife and local communities.

Regardless of age, experience level or interests, travelers will find an increasingly wide array of interesting and exciting ways to volunteer their time in Costa Rica. It’s a worthwhile way to make any vacation truly memorable.

Considering that Costa Rica is known for its eco-friendly policies, it’s no surprise that many volunteer opportunities focus on the environment. Volunteers can aid in the sustainable management of wildlife, forest resources and other protected areas with the Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas of Costa Rica (AVSO) (http://www.asvocr.org), which plays a key role in Costa Rica’s conservation, investigation and education efforts. Exciting and rewarding service opportunities are available for individuals, organizations and research can be used for college credit or data for ecologically-themed theses.

Also noteworthy is Costas Verdes (www.costasverdes.org), a non-profit organization devoted to protecting the coastal region. Volunteers can help out with the planting of thousands of trees in deforested areas in the Ostional and Playa Hermosa National Wildlife Refuges and they can also help at Costas Verdes’s nursery, which has more than 2,000 trees ready for planting.  

For those interested in the educational value of voluntourism, several interesting opportunities are available from the Tirimbina Rainforest Center (http://www.tirimbina.org/). The volunteer program at the Tirimbina Rainforest Center provides a unique experience for participants in the development of their scientific knowledge of the tropical forest, as they collect data for the center’s long-term research projects and learn about the ecosystem. Volunteers develop skills in collecting and analyzing data, writing reports and can also participate in various activities including tours and educational programs.

The Organization for Tropical Studies (http://www.ots.ac.cr/), a non-profit consortium of nearly 60 universities, colleges and research institutions from around the world also provides educational programs such as undergraduate and graduate study programs in global health, biology and conservation. In Costa Rica, the organization offers individual and corporate volunteer programs that include reforestation projects and activities at any of its three biological research stations, located in three ecologically diverse ecosystems: La Selva Biological Station, in the Caribbean lowland at the northern base of Braulio Carillo National Park; Palo Verde Biological Station, in the northwestern Pacific lowlands; and Las Cruces Biological Station and Wilson Botanical Garden, on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific slope, where an extensive collection of palms, bromeliads and endangered plants are among the beautiful features.

Abundant wildlife is found throughout Costa Rica and voluntourism makes it easy for travelers to help protect the nation’s diverse fauna. Among the organizations that excel in this type of voluntourism is the renowned World Wildlife Fund    (http://www.wwfca.org/nuestro_trabajo/especies/tortugas_marinas/conservacion_playa_junquillal/programa_voluntarios/), which works both at sea and on land with fishermen, tour operators, governments, industries, farmers and urban groups — as well as local and national authorities — to protect the Western Hemisphere’s largest reef. With the organization’s sea turtle conservation project in Junquillal, volunteers can help these magnificent creatures while receiving technical training and enjoying an unforgettable experience in the field. The minimum stay for this project is 15 days, although visitors are able to commit for up to a month in this worthwhile program.

The Osa Conservation Area contains nearly 2.5% of our entire planet’s biodiversity despite its small size. MarViva (http://www.marviva.net/index.php/en/) works hand in hand with local fishermen to offer training and strengthening in the development of programs that will allow them, in a way that is compatible with the marine resource, to make a living from different activities related to tourism and responsible fishing. The foundation also fosters community coastal organization with an emphasis on mangrove management and responsible fishing, in order to achieve the active participation and empowerment of local leaders in spaces for discussion and national harmonization in Marine Spatial Planning.

Situated in Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific region, the Corcovado Foundation (http://www.corcovadofoundation.org/es/programa-conservacion-tortuga-marina.html) plays a leading role in strengthening protected areas, promoting environmental education, adopting responsible travel and encouraging community participation in the sustainable use of natural resources in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Their program for the conservation of sea turtles runs from July to mid-December in the Osa peninsula. Volunteers participate in various conservation activities as members of the research team. Activities include night patrols, relocating nests in the nursery, recording scientific data, tagging turtles, monitoring the nursery, construction, exhuming nests and releasing hatchlings.

Travelers who want to experience and volunteer in local communities might want to consider vacationing at a co-op such as CoopeSilencio (http://coopesilencio.blogspot.com/p/volunteer_07.html). Volunteers will be housed with one of the families in the village and will be based at the animal rescue center. There is also the option to volunteer at the dairy farm or teach English to students and adults at the local school. The volunteer program at El Silencio accommodates all ages (from 16 years), backgrounds and abilities.

