EIL UK - Travel Abroad

International Next-generation Global Conference in Korea

EIL UK — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:41:56 +0000

We sent our local district councillor and young person, Hannah Campbell, to Korea as the UK representative at the International Next-generation Global conference; these are her thoughts about the week:

"It would not have mattered what the different groups were set to discuss, the outcome would have been the same. When 75 young people aged 16 to 25 from over 10 countries come together for a week, the differences of vision and perspective come through.

I had expected my opinions and lifestyle to differ from those from oriental countries but I even found differences from those just across the channel in Europe, on topics from the position of women in society to drinking habits! Although we were split into different groups (Politics and Human Rights, Environment, Science and Technology, Literature and Culture) the real discussions happened over meal times.

The views of the average people in South Korea is not of unification with the North but rather disgruntlement that if reunified it will be the south that will have to rebuild the north, somewhat like when East and West Germany unified. It is understandable that when visiting the demilitarized zone at the border of North and South Korea that everywhere they express they desire the unification and belief that it will happen sooner rather than later but of course this takes into it little consideration for the effect it will have on South Korea’s economy and South Koreans’ themselves.

South Korea is a country where East meets West and old meets new on every corner. In the midst of metropolitan Seoul, beautiful Buddhist temples appear amidst skyscrapers. The streets are lined with food stalls and shops spill out onto the pavements. Neon lights, speakers and posters line the streets advertising the latest must-have lifestyle. The cities really are a clash between traditionalism and commercialization. When travelling to the border we saw much more of the countryside, rice paddies and small farm dwellings. I feel the best way to sum up where South Korea is in its development and westernization is in the girls’ fashions. It is still deemed inappropriate for the chest and shoulders to be uncovered, however it is perfectly acceptable to wear skirts and dresses to be mini length and for them to wear heels, often resulting with the Korean girls baring more than the Western participants.

Many asked me on the last day if I would return to South Korea. In the future, I would hope so but I now feel more of a desire to travel more of South-East Asia and see how cultures and viewpoints differ not just across the globe but also between neighbouring countries."

Travel Abroad for FREE! New placements available NOW

Lorraine — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:07:35 +0000

We have work experience placements available this autumn in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Hungary. The placements last between 2 and 4 weeks and areas of work include sport, youth and community work and environmental conservation. These placements are fully funded by the Leonardo Da Vinci programme and they are going fast so get in touch with Lauran NOW!

l.jones@eiluk.org 01684 562577

Volunteering in Turkey

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:15:54 +0000

Lucy, a recent volunteer to Turkey writes;

"We had the most amazing time....... Our host familes were so welcoming and generous. They were so kind and made it seem like we weren't a hassle! They had the most amazing house with a midblowing view of the Bosphorus river.

We went to our project which was extremely hectic as there were dozens of women waiting for their aid boxes. We were set to organise their store room - which was a task as it was so messy!

Unfortunatly we were not able to teach English as it was Ramadan and it was too difficult for the families to walk to the project in the heat. However we had an amazing time at the project and everyone there was so kind and funny, depsite the language barrier. They ladened us with Turkish Deligh and Turkish coffee when we left!

One day we were taken on a boat tour along the Bosphorus which was beautiful and so much fun. Another day we were proper tourists! We visitied the huge palaces and saw the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, although we didn't go inside the mosques. The palaces were so elaborate and beautiful - definitly worth a visit! We then went on to the maze of shops in the Grand Bazaar and purchased some typically Turkish things with the aid of bartering!

We are extremely lucky to have had a trip like this, - the trip of a lifetime! Not many people are able to live and work with the locals. everyone we met was so welcoming and so kind. Thank you so much!"

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Brits behaving.....?

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:25:35 +0000

ARE BRITS BEHAVING ABROAD?

FOREIGN OFFICE RELEASES FIGURES ON BRITS IN TROUBLE OVERSEAS

The number of Britons arrested overseas has fallen by over 10%, according to the new Foreign and Commonwealth Office British Behaviour Abroad report. Drug arrests have decreased by almost 20% over the past year.

Despite this positive trend, Foreign Office staff still handled 5,700 arrest cases last year with Spain and USA showing the highest figures. Drug arrests continue to be a significant problem for some countries, particularly parts of South America and the Caribbean where a high proportion of total arrests are drug related.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office report, which discloses the number of consular cases handled across the globe from 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011, provides a unique insight into the number of Britons who get into difficulty overseas.

Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said:

“We work hard to warn British nationals about the consequences of breaking the law abroad so it is really encouraging to see the overall number of cases of arrests and drug arrests falling. But last year there were still 5700 arrests of British nationals overseas. Prison conditions in some parts of the world can be very poor, overcrowded and, in some cases, dangerous and sentences can be much tougher than in the UK. People are mistaken if they think the Foreign Office can get you out of jail. We can’t, but we will work hard to try and ensure your safety, and that you get a fair trial.”

New consumer research launched today by the Foreign Office reveals that 43% of 18-24 year olds know someone who has taken illegal drugs whilst abroad. It also showed that over two thirds (69%) of people in Britain don’t always find out about the laws of the country they are visiting before they go abroad – putting themselves at risk of unknowingly breaking the law. More worryingly nearly a third (32%) of people are not aware that they will always be prosecuted under local law if they break the law abroad - with 6% of people thinking they will be prosecuted under UK law, 22% thinking it depends on the country they are in and 4% admitted to not knowing at all.

Aside from arrests, the British Behaviour Abroad report shows that the number of Brits hospitalised abroad has increased to 3,752 cases, despite fewer people from the UK travelling abroad last year. Medical treatment abroad can be very expensive and to avoid being faced with large bills if taken ill or after having an accident, the Foreign Office is urging people to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy before they go away this summer. Previous research suggests that 15% of Britons travel abroad uninsured.

Other key findings from the British Behaviour Abroad report include:

Spain continues to be the country where most Britons require assistance (4,971 cases) but when you take visitor and resident numbers into account, you are most likely to need consular assistance in the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan
The number of rape cases in Greece almost halved since 2009-10 from 27 to 15, although the numbers of sexual assault cases rose significantly
The number of Brits hospitalised abroad has increased with Spain handling the most cases (1,024) followed by Greece. Proportionally Brits are most likely to be hospitalised in Thailand
In total Foreign Office staff handled 19,228 serious consular cases last year

Please refer to the British Behaviour Abroad report 2011 for further data.

For details on how the Foreign Office can help if you get into trouble abroad, please visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel

The Foreign Office is encouraging people to sign up to Facebook and Twitter feeds to ensure they are informed of the latest travel advice: www.facebook.com/fcotravel or twitter.com/fcotravel

Paris in Italy!

EIL UK — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:39:13 +0000

Ciao, my name is Paris. I volunteered through EIL on the Leonardo da Vinci programme and I had the time of my life! I spent a month in a city called Altamura in Southern Italy with a not-for-profit organisation called Link. Link engages young people in non-formal educational activities and promotes creativity through arts and media education. My project was mainly media related, but I did a little bit of everything.

I was also a guest on the local radio every week, which was always hilarious! All the people I met there were genuine people who treated me as if I was family and I can’t wait to go back on another project. Everyone loved speaking English to me, but they also appreciated it when I made an effort to practise my Italian.

Thank you so much to EIL for providing this opportunity. If anyone else is thinking of doing European volunteering, I would say ‘Do it straight away!’

New Medical / Health programmes available

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:55:51 +0000

Two new programmes have been added to the opportunities available for volunteers interested in a medical / health placement.

A project is available in Cordoba in Argentina to volunteer with orphaned and disadvenateged children. For 1 - 3 months volunteers can assist with many different tasks to support the children and staff in the centre. For more information Help orphaned and disadvantaged children in Argentina

A new project in Malta provides the chance for volunteers to work in different clinics across Malta, helping both patients and staff. For more information Volunteer in clinics around Malta

Are you over 50? Volunteers needed for ‘all expenses paid’ 4 week project in Italy

Lorraine — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:44:31 +0000

EIL is looking for UK volunteers aged 50+ to go to Altamura in Italy for 4 weeks starting on 10th July. Volunteers will work alongside Italian staff on an English Language Camp for young people, and/or do arts and crafts activities with people who have a disability.

