GVN News

10:14am 23 July 2010  
Filed under: GVN, Program Information, Thailand

GVN now has opportunities for volunteers to work hands on with domesticated elephants who have spent their lives being exploited for the tourism industry.

Volunteers are needed to assist the local staff at the Refuge Centre to ensure that from now onwards the elephants have a better quality of life in their natural environment.

To find out more go to http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/thailand

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4:44pm 11 June 2010  
Filed under: GVN, Ghana (Peace), Programs

The Global Volunteer Network has new opportunities to help in the areas of community peace education cells and community school projects in rural Ghana.

In this program we work with a humanitarian non governmental organization dedicated to the well being of vulnerable people in West Africa. The purpose of a Peace Village is to help strengthen trust and friendship within and between local communities.

Community School and Peace Cells Program

Volunteers have the opportunity to work in the areas of community peace education cells, teaching, and grassroots organisation development.

Peace Cells Program

Peace education cells encourage non-violent conflict-resolution training, and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation between competing priorities within and between the family group, neighbourhoods and communities. Cell discussions are based on topics that villagers feel are affecting them, such as domestic violence, tolerance and intolerance, and women’s empowerment.

Community School Program

Volunteers assist local teachers in preparing weekly lesson plans, teaching students and organizing sports activities for children three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Volunteer teaching opportunities include providing literacy, numeracy, peace education, and creative activities, such as drama, dance and art, to children aged 3 to 9 years.

Check out the details at http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/ghana/pco

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11:47am 12 February 2010  
Filed under: GVN, News, Program Information, Programs

The meeting with the Haiti Advanced Team in New York went extremely well. Nadine McNeil, Project Leader,presented the Assessment Report which outlined the current state of conditions on the ground in Haiti; and the volunteer profile and skill set that will be required over the next 12 months.

Excerpts from the Team Assessment Report:
CURRENT OVERALL CONDITIONS:
The initial recovery teams have left and most crisis medical care has been done. The medical needs now are in the realm of broken bones that were never set, secondary infections and maladies due to toxic living conditions and poverty-related illnesses. The roads need to be repaired and built. Buildings need to be rebuilt or made structurally sound again. Communication systems need to be established. Housing needs to be a major priority as approximately 1.5 million people were displaced, a total of 3 million affected. Infrastructure basics such as running water and plumbing are needed to attenuate the ubiquitous diseases that have caused one of the world’s highest rates of infant mortality.

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11:06am 4 February 2010  
Filed under: GVN

Due to a technical malfunction yesterday by our spam filter, emails to GVN were blocked. Unfortunately we have been unable to access the blocked emails, and request that if you received a bounce back that you re-send your email.

This problem applied only to e-mails sent to GVN’s staff members; applications, payments, and other correspondence through the GVN website were received normally.

Thank you.

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9:43am  
Filed under: GVN, GVN Foundation, News, Program Information, Programs

Thank you for your ongoing patience regarding volunteering in Haiti. To date we have received nearly 10,000 enquiries so as you can imagine it has been quite busy… I am on my way to New York to meet with Nadine McNeil who headed up the advanced team that just returned from Haiti. I will be able to give you more details following this meeting.

What I do know is that the emergency relief phase is taking much longer than everyone thought. In fact estimates are that nearly 250,000 people lost their lives during the quake. So our March date of beginning the next phase may be a little optimistic.

Accommodation continues to be in short supply and many of the relief workers have been getting sick from the water. The airport is still not open to commercial flights and may not open for another 3 weeks.

Nadine McNeil, GVN Haiti Advanced Team Leader and Project Co-ordinator has returned to Jamaica following the five day assessment in Haiti and provided us with a preliminary report which is available online for you to listen to:
http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/haiti/nadine.php

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9:56am 29 January 2010  
Filed under: GVN, News, Program Information

On Monday 25 January, the Advanced Team arrived safely in Haiti.

There are seven members of the team:
MCNEIL, Nadine, Jamaica, - Team Leader, Project Co-ordinator
ANDERSON, Danica, USA - Forensic psychotherapist and trauma expert
POMILLIO, Lawrence, USA - HIV/AIDS Specialist, Zen and Martial arts
KALENICH, Steven, USA - Construction and Logistics
FONS, Joseph, Spain - Communications and IT
SUICA, Andrea, Canada - PR
CARVALHO, Alex, Brazil - Physician

Nadine McNeil reports that the team are currently staying at the premises of AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team), in Delmas, just outside of the main airport.

“Currently we’re housed in a tent on the AMURT compound however may be re-locating later on this week. Conditions are tough and all of the team while suffering from sleep deprivation and varying degrees of discomfort, are in good spirits,” says Nadine.

