Hi, the Global Volunteer Network (GVN) offers a range of volunteer placements in developing countries within poverty-stricken communities. Volunteers are required to cover the costs of their placements – eg flights, vaccinations, visas, and the program package which covers things like your accommodation, meals, airport pickups, resources and services provided by GVN and our partner organizations. Whilst it may sound strange at first to pay to volunteer, it's because we partner with local grass-roots organizations who are working hard to make a difference in their community/environment where the majority of people do not have the funds to adequately feed their families, afford health care, or send their children to school. The communities themselves are in need of infrastructure and support and therefore do not have the ability to cover the costs for the much needed assistance a volunteer provides.
As a registered Charitable Trust in New Zealand (Reg # CC46460), GVN is a non-profit organization which exists simply to fulfill our mission of connecting volunteers with communities in need. As an NGO we do not receive any government funding so we are dependent on the fees paid by our volunteers to pay for the services and resources we provide. These services begin before you volunteer when you'll be assigned a volunteer coordinator to help you prepare for your placement, and continue when you return home when we'll help you to stay connected to your projects through our newsletters and updates.
