GVN News

9:43am 4 February 2010  
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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3:20pm 25 June 2009  
Filed under: News, Programs, Vietnam, Youth Tour

GVN has the pleasure of announcing our new Youth Tour program. The first of its kind for GVN, this program is really exciting! The first GVN Youth Tour will be held in Tam Ky, Vietnam.

Designed with 15-17 year olds in mind, this program has been created to allow teens the chance to take part in one of our rewarding volunteer programs. This gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a developing country, experience another culture, and foster their personal growth, whilst helping communities in need.

Places are limited, if you or someone you know would like to learn more about this opportunity please visit our website: www.volunteer.org.nz/youth_tour/vietnam/.
> Vietnam Youth Tour

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5:02pm 29 April 2009  
Filed under: GVN, News, Panama, Programs

GVN is proud to announce our latest project, in the Latin American country of Panama. The Panama project offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities in orphanages, schools, and community outreach projects such as jewellery making, recycling, animal refuge, and a disabled centre. The projects are based in the small and charming flower-covered mountain village of Boquete. It is a picturesque tropical rainforest tucked away on the eastern slopes of Volcan Baru.
> Panama Volunteer Program

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5:32pm 21 April 2009  
Filed under: GVN, GVN Foundation, News

GLOBAL VOLUNTEER NETWORK (GVN) launched its inaugural “Be The Change” (BTC) Jamaica programme in Runaway Bay from 15 to 22 March 2009.

BTC is typically a comprehensive weeklong work/PLAY shop that provides participants with the necessary tools to enable them to embark upon a successful path in the humanitarian world – whether they are interested in forming their own organization or seeking employment with an international organization such as the United Nations as well as other reputable non-governmental organizations. For those who are interested in pursuing a career in social entrepreneurship, BTC is the perfect starting point.

With a total of 12 participants spanning five different countries, the week proved to be an intense one packed with tremendous learning opportunities as well as nature activities throughout the island.

An emerging nation plagued with typical developing country social issues, Jamaica served as the perfect “backdrop” for the BTC programme. Included in the programme was a one-day field trip to Portland where participants met with “beneficiaries” of the Turn-Around-Project (TAP); a Canadian based initiative that aims to incorporate the arts to empower young people from ages 9 to 17 so that they better able to take leadership over their lives.

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3:25pm 7 April 2009  
Filed under: Eat So They Can, GVN, GVN Foundation, News, Programs, Treks

Can you stand out from the crowd?

Have you got what it takes to start a movement? An exciting opportunity could be weaving its way to you.

We’re looking for bright, wildly talented, enthusiastic individuals with a passion for making a difference and the ability to make it happen.

We need you to spread “the GVN word” through print, photography or film in a way that we’ve never tried before. We want you to take the essence of what we do and put it out there with your innovative stamp on it.

We don’t believe in stifling creativity, we want to encourage it. All we ask is that your project relates to one of the following fields:
Volunteering with GVN - www.volunteer.org.nz
Eat So They Can - www.eatsotheycan.org
Treks - www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/treks/
Be The Change - www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/courses/

As one of our elite Media Fellows, your passion for affecting change, coupled with creative ideas will see GVN’s global impact increase.

In return you will receive:

• valuable practical experience
• a forum to display your creative work
• your work published online
• access to GVN’s extensive network
• and so much more!

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12:07pm 16 March 2009  
Filed under: Articles, GVN, India, News

Have you seen the 8x Academy Award winning movie of 2008: Slumdog Millionaire? If not, we recommend you go out and see this movie ASAP.

Erin Schneider has written an interesting article for Examiner.com titled “Will the Slumdog image hurt India’s tourism.”

You can check out the article here: http://www.examiner.com/x-4641-SF-Budget-Travel-Examiner~y2009m3d15-Slumdog-India-hurting-or-harming-tourism

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5:34pm 13 March 2009  
Filed under: GVN, News, Partnerships, Vietnam

Congratulations to Huong and Hoi on the birth of their baby daughter!! Much loved DaNang Placement Manager Huong gave birth to baby ‘Honey’ at 5:00am on February 26th. At 11 days overdue Honey finally came into this world weighing in at 3.5kgs. Unfortunately the beautiful baby girl developed a slight newborn rash all over her which led to a course of antibiotics and the infamous Vietnamese Blue Dye treatment for a week. Thankfully both Mum and baby are doing well and were very excited to be going home yesterday. GVN Vietnam and all our volunteers are thrilled about the new addition to their team!

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2:15pm  
Filed under: Costa Rica, GVN, News

All new photos are available for viewing in our Costa Rica Gallery

Photos include release of baby turtles, the hatchery, and care of adult Leatherback turtles.
> View Costa Rica Gallery

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