This project is completely free as it’s funded through the EU’s Grundtvig Senior Volunteering programme. Flights, accommodation, food, pocket money and an excellent support structure are all included. You don’t even need to be an expert in the Italian language as all placements have English speaking staff and language training is provided.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn something about Italy, its people, culture and customs, not to mention doing something really worthwhile for local people.

Please call Ann Pritchard for more information on 01684 562577 or email a.pritchard@eiluk.org

Conservation enthusiasts needed now for free overseas project in Hungary!

Lorraine — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:50:29 +0000

EIL is urgently seeking young people aged 18 - 30 for a 2 week work placement in Hungary this June at Debrecen University Botanic Gardens and surrounding National Park. The work includes habitat conservation, propagating and re-establishing rare plant species, and monitoring bird boxes. Cultural visits are also included. This trip is just one of the Leonardo da Vinci placements that EIL has to offer young people looking to combine foreign travel with work experience. Flights, accommodation, food, pocket money and an excellent support structure are all paid for. There is no need to speak the language as all placements have English speaking staff and language training is included. For more details please contact Lauran Jones on 01684 562577 or email her at l.jones@eiluk.org.

Need an excuse to dive in the Red Sea?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:48:06 +0000

What an opportunity!

The new Conversation Partner programme - Mentoring by the Red Sea - gives you the chance to volunteer AND spend free time in the sunshine, in the Red Sea - how cool is that!

Sponsorship

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:43:07 +0000

If you are looking for help to raise the money to undertake volunteering overseas - this sponsorship might be something to consider.

Calling all those young at heart!

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:36:24 +0000

A new Conversation Partner programme has been developed in Ecuador, combining the skills of a language tutor with those of an activity camp counsellor.

The Ecuador Summer Camp programme allows volunteers to spend time with young people, helping them learn conversational English, as well as assisting with activities such as hiking, horse riding, arts and crafts and more.

Other activities are included in the cost of this programme, so why not take a look here and see if you are up for the challenge!

New Mircoprojects for Summer 2011

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:13:54 +0000

In partnership with our colleagues at AIPC Pandora in Spain we can offer a selection of interesting Microprojects for volunteers. These 3 week Microprojects take place in 12 different countries in South America, Asia and Africa in the months of July and August 2011.

Each project has space for 6-10 participants and are suitable for a diverse range of people from different backgrounds, training and education.

These projects respond to local needs in the areas of education, health and environment. Pre-departure training (in Spanish) is provided by AIPC Pandora in Madrid over a weekend in June to ensure that participants have the skills needed to undertake and develop projects successfully. Cultural activities further enrich the experience of each participant. In many of the projects, volunteers are housed with local families.

Have a look at the individual country microprojects in the volunteer abroad section at http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/volunteer-abroad

Are you thinking about volunteering at the Eco Lodge in Jordan?

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:43:19 +0000

If you are tempted by the thought of volunteering in the desert in Jordan - teaching conversational English to the local Bedouins - have a look at this link from our partner - http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2011/01/volunteering-at-feynan-ecolodge/.

If this doesn't persuade you, I don't know what will!

All you need to do is click here for more information.

Or just to see some more of the stunning scenery and surroundings - try this.

International Volunteer Day

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:39:35 +0000

Have you been or are you a volunteer, or maybe you are considering becoming a volunteer – either way it is worth noting that Sunday December 5^th is ‘International Volunteer Day’.

In the run up to International Volunteer Day 2010 you are invited to an online ‘festival’ of volunteering organised by the United Nations Volunteer programme. The ‘festival’ will provide volunteers with the opportunity to share the stories of the work they have done with the rest of the world, around the world. To get involved in this project visit http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/media-release-united-nations.html

‘International Volunteer Day’ was established by the United Nations in 1985, and it is a chance to recognise the contribution of volunteers, and since the turn of the century, their role in helping to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

The Millennium Development Goals were established by world leaders in 2000, and 189 nations agreed that they had the resources and political will to:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

The aim is that these eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be achieved by 2015 and volunteers around the world are crucial to achieving this aim.

At this time of year when many of us are focussing on ourselves and our families, it is easy to forget that there are millions of people in the world who may have very little to celebrate, and that perhaps we could give a ‘present’ to them which could go some small way to helping their life take a turn for the better.

By volunteering abroad, or at home, you could be helping towards creating a world where human development reaches everyone, everywhere, which is the world that the United Nations envisaged when the MDGs where formulated.

