$100 off in July

At GVN, we are passionate about helping communities in need and we're here to tell you that our partners need your help. They need it now.

Given the current state of the global economy, we understand it may be challenging to take part in a volunteer placement, however we want to do what we can to enable you to participate in international volunteering.

We want to make it even easier for you to take part in one of our international volunteer progams, and we're excited to offer a special voucher, giving you US$100 off your program fee if you confirm your placement in July.

Plus: Win your volunteer program for Free!

What's even more exciting is that all volunteers who pay their program fee between 1 July and 6 December will automatically be entered in our Grand Prize draw! The prize winner will have their entire program fee reimbursed by GVN.

To take advantage of this great saving, Apply Now to one of our programs at http://www.volunteer.org.nz/and confirm your place before the end of July!

Introducing the 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: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/youth_tour/vietnam/

Children in Africa need your help!

Every five seconds a child dies because she or he is hungry, that's the equivalent of forty five 747's full of children crashing every day.

We have a way for you to help in the movement to end child poverty and hunger. All you need to do is join Eat So They Can and host a fundraising event. The event can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner; it can be a small gathering, an elaborate dinner, a party, a cocktail hour... whatever you choose!

Eat So They Can is co-sponsored by the Global Volunteer Network, and the GVN Foundation. This year, on October 17th-18th, hosts around the world will share a meal with friends and raise money to benefit the GVN Foundation's African Children's Fund:
http://www.eatsotheycan.org/about/fund.php


Raising $100 will buy 20 thick blankets.

Raising $250 will buy school books for 500 orphaned children.

Raising $500 will feed 30 orphans for 3 months.

Please Eat So They Can. To sign up as a host, click here: http://www.eatsotheycan.org/getinvolved/signup.php


Thank you,

Colin Salisbury

January Update

Welcome to 2009!

The beginning of a new year is an opportune time for us to make resolutions and set new goals. However to do this completely I believe we first need to let go of anything in 2008 that held us back or prevented us from reaching our full potential - perhaps it was your own self doubt, or a negative relationship, maybe a burden? Let's all take this opportunity to let it go... whatever the barrier was... just let it go... and then together let's embrace this year with an open heart and a renewed passion so we can all be the change we wish to see in the world this year!
Here is just a sneak peak at some of GVN's exciting goals and plans for 2009 that I hope you will continue to be a part of.

Volunteer (Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, Oceania)
In 2002 we placed 250 volunteers, and in 2008 we placed almost 2000 volunteers. With programs in 22 countries, our goal for 2009 is to place 2500 volunteers.

Join the Machu Picchu Fundraising Trek (August)
The 2007 Trek raised over $38 000 that went towards building new bathroom and shower facilities at the Children's Home. In 2009 we hope to increase this amount and build a dining room and kitchen for another needy orphanage that assists 400 children through a lunch feeding lunch program. Space on the Inca trail is limited, so participation in the hike will be dependant on the availability of trek permits. To secure a spot, we recommend applying ASAP.

Sign up to Eat So They Can (October 17-18)
In 2008 the Global Fundraiser raised over $57,000 for the Africa Children's fund. In 2009 we hope to double this and raise $100,000 to help children in need.

Join our Be the Change Course
In 2008, GVN held our first Be The Change Course for budding social entrepreneurs in New Zealand. In 2009, we are going global and offering the course in two additional locations - USA and Jamaica.

From all the team at GVN, may you find peace and happiness in 2009.

http://www.volunteer.org.nz/programs/

Colin Salisbury
Chief Executive Officer

Hello friends,

I enjoy this time of year for many reasons - the sun is shining in New Zealand; I go on holiday with my family; and the spirit of the season brings out a joy and quality of generosity in people that I find incredibly uplifting. It is also the perfect time to reflect on the changes that have taken place around the world over the course of the year and recognize what has been achieved.
In 2008 humanity was faced with some serious challenges, yet I am so proud of GVN and all of our volunteers, donors, partners and supporters who rallied together during these difficult times to help those who need it most.

