Issue no 8, September 2007 - SPECIAL HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERING ISSUE

Holiday volunteering: What's in it for you? Heaps!
By Sarah Wiecek

There is an old adage about travelling through unfamiliar places which says 'take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints'. Many of us, of course, leave things in hotel rooms and come home with far too many blurred photographs! But an increasing number of people is returning home with a sense of pride about the contributions they've made overseas – newly built houses, entering data for endangered species conservation or teaching new skills in local classrooms. MORE

Life-changing experience in the jungle
By Rachel Sharples, UniNews at the University of Sydney

At Goma, on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a "halfway house" refuge for baby chimpanzees orphaned by the activities of poachers and developers. It was here that Sydney University commerce and science student John James (JJ) Debenham arrived towards the end of last year, searching for something beyond the usual backpacker experience after spending five months in Europe. MORE

Sustainable travel on the rise: Survey
Lonely Planet

A new global survey by Lonely Planet reveals that travellers are keen to make significant changes to their behaviour to travel sustainably.

Lonely Planet's annual Travellers' Pulse survey, which polled over 24,500 people worldwide, showed 84% of respondents said they would consider offsetting their emissions in the future, where only 31% had done so in the past. MORE

Rice and weddings in Vietnam
By Sarah Wiecek

Hannah Fraser, a 19-year-old student from Newcastle, volunteered in a charity cooking house in Ho Chi Minh for two weeks in January and February 2007. Hannah wanted to get involved in an overseas community development project not only to partly gain experience with her university degree in social science, but also to travel and learn firsthand about another culture. MORE

Ethical tourism: Laying bricks in Africa and helping orphans in Asia
By Malinda Zerefos

Looking to book a holiday overseas, but want to try something different away from the major tourist trails? There are many options to give you adventure and stories to tell, while contributing back a bit in return. Here, two Australians, Jenny in Uganda and Jonathan in the Philippines, share their experiences of volunteering overseas. MORE

Edward Prescott: Jamming with kids in Kenya
By Sarah Wiecek

Edward Prescott volunteered for two weeks teaching English and maths to disadvantaged children at a centre named The Grandsons of Abraham in Mombasa, Kenya. He and his girlfriend Jaclyn organised the trip with the Australian office of the volunteer travel company i-to-i. MORE

Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide to Making a Difference Around the World

Are you looking for a more meaningful travel experience? Do you want to give back to the communities you visit, make a genuine connection with locals, meet like-minded travellers and build your skills? Lonely Planet's new volunteering handbook, Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide to Making a Difference Around the World, is an inspirational and user friendly resource. MORE

Win a copy of Voluneer - tell us your holiday volunteering tale.

Theresa Pizzuto: Monitoring wild puppies in Zambia
By Sarah Wiecek

Theresa Pizzuto has always had a passion for animals. After completing a masters degree in wildlife management, she rewarded herself with a trip to Africa and volunteered for two weeks with the conservation project African Wild Dog Conservation in Zambia. MORE

Bicycle Victoria's Great Victorian Bike Ride and the 2008 Great Escapade
By Carolyn Eade

Want to go on a volunteering adventure but not keen on venturing overseas? How does sharing an adventure against the backdrop of Eastern Victoria's great outdoors sound? What about meeting people from all walks of life as you warm your hands over a campfire and create a home away from home? Being a part of Bicycle Victoria's successful cycling trips is a volunteering experience full of fun and adventure. MORE

Hands-on tourists
By Jennifer Dowdeswell, Get Up & Go travel magazine

Travel round Australia and volunteer – find out how!
For travellers, volunteering along the way can give a sense of purpose to a journey as well as allowing them to become part of a community that needs a helping hand. Jennifer Dowdeswell meets a couple that 'got with the program'. MORE

Free Bridge for Volunteering workshop

Are you a new volunteer or thinking about volunteering for the first time?

Attend The Centre's free introductory talk Bridge to Volunteering held on the following Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm:

• 21, 28 September
• 5, 12, 19, 26 October
• 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November
• 7, 14 December

Phone 02 9261 3600 to book your place.

Events Calendar
Visit our online Events Calendar to keep informed about events across the state and how you can get involved.

The Centre for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au
Unsubscribe | Update Your Details | Privacy