Our Volunteer Adventures are the ultimate experiences. Travelers have the unique opportunity to make meaningful contributions in global communities through volunteering, while exploring diverse environments and cultures. Trips are four weeks in length and consist of a two-week Volunteer Work Project immediately followed by a two-week Adventure Tour within Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Thailand, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. This once in a lifetime experience is brought to you by International Student Volunteers, Inc. (ISV) who for the past 25 years has conducted international travel programs for tens of thousands of students on five continents. ISV is a non-profit public benefit corporation and is organized under the Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable and educational purposes.

VOLUNTEER WORK PROJECT OPTIONS

The volunteer work projects are run in collaboration with a variety of local and international organizations, including not-for-profits, local governments, universities, private researchers, and grassroots organizations. Accommodations vary with each project, ranging from home stays within the local community, to hostels and bunkhouses. All meals are included during the volunteer work project, and the food generally reflects the local cuisine.

Conservation Volunteer Work Project

ISV conservation volunteer work projects are designed to broaden awareness of environmental issues, as well as offer hands-on, practical experiences in conservation work and/or research. These two weeks are dedicated to making a difference in endangered species conservation, scientific research, habitat restoration, and education regarding the sustainable use and management of natural resources. We envision that the experience provided will enlighten participants as to the different conservation issues that face society within their host country, home country, and globally. No prior experience in conservation work or environmental fields of study is required in order to participate. These conservation projects take place in Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Thailand.

Community Development Volunteer Work Project

ISV community development volunteer work projects are specifically designed to make a difference in the lives of people in developing countries who struggle with poverty, a lack of communal resources (such as running water or basic health care), sub-standard housing, and those who are working to improve their communities through sustainable development alternatives. These projects are ideal for participants who earnestly desire to invest in people's lives. Daily activities are focused on tasks that directly benefit the local community, i.e. light-construction, painting, gardening, teaching English to children, initiating recreational activities & children's programs (incorporating music, theater, games, puppets, dance, clowning and magic) and related tasks within the community. Travelers are also instrumental in helping to develop new initiatives within the host communities for increased revenue, i.e. in areas like tourism and production of organically grown foods. We envision that the experience provided will promote cross-cultural awareness and acceptance, and enlighten participants to the socio-economic challenges faced by developing countries and communities. No prior experience in community work or relevant fields of study is required in order to participate. ISV's social community development projects will take place in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Thailand.

ADVENTURE TOURS

The Adventure Tour is a perfect blend of cultural immersion and outdoor adventure. The tour offers an on-site exploration of the host country's variety of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. The experience promotes the discovery of World Heritage Sites, National Parks, marine and ecological reserves, coral reefs, glaciers, mangroves, limestone caves, cloud forests and tropical rainforests, to name a few. The Adventure Tours also provide numerous opportunities for participants to interact with people from diverse communities and experience the culture, as they travel extensively throughout the host country. BrilliantTrips and ISV are committed to responsible tourism and encourage all participants to travel with respect in their host countries. We also encourage participants to try as many exciting adventure activities as possible by including activities such as:

• Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia
• Black water rafting in glow worm caves in New Zealand
• Canyoning in the Dominican Republic
• Jungle kayaking in Costa Rica
• Elephant safaris in Thailand
• Adventuring in the heart of the Amazon rainforest (Ecuador) by canoe
• White water rafting in most countries
• Hiking and horse riding through primary rainforests
• And many more...