Take up your invitation, take part in the festival and let December 5^th be the day you think about volunteering.

To pay or not to pay - that is the question.

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:06:24 +0000

Whether to pay-to-volunteer or volunteer-at-no-cost-to-yourself (or as the current debate puts it ‘paid or free volunteering’) – is a difficult and challenging debate and realistically there is no right or wrong answer – it is most definitely not ‘black and white.’

Some people want to travel abroad, to volunteer so they feel good about themselves – what is so wrong with that? Some people want to travel abroad to volunteer to give something back to society – again, what is so wrong with that? Some people want to travel abroad to volunteer because they have seen the injustices in the world and believe they can make a difference – same question?

Provided the individual or community, the beneficiary of the volunteer’s aid, is ‘benefiting’, why should it matter what the motives of the volunteer are?

The bigger question has to be – how can you, the volunteer, be sure that the aid you are providing by volunteering is truly beneficial at the grass roots to the people who need it?

There is, maybe an urban myth, the story of the volunteer project where groups of volunteers built a bridge for the (grateful) locals to use. When the volunteers went home, the bridge was knocked down so the next group of volunteers could ‘build a bridge for the (still grateful) locals to use’. This particular ‘story’ may or may not be true, but there are defiantly projects which are ‘man-made’ either to generate money for unscrupulous people, and/or to salve the conscience of gullible Westerners.

If you are considering volunteering abroad, (and why is this deemed more worthy than volunteering in your own country?), there are many things you need to consider – cost to you; your own personal health, safety and security; your skills and abilities; your personal capacity to cope with the culture shock; and how you will be helping, amongst others.

At this stage I must admit – I am somewhat biased, as I work for a UK based not-for-profit charity providing programmes of volunteer work around the world. And, yes, if you travel with us it will cost you money to do so. (The charity side is that we also provide sponsorship to assist people who wish to volunteer, but who would not be able to afford to do so without some assistance.)

We work with an international network of in-country partner organisations that assess each project that volunteers are sent to, to ensure that it is a valid and genuine project, providing aid which is truly needed.

Included in our costs are accommodation costs. If you volunteer for an organisation and expect them to house and feed you for nothing, you may as well not bother – you may be giving your time and help, but you are taking their, often limited, resources to look after you. It is not possible to house and feed somebody for ‘free’.

Almost any project you work at will have some degree of ‘administration’ to deal with, because you are there – this costs the project money. Likewise with training, at some stage somebody from the project will need to spend time with you, showing you where things are, how things are done or what needs doing. This may not actually ‘cost’ the project anything, but it takes that person away from the work they would be doing if you were not there. For projects with greater ‘skill’ needs they may actually need to invest in some form of ‘training’ for you, and however long you are volunteering for, this process will have to be repeated with every new volunteer who arrives at the project.

By volunteering through a reputable volunteer organisation, you get in-country support, for the times when things don’t work out as well as you might hope – the times you are taken ill, mugged, lose your belongings or even just don’t like the project you are placed in. There will always be someone available to assist you. Similarly, if something goes wrong at home – the sending organisation will always be able to get a message to you through the partnership.

As a sending organisation we would NEVER send an individual to volunteer at a project where there are vulnerable people without carrying out a Criminal Records check before departure. (I know Criminal Records are not by any means the be-all-and-end-all in terms of reassurance, but it provides a degree more than just arriving off the street to volunteer at the local orphanage.) We also interview prospective volunteers before departure.

The paid-for versus free volunteering debate will rattle on for ever, as I said at the start, there is no right or wrong answer either way, but it comes down to horses-for-courses. If you feel you want the reassurance of having a sending organisation – don’t be bullied into feeling that is wrong – you are not necessarily being screwed-over, provided you check out the organisation before you hand over your money to them. If you decide you are able to go-it-alone, that is great too, just take care of yourself and ensure that you check out that the organisation you are volunteering with is truly servicing the needs of the local community.

Which ever route you choose (and whatever your motive may be) do not lose sight of the fact that there is an individual or community in need of aid and they need to benefit, not suffer, by your intervention.