We watched the global food crisis rock the world and force a 100 million more people to join the ranks of the extremely poor. GVN and GVN Foundation sprung into action and stepped up our 'Eat So They Can' fundraising campaign and hundreds of hosts signed up from all around the world. We raised a record $55, 000 US that will go towards alleviating child in poverty in Africa.
The post election turmoil in Kenya left over 600,000 people displaced and the economy gutted; disaster for a country already laced with multidimensional problems of poverty, disease and hunger. In response, GVN Foundation launched an emergency appeal for people living in IDP camps and raised over $7 500 which purchased desperately needed food, blankets and other supplies for many families who had lost everything.

The global financial crisis that hit was reported as "The worst of its kind since the depression" and inflation and world unemployment reached historic levels. Yet despite the credit crunch, 1700 committed volunteers gave their time to assist communities in need. In addition, 35 brave trekkers tackled Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Everest Base Camp as part of our fundraising treks, contributing over $70 000 to the Africa and Nepal Children's Fund.

Do you believe you can make a difference? Do you believe you can change the world?
History was changed recently when Barack Obama won the election and became the first African-American president of the United States. His brilliant acceptance speech still gives me tingles. He said,
"Don't tell me we can't change. Yes, we can. Yes, we can change. Yes, we can. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can seize our future."

I believe we can.

On behalf of everyone at GVN, I would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday, and I look forward to seizing our future with you in 2009 and continuing to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Colin SalisburyChief Executive Officer

Join - Eat So They Can

Have you ever wondered how you could help fight poverty?

Do you like getting together with your friends and family and enjoying a meal together? Have you ever wanted to travel to Africa to do aid work? Well now GVN is giving you the opportunity to do all of these things!

How?

By joining ‘Eat So They Can’ - our international fundraiser that invites citizens of the world to participate in what is collectively one huge dinner party! Simply eat a meal, raise money, help stop child poverty and you could win the grand prize trip to Africa!
Anyone who raises $500 or more from their event will be entered into our drawing to help distribute funds raised!

The United Nations’ #1 Millennium Development Goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. But here we find ourselves past the midway point and there are still over 900 million people living on less than USD $1 a day!

We cannot fight global hunger alone. We need you!

Last year ‘Eat So They Can’ raised USD $37,000 for the Kenya Children’s Fund. In 2008, “Eat So They Can” will take place over the weekend of the 18th and 19th of October and aims to raise USD $100,000. Funds collected through this year’s event will expand to benefit the African Children’s Fund, which will aid children in all the programs in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Africa that GVN currently supports.

JOIN THE FIGHT TO STOP CHILD POVERTY NOW!

1. Sign up at:
> http://www.eatsotheycan.org/getinvolved/signup.php

2. Host a Meal

3. Ask friends and family to donate $30 USD to our African Children’s Fund at the meal

4. Change Lives: your donation will help us end child poverty in Africa
Together, we will change the lives of children around the world- one dinner at a time. > http://www.eatsotheycan.org

Kind regards

Colin Salisbury
GVN CEO

The event is co-initiative of the Global Volunteer Network
(GVN) and the GVN Foundation.

Heal the Earth: Environmental Training and Awareness

"What we take for granted might not be here for our children." - Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth

Do you have a passion for the environment? Do you get annoyed when you see people use a plastic shopping bag to carry only one item? Do you recycle your paper? Do you turn off the tap when you brush your teeth? If you answered yes to any of these questions our new Environmental Training and Awareness Program could be the next volunteer program for you!

We are excited to offer a new program for volunteers who would like the opportunity to work in New Zealand at the GVN Headquarters and help heal the earth and minimize the effects of global warming. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work in the Wellington office alongside our ecology specialists Dr. Dan Rollinson and Toby Malcolm. Dan and Toby will help to give you an insight into the issues that not only affect the native New Zealand ecosystem, but the whole world. You will have the chance to develop your own ideas to educate and raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues and promote ways people can reduce their carbon footprint as well as preserve native flora and fauna.

As well as your work in the office, you will spend several days a week working alongside volunteers within the New Zealand Nature Program (www.volunteer.org.nz/newzealand). On these days you will have the opportunity to aid local organisations in their work: getting first hand, on-the-ground experience in New Zealand's own conservation and environmental restoration efforts.

Examples of projects you may expect to work on include:

Replanting native forests and restoring degraded dune ecosystems
Monitoring and control of introduced predators for the protection of native wildlife
New Zealand Fur Seal monitoring at several sites in the lower North Island

To volunteer in New Zealand and find out more visit: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/newzealand/heal_the_earth/