This week we interviewed Erica Louise, the Australasian Regional Manager for Global Vision International. We wanted to find out what made people volunteer, what kind of placements were available for prospective volunteers and what kinds of experiences awaited them.
AE: Why do people volunteer?
Erica: Not everyone's idea of a break overseas would be lying on beach, or shopping in Asia. In addition, working in a pub in England, or the Ski Fields in Canada is certainly not for everyone. Volunteering provides the individual with the opportunity to spend some time living with a local community, and do some good with their time away from home. Volunteering can be extremely rewarding, educational, challenging and an eye opener to the real world. It is true to say that for many volunteers it's a life changing experience.
AE: How much does it cost them?
Erica: It would depend how much the project requires to support the volunteer. Such fees cover food, accommodation, in country travel, training, support from regional offices as well as in country, and any 'leftovers' would fund the continuation of conservation, community development projects, and children's scholarships overseas.
AE: Where can they go?
Erica: Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Belize, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, Borneo, USA, Laos , Borneo, Zambia, Vanuatu.
AE: What kind of work do they do?
Erica: GVI provides opportunities to volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental search, conservation, climate change, education and community development.
AE: Does it work out for everyone?
Erica: Whilst some people may volunteer overseas with the intention of it being a holiday, they may be very surprised when they realise the hours are long, there are a lot of new skills to learn,, and the conditions can be very basic. GVI do our best to ensure our volunteers do not make this mistake, we ensure they are well informed about expectations prior to their placement. GVI staff members have all volunteered or travelled extensively themselves, so we can share with others exactly what to expect from our own experiences.
AE: How many volunteers do you have?
Erica: Approximately 2000 - 2500 every year from around the world.
AE: Are males and females equally represented?
Erica: We find more females book, however, we do get a fair proportion of men that apply, particularly for our marine conservation, high altitude exploration and rainforest expeditions.
AE: How long are the placements?
Erica: They start from 1 week, through to 1 year placements. A majority of people go for 4-12 weeks.
AE: What support do the volunteers get?
Erica: Volunteers receive in-country support, from our network of partners and world class field staff, from the moment they are met at the airport, to when they are taken back for their departure home. We have a 24 hour emergency phone line to our Head Office, as well as 24 hour in-country support and a comprehensive training schedule.
Prior to travel, volunteers receive pre-departure support and discounted services, including comprehensive field and training manuals, and regular contact with our office staff in Australia, the United Kingdom and North America.
AE: How old are your volunteers?
Erica: The ages range quite considerably, from 18 years through to 78 years. The most popular age bracket being 18-30 years.
If you are interested in volunteering with Global Vision International you can contact us on 1300 798 242 and we can give you more info.
