Description:
Make a difference to a child's life
Teach and inspire orphaned children in Romania and Croatia through educational programs and personal development.
International Student Volunteers (a non-profit organization) offers you the chance to connect and care for the orphaned children of Eastern Europe through personal development and educational programs. After inspiring the local children, and working with their families and communities, you now get to live it up in gorgeous medieval settings. Following your project, ISV will take you on an adventure tour throughout Eastern Europe where you go hydro-speeding, kayaking, caving and canyoning, not to mention spending seven full days and six nights on our own personal ISV yacht, island hoping in the Adriatic Sea. What a way to spend your summer!
About ISV's Children's Education Projects:
As an ISV volunteer you'll have several opportunities to develop the education of these orphaned Romanian and Croatian children. You'll assist at educational summer camps, community centers and orphanages. Many children come from under privileged families, or have no families at all, and are in need of care and companionship. The goal is to promote active participation, cultural awareness and respect.
Other projects in Eastern Europe:
Volunteer Projects:
children's education, orphanage projects, orphan brown bear conservation, community construction.
Adventure Tour
You will travel through the mountains of the Slovenian Alps before hitting the rolling plains of northern Croatia and heading south towards the Dalmatian Coast, its Mediterranean islands and a seven-day sailing adventure! You will explore World Heritage Sites such as Plitvice Lakes National Park, a magical world of lakes and waterfalls, Diocletians Palace, built in 295 AD, and the fortified Old Towns of Dubrovnik and Trogir. In addition, you will experience alpine environments with wild rivers and lush forests, medieval style towns with cobbled stone streets, quaint rural villages, idyllic beaches and the vibrant city culture of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.
You will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:
- Mountain biking around Lake Bled and Bovec
- Hydrospeeding on the Soca River
- Caving in underground karstic systems
- Discovering the historic Old Towns of Zagreb and Dubrovnik
- Visiting a world of cascades and waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park
- A two-day kayaking adventure on the Zrmanja River
- A seven-day island hopping adventure on a chartered boat
- Rock climbing on limestone cliffs around Omis
- Canyoning in the Cetina River gorge
- Exploring and swimming in the national park on Mljet Island
- Enjoying local cuisine cooked the traditional way
Highlights:
Why travel with ISV?
Combine meaningful volunteer projects with exciting adventure travel
* ISV has support offices in every program country we operate in
* Trained staff to guide your project and tour
* Group travel you will make friends from across the globe and not be alone
* Educational learn a lot and possibly receive academic credit (if applicable)
* ISV is not a sending agent we run our own programs with our own trained staff to ensure you have the most amazing experience possible.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
No qualifications are necessary; ISV will give you all the training you need. To maximize your experience it is preferable you can speak English fluently. You do not need to speak the language of your host country, as you will have bi-lingual project and tour leaders to guide your experience. Minimum age is 18 years old by the time of departure. This program is open to everyone, not just students.
Travel Types:
BackPacking Abroad,
Camping,
Canoeing,
Caving/Spelunking,
Climbing,
Cycling (Road/Touring),
Heritage Tourism,
Hiking,
Kayaking (River),
Kayaking (Sea),
Overland Tours,
Rafting,
Sailing,
Sports,
Student Tours,
Tours,
Trekking,
Vacation Packages
and Volunteering
Language:
English
Cost in US$: Program prices vary. Please see website for details.
Cost Includes:
Excursions,
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support,
Registration fees,
Travel while in host country,
Written materials abroad
and Written materials pre-departure
Your program price includes quite a lot:
* All accommodation
* All meals in first two weeks (volunteer project) - delicious local cuisine!
* Approximately half of your meals in the second two weeks (adventure tour)
* All ground transportation in the host country (including all in-country airport transfers)
* ISV Adventure Tour activities (minimum five incredible activities per tour)
* An ISV Project Leader to accompany you on the volunteer project
* An ISV Tour Leader to guide you on the Adventure Tour and make sure you have an amazing time
* All in-country orientations upon arrival in the host country
* All administration and promotion costs
* All pre-departure training, manuals and preparation of participants
* In country offices set up to coordinate projects and programs for participants
* Training of all host organizations
* All materials for projects (for example, bricks, mortar, wood, tools)
* Twenty-four hour support for you during the program through our dedicated office and program staff
The program cost also goes towards the equipment or building materials needed for your projects, your in-country support, your adventure activities, your amazing trained project and tour leaders, AND towards the ongoing sustainability and training of each project. We give you and our projects the support and structure many other volunteer organizations cannot, as we have an office in each country to look after your entire experience and develop lasting relationships with the communities in which we operate.
Cost does not include: passport costs, insurance, international flights, in-country domestic flights (if required), vaccinations, spending money, extra activities on tour (available through Optional Activity Package).
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
adult education,
anthropology,
arts,
building maintenance,
building schools,
childcare/children,
community centers,
community development,
community health,
community organizing,
culture,
elderly,
handicapped,
health,
health education,
homelessness,
housing,
human rights,
minority groups,
orphans,
peace,
playgrounds,
popular education,
primary education,
public education,
refugee relief,
street kids,
youth
and youth development
Typical Volunteer: Despite our name, any person may volunteer with ISV as long as they are over 18 years old. The majority of our participants are 18-30 years old, but we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and make a difference. You do not need any special skills to volunteer with ISV. We just ask that you are willing to give back to your host country; you are willing to learn as much as you can about the people, environment and issues facing your host country, and are ready to make the best friends along your adventure of a lifetime.
Age Range: 18+
This Program is open to
American,
Asian,
Australian,
Canadian,
European,
Kiwi,
South African
and Worldwide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Families, Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangements:
Dormitory,
Group living,
Home-stays
and Other
Participants Travel to Bosnia
Independently
Or
in Groups
Typically Participants Work
in Groups
Application Process Involves:
Typically The Application Process Time Is 1 Week
Post Services Include:
- Alumni Network
- Exit Debriefing Abroad
- Job and Internship Network
International Student Volunteers's Mission Statement: To create an environment that combines conservation, community development, education and recreation into the ultimate adventure travel program for anyone who desires to make a difference by volunteering in local communities abroad.
Year Founded: 1981