DAY 1: 26 JAN

• Alex Carvalho has partnered with doctors from AMURT Haiti and will travel with them today providing hands-on support and donating medicine as and when appropriate.

• Andrea Suica and Lawrence Pomilio are accompanying AMURT on field assessment visits and meeting other NGOs to identify gaps in the support response.

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1:07pm 22 January 2010  
Filed under: Fundraising, GVN, GVN Foundation, News, Programs

The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) will send an advanced team of GVN relief professionals into Haiti this week thanks to a private organisation in Jamaica and public support.

In response to the Haiti disaster Colin Salisbury, Global Volunteer Network (GVN) Founder and President has commissioned an advanced team of relief professionals - all private individuals who have readily volunteered to lend their expertise and support - headed by Nadine McNeil, GVN Foundation Board Member who has over 20 years experience working in the UN, including a three year assignment in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami.

“The team will make an initial assessment of the immediate needs on the ground, specifically addressing water/sanitation, health/safety, psycho-social trauma support, and logistics/ distribution. The recommendations coming from the initial assessment team will drive the GVN Haitian re-building/support volunteer projects for the next 12-18 months,” says Salisbury.

Salisbury says that the international community, both the public and private sectors have been quick to respond but more needs to be done.

“I am urging everyone to act. Whether you dig deep and put your hands in your pockets, volunteer, or send prayers, please do something. We can all do something.”

If you are interested in joining a GVN volunteer team in Haiti over the coming 12 months, please visit the GVN website: http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/haiti

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4:50pm 15 January 2010  
Filed under: GVN

On Tuesday, January 12th 2010, an earthquake registering at 7.0 hit the island of Haiti in the Caribbean. Over 100,000 people are predicted dead and more than 3 million directly impacted by this natural disaster.

The earthquake has destroyed much of the already fragile and overburdened infrastructure in the most densely populated part of the country. A massive and immediate international response is needed to provide food, water, shelter, and medical supplies to the people.

GVN and the GVN Foundation are focusing our efforts on the following 3 areas:

Raising funds via: http://www.gvnfundraising.org/cause/Haitidisasterrelief
100% OF YOUR FUNDS RECEIVED WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE FUND. (Please note donations are in NZ dollars, if you donate NZ$10 then this will be approximately US$7.40)

> HAITI DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Click to donate: http://www.gvnfundraising.org/cause/Haitidisasterrelief

It’s great to be able to report that over NZ$9,000 has already been donated which is fantastic.

Commissioning an advanced team of relief professionals, headed by Nadine McNeil (GVN Foundation Director) who has over 20 year extensive experience working in the UN, including a three year assignment in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami. (Please note this team has already been chosen and are making preparations to go to Haiti.)

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10:45am 24 December 2009  
Filed under: Costa Rica, Fees, GVN, Honduras, Peru, Program Information, Programs

Our partner organisations in Honduras, Costa Rica, and Peru have set their program fees for 2010.

Honduras

Due to increases in the cost of living and transport costs in Honduras, our partner will raise their program fee. This change will take effect to all volunteers who pay their application fees from January 1st 2010 onwards. The new program fee prices are:

• Cost for 2 weeks - US $756
• Cost for 3 weeks - US $861
• Cost for 4 weeks - US $987
• Cost for 5 weeks - US $1092
• Cost for 6 weeks - US $1176
• Cost for 8 weeks - US $1408
• Cost for 10 weeks - US $1686
• Cost for 12 weeks - US $1964

> Honduras volunteer program

Costa Rica

Due to increases in the accommodation costs and subscription fee in Costa Rica, our partner will raise their program fee. This change will take effect to all volunteers who pay their application fees from January 1st 2010 onwards. The new program fee prices are:

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3:59pm 7 December 2009  
Filed under: GVN

In recognition of International Volunteer Day, December 5th 2009, Global Volunteer Network has launched the Ripples of Difference e-book to celebrate the thousands of volunteers who have given their love, energy, and time to help communities in need around the world.

The Ripples of Difference book is a collection of unique and powerful stories written by volunteers from around the world. From refugee camps in Africa to orphanages in Asia, you can read about how volunteers are touching the lives of others and making a difference - a ripple of difference.

Please take the time to visit the website and download your free copy of the e-book: www.ripplesofdifference.org

We know you’re going to really enjoy reading this collection of inspiring and heart-warming stories!

The book is not just a collection of stories; it is a call to action. Mahatma Gandhi said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. So we challenge all of you to stand up and create your own ripple and join the sea of change that brings hope to those in need around the world.
> Ripples of Difference - free e-book

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