idealist.org

As International Student Volunteer, you have the opportunity to combine meaningful volunteer projects and action packed adventure travel.

www.isvonline.org

Working in small volunteer groups (about 10 people), you will complete a 2 week volunteer project before meeting up with the other group members to have the adventure of a lifetime on your 2 week adventure tour with up to 50 other like-minded participants.

PROJECT
New Zealand is like no other place on earth. The iconic kiwi bird is a flagship species that exemplifies the plight of New Zealand’s rare and threatened species. Land management practices have threatened their survival and caused a loss of many species and ecosystems. ISV has partnered with a range of New Zealand local organizations that are doing meaningful hands-on projects to conserve and rehabilitate the precious regions that remain. You have the chance to make a difference through volunteering on ISV’s conservation projects which are located in some of New Zealand’s most beautiful regions. Projects focus on habitat restoration, and some involve meaningful interaction with indigenous Maori communities.


• Habitat restoration projects throughout the island including tree planting, trail building and fence building on some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes
• Endangered species protection and monitoring
• Supporting community groups and local environmental initiatives
• Cultural conservation in the North Island
• Building nest boxes for rare bird species
• Exotic species removal and environmental management programs


TOUR

New Zealand truly is a country for adventurous spirits. During the ISV adventure tour, you will travel both the North and South Islands as you experience the magic and beauty of New Zealand first hand with activities including:

• Black water rafting through vast underground glow worm caves
• Sea kayaking and quad biking through national parks
• Exploring the stunning Franz Josef Glacier
• A high speed jet-boat adventure though the Shotover River
• White water rafting the wild rapids of the Rangitikei River
• Zorbing – rolling down hills inside giant plastics balls
• An indigenous Maori cultural experience


FIJI

Students going to Australia and New Zealand will have the option to visit Fiji at an additional cost after their program finishes. We stay at a beautiful island backpacker’s resort where you’ll go snorkeling, scuba diving and sailing in the gorgeous South Pacific. This is a great opportunity to come home with a suntan guys, five days relaxing in a tropical paradise.

ISV also has programs in Australia, Costa Rica, Eastern Europe (Bosnia, Romania, Croatia), Thailand, The Dominican Republic, South Africa, Ecuador and New Zealand.

Regardless of which project or country you’re in, there are a few things projects all have in common:

• Host Organization:
ISV works with host organizations already set up within each country, or we set up our own projects directly with communities to ensure that participants receive a safe, well organized, and educational experience, whilst making a positive contribution through their efforts.

• Project Leaders:
ISV’s Project Leaders are passionate, knowledgeable and responsible leaders who have been carefully hired and trained by ISV. They are professional staff with experience in group leadership that have a thorough knowledge of conservation or community development

• Food:
Meals reflect the local cuisine. Although this can take some adjusting to for students, it adds a great deal to the ISV experience. We are able to cater to specific dietary requirements and we ensure that meals are of a healthy, high standard.

• Accommodations:
Accommodations vary depending on the assigned project. Students may stay in bunk-houses, huts built in national parks, hostels, home stays (2 students per home) etc. All accommodations are secure and will give unique volunteer experience.

• Volunteer Tasks:
The tasks tend to be challenging, as we are there to contribute as much as possible. These two weeks are potentially two of the most rewarding weeks of participants’ lives. The sense of accomplishment is unmatched. We have had teams who have planted over 6000 trees in two weeks, or students that completed a house for a homeless family. We want students to be able to look back at the end of their experience and say “wow, I have made a life-changing, positive difference to this community or to this environment”.

• Prior Experience:
Participants do not need to have any experience in conservation or in community development in order to participate. The only thing that we ask is that students come with a desire to learn as much as they can from their experience, an open mind, and a willingness to try new things.

• Education:
There is a core Educational aspect to the ISV program as we want you to learn all about the culture you’re staying in, the issues that affect the people and environment and the impact of your volunteer efforts. University Students May also apply for academic credit for their participation on the ISV program.

Visit www.isvonline.org and click “apply now” . Email info@isvonline.org or call 714 779 7392 for more information.