Caminos de Liderazgo, (http://inogo.stanford.edu/programs/leadership-program?language=en) a program out of Stanford University, develops leadership skills, and creates a tourism offering based on the vibrant culture of the region.  Participants come together to share their vision for their businesses and participated in activities focused on leadership, tourism, sustainability, and culture. The program is a collaboration between local leaders and entrepreneurs, the CRUSA Foundation, INOGO, SINAC and RBA with the support of businesses such as Nature Air, Travel Excellence and Horizontes.  The program will work with about 30 regional leaders to achieve increased prosperity for the inhabitants, their local cultures and biodiversity of the region.

Visitors can also give back by taking stock in Costa Rica’s future. The Integrated System of Art Instruction for Social Inclusion (SIFAIS)  is an educational program located in La Carpio that emphasizes self-worth and community. The educational program promotes the self-advancement and social integration of lower income children through classes in art, sports and trades training. Classes are open to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay and the program accepts volunteers of all levels of expertise.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south; it is bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea and the west by the Pacific Ocean. With an abundance of unique wildlife, landscapes and climates this small country proudly shelters approximately five percent of the known biodiversity in the world.  In order to protect and preserve its wealth of natural resources, Costa Rica has become a global leader in sustainable practices with protected areas comprising 26 percent of its land mass. With a peaceful spirit, emphasis on education and an economy based on tourism, technology and exportation, Costa Rica offers one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Visitors to Costa Rica enjoy a highly organized tourism infrastructure among a tropical paradise of lush rainforests, mystical volcanoes and cloud forests and beaches that meet mountains filled with monkeys and macaws. Offering a broad terrain of activities and accommodations, visitors to Costa Rica will find a range of hotel options ranging from small beachside bed & breakfasts to authentic intimate boutique mountain lodges to major international business hotel brands and everything in between. Costa Rica’s accommodations offer something appealing for everyone’s desires. The phrase “Pura Vida” can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica from coast to coast.  Used as a greeting or expression of happiness, the phrase literally translates to “pure life,” however its true meaning is “full of life,” which accurately describes the adventure and wonder that await visitors. 

About Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)

Established in 1955, the Costa Rica Tourism Board spearheads the vital task of regulating and promoting Costa Rica’s extensive of tourism offerings. The ICT and its partners in the private sector work tirelessly to garner recognition, standardize practices, provide insightful research data and foster cultural development for the country’s coast to coast one-of a kind tourism products and resources.

Giving Back Goes Global With Short-Term Volunteer Vacations: 10 Charitable Trips For The Time-Crunched Traveler

International Volunteer Day is Friday, December 5^th. To mark this global celebration of volunteerism, the travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, have come up with ways to take your love of travel and combine it with giving back. Their list of Short-Term Volunteer Vacations: 10 Charitable Trips for the Time-Crunched Travelerfeatures a variety of “voluntourism” 

excursions that can be done in two weeks or fewer. Whether traveling with family, friends, or on your own, enhance your travel experience through the gift of giving; and create memories that will last a lifetime for you and those who will benefit from your generosity.

For those looking to make a difference in a specific way or a particular place, check out these volunteer trips that will take your vacation to the next level:

·         Help save leatherback turtles, Costa Rica - Head off to biodiverse Costa Rica where you can experience unmatched natural beauty and adventure, while doing your part to help revive the Pacific leatherback turtle population. Threatened by a number of factors, these endangered turtles have been on the decline since 1980. Many of Costa Rica’s beaches serve as nesting grounds for female leatherbacks when they lay their eggs beginning in March each year. Volunteers are often charged with attaching transmitters or tags to the turtles, tracking these gentle giants and moving their eggs away from potential danger. Organizations such as the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the Earthwatch Institute, La Tortuga Feliz and i-to-i all feature programs fewer than two weeks long.

·         Care for Asian elephants, Chiang Mai, Thailand - Visit Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand where you can participate in wildlife conservation by helping rescued Asian elephants. Volunteer programs run for different amounts of time — some offer one-night stays, while others have one-, two- or three-week programs available. Volunteer tasks often include feeding and bathing the elephants, learning about the challenges these animals face, locating elephants in the forest and leading them to their health examinations, assisting elephant caretakers and, yes, shoveling elephant excrement (pack your nose plugs!). Elephant Nature Park gives volunteers the opportunity to stay at the sanctuary and rise in the morning to the sound of elephant calls. Other programs are offered through various organizations such as gvi and i to i.