I have included below, in no particular order, some links which are very relevant to this debate and which you should see if you are thinking about volunteering abroad. (I am sure there are many others worth viewing too)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/orphans-cambodia-aids-holidays-madonna

http://networkedblogs.com/bfLme

http://almostfearless.com/2010/11/17/should-you-pay-to-volunteer-abroad/

Volunteer with HANDS

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:28:39 +0000

Russell and Lucy are volunteering in Thailand and they have sent another newsletter about the work they are doing:-

Sawatdee krup/ka

August brought around our first team, which we organised and ran ourselves. The team was only small and consisted of the two of us and two younger girls. The main focus of the team was to show the girls what HANDS do and also run a dance program. We also created a drama with the children at our boy’s hostel.

We started our trip at the boy’s hostel. We spent Saturday and Sunday playing games and putting the performance together. The children performed the show to the HANDS staff, teachers and students from Wiang Wai (the school we teach English in) on the last evening.

Tuesday and Wednesday morning we all went into Wiang Wai and team taught our usual lessons. Over lunch with the teachers we were asked if we would be willing to teach the children at Wiang Wai some dance instead of teaching English; so our plans were changed slightly.

Wednesday afternoon we traveled to our girl’s hostel. We spent two evenings and one whole day with the girls doing dances and games and joined them for a meeting on the Sunday morning.

We returned to Fang and spent the next few days finishing the drama and teaching some dance to the children in Wiang Wai

Wednesday evening was the last evening at Fang, before we returned to Chiang Mai and the girls went home. The evening comprised of a mini mixed cultural dance show and the drama we had created. The dancing was performed by our children who are Akha and some of the Shan students from Wiang Wai. The show was a big hit and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Being able to see our children interact so well with the Wiang Wai children was fantastic. One major highlight for us was when one of the older boys at the centre (who is one of the only four Shan people at our centre out of thirty people - the rest are Akah) discreetly organized with the Wiang Wai students, to do a dance with the peacock harness. This took us all by surprise as he has never done any Shan dancing for teams before.

Escape plan?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:44:30 +0000

Yesterday, after I had scraped ice off my car to get to work, I received an email from Julie who went to a family in Spain on the Conversation Corps programme. (Conversation Corps volunteers live with a family to help them improve their conversational English.) This is what Julie had to say…..

‘I thought I'd let you know that I've been getting on fine. My family has been very welcoming, and I settled in quickly. In fact, things have been going so well that I plan to stay on beyond the two months originally agreed. It's still 20C here during the day and I'm not ready to return to icy England!

I've been travelling a little at the weekends, to Burgos in northern Spain and Lisbon, and I took four weeks of intensive Spanish lessons at the start of my trip, which helped enormously. I'm still not fluent, which is part of the reason for me wanting to stay, but I'm getting better.

Thanks again for all your help during the application process. This has been a great experience and I'm very glad I came.’

Sounds a good way to spend some time in a sunnier climate to me. Fancy giving it a go?

New Programme! Experience Nepal with Conversation Corps

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:01:16 +0000

There is now the opportunity to travel to Nepal to live with a Nepalese family and help them with their conversational English. You do not need to have a teaching qualification, just enthusiasm, patience and a willingness to share your native English language with others http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps/nepal

Or if Nepal does not appeal to you how about traveling to

Brazil http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps/brazil

China http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps/china

or Thailand http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps/thailand

There are other countries available on this programme – have a look at http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps to see where else you tongue could take you!

Be a Conversation Partner in Brazil – new programme!

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:44:40 +0000

The successful Conversation Partner programme has been extended to include Brazil, where you could work with the staff at the national park and help them to improve their spoken English. Live with a host family and spend 15 hours a week ‘talking’, and the rest of the time is yours. http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner/brazil

If you don’t fancy Brazil why not try tutoring

- the local ‘tourist’ police in Costa Rica http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner/costa-rica

- tour guides in Ecuador http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner/ecuador

- street vendors in Ghana http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner/ghana

None of these? Visit http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner to see what other exciting opportunities are available on this interesting and unusual programme.

Group Travel to Australia

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:13:11 +0000

EIL are offering a new opportunity for 15 - 19 year olds to travel to Australia next summer. The programme involves staying with a host family, learning about the cultutre and way of life in Australia and sight-seeing.

For more information about this exciting programme see Groups Outbound - Australia