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Our placements are designed to immerse you in a different culture, living and working with local people. There’s plenty to gain personally from this challenge – a sense of achievement, broader horizons and some wonderful memories. But we make sure that local people benefit too.
Meeting local needs - The whole project is geared towards helping the local community. Teaching English to children will significantly improve their job prospects. In addition, past volunteers have helped build classrooms and educate local street children. The project also helps the local economy. Participants stay with host families, boosting their income, as well as spending money locally. We have been running this project for 10 years and have long-standing relationships with local people. This means we can ensure volunteers make a real contribution.
Cultural sensitivity - Our pre-departure briefing includes a special session entitled ‘Responsible Tourism’ where we discuss cultural differences and sensitivities as well as advising volunteers on appropriate conduct. There is also a full induction course on arrival, including an intensive Spanish course, so that participants can become part of the community.
Environment - Our company takes an environmentally responsible attitude towards recycling and reusing of waste products. We offset carbon emissions in our office (gas, electricity, business mileage) and encourage all participants to offset their flight emissions via a carbon offset scheme run in conjunction with Tree Aid. At the pre-departure briefing volunteers are encouraged to minimise waste and to live in a way that will not have a detrimental effect on the country. The programme includes a three-day expedition camping out in the beautiful and pristine Patagonian landscape. Responsible tourism is in action on this trip. This expedition employs locals and ensures them a fair wage. The trek is on foot or horseback so there is minimal negative environmental impact. All guides have excellent indigenous knowledge and treat the area with respect. They will teach the volunteers about their local traditions, food and culture.
The organisation was founded in 1999 by Roger, whose own travel experiences have taken him to unclimbed mountains in Greenland and leading treks through the Peruvian jungle. Today the company offers highly original volunteering projects ranging from worthwhile animal welfare to life changing teaching and childcare placements in many diverse countries. Their trips are an ideal way to enjoy both short breaks and longer trips, and have been personally experienced and enjoyed by the members of the team. They specialise in getting you off the beaten track and into the heart of conservation and education efforts, whilst fully enjoying the culture and lifestyle of the country. You can expect to return home physically tired but mentally refreshed.
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