·         Tackle trail work along the Appalachian Trail, Georgia to Maine, United States - Get back to nature along the Appalachian Trail, a 2,180-mile stretch that passes through 14 states, running from Georgia‘s Springer Mountain all the way up to Mount Katahdin in Maine; it’s one of the longest marked paths of its kind in the world. Each year, a few million people visit “the A.T.” and an estimated 1,800 to 2,000 set out to hike the entire length of the trail in one go — a feat that takes several months to complete. Volunteers are said to donate about 220,000 hours to the trail each year, taking up activities such as trail maintenance, removing invasive species and constructing things like bridges and shelters. Search for volunteer opportunities in line with your timeframe and interests at any point along the trail through theAppalachian Trail Conservancy. And leave a little time to do some day hikes along this famous footpath, which has been welcoming foot traffic since the 1930s.

·         Help run sports programs, Cape Town, South Africa - Donate a few weeks of your time to supporting physical education for kids in one of the many townships surrounding Cape Town, where there has been a lack of sports opportunities. You’ll likely work with local volunteers and staff to make fitness a daily part of kids’ lives, imparting valuable lessons around teamwork, health and leadership. That could mean organizing soccer, netball or basketball games, running drills or teaching students nutrition — for the most part, the activity opportunities are only limited by your creativity. Short-term opportunities are available through organizations like gvi and Projects Abroad, though you may be paired up with long-term volunteers. No previous coaching experience is necessary, but pack your enthusiasm — the kids won’t forget theirs!

·         Control the lionfish population, Belize - Adventurous travelers can combine diving with doing good by contributing to lionfish research off the coast of Belize. Volunteers will work to examine and curb the growth of the lionfish population (an invasive species with no natural predators in this area) as a means of minimizing the impact these fish have on the Belize Barrier Reef as well as other fish populations in the area. Divers stay at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve dive camp, which serves as a home base while participants learn about the lionfish population. Blue Ventures offers seven- and 16-day trips, and volunteers must hold a PADI Advanced Open Water certification to join an excursion.

The next five types of voluntourism excursions take part in various locations around the world but all provide a way to get involved in the local community: work on a farm; build something; contribute to natural disaster relief; volunteer via a hostel; and clean up a beach. To find out more about these giving-back trips and to read Cheapflights.com’s complete list of Short-Term Volunteer Vacations: 10 Charitable Trips for the Time-Crunched Traveler, visit www.cheapflights.com/news/short-term-volunteer-vacations-10-charitable-trips-time-crunched-traveler.

Voluntourism: Crystal Cruises Offers Philanthropic Shore Excursions

Sometimes the best way to get to know a destination is to delve into the community and learn about its greatest needs. Crystal Cruises is paving the way for its guests to intimately engage with the communities to which its ships travel by way of the newly expanded “You Care, We Care” voluntourism program.

The complimentary shore excursions are focused on helping communities in the areas of animal rescue, nature conservation, and disadvantaged youth, as well as disabled and underprivileged adults. This is an ongoing program first developed by Crystal Cruises in 2011, but three new opportunities exist for 2014.

WORKING WITH ANIMALS: Guests will help support operations at the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at St. Peter Port in the Channel Islands. Volunteers can help out in the office, muck out horse stalls, or walk rescue dogs. This excursion is available on the August 1, 17, and 31 voyages.

PROTECTING NATURE: Participants will plant trees to protect the volcanic land in Iceland’s Heidmork Nature Reserve, located inReykjavík, from erosion. This excursion is available on the June 1, 6, and 13 cruises.

IMPROVING CHILD WELFARE: While in Takoradi, Ghana, Crystal’s guests will help out at Father’s Home Care Ministries. You might help construct a building or clean/improve a playground at a home and guidance center for disadvantaged children. This excursion is only available on the March 28 cruise.

In total, Crystal Cruises will help more than 15 communities throughout the world in 2014. Ports of note include Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Bergen, Norway; Honolulu, Hawaii; Belfast, Ireland; Boston; Singapore; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Durban, South Africa; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Livorno, Italy; and Tallinn, Estonia.

For more details please visit www.crystalcruises.com 

Contributed by Andrea M. Rotondo