| The
Global Volunteer Network (GVN) was founded by Colin Salisbury,
after spending time volunteering in Ghana, West Africa. While
he was there he saw the tremendous difference volunteers could
make in helping local organizations achieve their goals.
Here is a brief list of some of
the GVN's opportunities:
China: English teaching.
Ecuador: research, education, community service,
station maintenance, plant conservation and agroforestry activities
carried out by biological stations.
El Salvador: teaching English to children from the marketplace,
or children who collect rubbish at landfills for recycling.
There are also community maintenance programs, and the opportunity
to work in an orphanage desperate for help.
Ghana: volunteer teaching in Pre-schools, Primary, Secondary
and Technical schools. (You don't have to be a certified teacher.)
Peace and reconciliation work for Liberian refugees who have
been traumatised by war in Liberia.
Nepal: teaching English, working in an orphanage, environmental
awareness education, health education, school and community
maintenance, Home Stay Programmes/Cultural Exchange.
New Zealand: environmental volunteering.
South Africa: assisting in the managing and maintaining of a
wildlife sanctuary.
Romania: caring for disabled orphans.
Russia: caring disabled children.
Thailand: caring for rescued wild animals, wildlife education.
Tanzania: work at various arts, music and dance projects, schools,
centres for orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as a womens'
centre/school.
Uganda: teaching, medical, construction, and community work.
Providing education and training to AIDS orphans (children whose
parents have died of HIV/AIDS) and to help their families to
become self -sustaining through initiating Micro income generating
projects.
El Salvador - Teaching.
"When
you picture a country like that when you go there, you see
these kids out there selling things, but you don't really
have a personal relationship with them, so it just gave
an incredibly different face and a different perspective
on child poverty and child labor. It was really different
when you knew the kid, and knew about their daily life,
and had a relationship with them, rather than when it was
just some faceless kid trying to sell you something. I have
much more compassion, and respect, and understanding of
their lives, and what that's like." -
Lauren McElroy
For
Lauren's full inspirational story, please click here.
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© Courtesy:
Global Volunteer Network
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Ghana - Teaching.
"everything
in Ghana seemed like a different world, but this was definitely
real Africa. So many cultural differences made it very challenging,
but their enthusiasm also made it the most rewarding experience
of my life!" - Davina Rosen
"Actually teaching in Ghana was a priceless experience.
In an open-plan building, I taught children of varied age
and ability alongside other villagers (also the occasional
hen or goat) who wished to share in my knowledge of the
English culture and learn about the English language, the
workings of the body or even the environment. In return,
they taught me the local dialect of Fante. |
To teach children in Ghana you don't
have
to be a certified teacher.
© Courtesy:
Global Volunteer Network
|
They also emersed me in their culture, giving
me the Ghanaian name of Ama (Saturday born) and exposing me
to traditional foods and clothing - I looked pretty swish in
a kaba. I quickly became the children's best friend and confidant,
being welcomed into their homes, meeting their parents and sharing
in their daily activities. I was learning about an entirely
different culture.”
“Voluntary teaching is the opportunity
of a lifetime to provide some real benefit to those less fortunate
than ourselves. At the same time I gained a real insight into
an entirely new and wonderful culture. I have been left inspired
and enlightened.” - Emma Culver
“In the months to come, a strong bond between
the children and I developed. I usually woke at 5 am, then rode
my bike to school around 7:30 am. We played until school started
and then, I would teach lessons in art, science, English and math
to all levels. The children enjoyed my lessons because they were
full of games and learning through doing, dissimilar to their
usually dull textbook lessons.
After teaching, I played games with the children from my school
and the surrounding schools until about 4 pm. After, I would ride
my bike through town for an hour, then, go home, eat, and prepare
lessons for the next day. Ghana is a place where you must compromise.
The children always challenged me and made me ask questions like,
"How can I teach art with so little supplies?" or "How
do I control children when they are used to being caned?"
or "How do I get children to stay awake for classes when
they are running on so little food?"
In the end, it all worked out. The children inspired me to paint
6 large African styled murals in the class rooms. Through the
children, I have learned so much and I don't think I could ever
repay them adequately. They showed me how to play, love, and follow
my heart.” - Erika Wade
Nepal - Teaching
I went volunteering as a part
of a teaching team, but I also learned in return a lot more
from the genuinely kind and hard working villagers. The
whole trip was a fusion of fantastic mountain scenery with
the wonderful hospitality of my hosts. - Candice Simon
Nepal - Health Education.
"I found my stay in Chitwan
extremely interesting and I really got to help people with
my hands, and I got to do all that the doctor did. I even
got to examine and write out a receipt for one older lady
with back problems (under the supervision of the Dr of course). |
New cultural experiences add lots of
colour to your life.
© Courtesy:
Global Volunteer Network
|
At the health post, I also learned about giving
injections (which I was very excited about), dressing wounds and
sterilizing the instruments. - Kasper Stokbro Nielsen
Romania- Caring for Disabled Orphans.
“I found just what I would have expected; a mission
that has accomplished nothing short of a miracle in a place
of desperate need, and a group of special kids and young
adults who opened their hearts and captured mine. But what
has impacted me the most has been the host of remarkable
people I've met in this country. Men and women who've responded
to great need with great acts of commitment and sacrifice."
James White |
James with one of his new friends.
© Courtesy:
Global Volunteer Network |
For
Jame's full inspirational story about the special people he
met, please click here.
More Volunteer stories and photographs from the Global Volunteer
Network can be found at: http://www.volunteer.org.nz
under volunteer diaries.
Global Volunteer Network can be contacted through http://www.volunteer.org.nz
Source: Global Volunteer Network
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