Make a difference to the life of a child and help protect nature in Eastern Europe!

"I would do it a thousand times over! People from all over the world came together to make a difference and I learnt more than I thought possible. It was wonderful getting to know and participating with a community so different from my own and I will hold them with me for the rest of my life." - Alisha Bator, Western Washington University

About ISV's Eastern Europe Conservation and Community Development Projects

Eastern Europe is a dynamic region with a great diversity of cultures and environments. Many regions are still recovering from past conflicts and communities are seeking to re-establish their identities and preserve areas of ecological importance. As a volunteer, you will have an opportunity to work alongside local organizations that have partnered with ISV to direct help to where it is needed the most. Your efforts will focus on hands-on conservation and community development projects and you may find yourself caring for children in orphanages and schools, constructing schools and parks in local communities, helping to preserve wildlife and natural environments or assisting communities to host special events.

Last year's key achievement: 1,700 hours spent directing camp activities for underprivileged children in Romania

ISV's Projects

ISV has projects spread across Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By volunteering with ISV in Eastern Europe you could find yourself assisting in any of these areas.

• Wildlife Protection: Help care and protect Croatia’s brown bears!
  Croatia's much beloved brown bears are under threat from hunting and increasing human occupation of their natural habitat. Here is your chance to volunteer and provide refuge for endangered brown bear in a relatively natural setting. Primary tasks vary and can include building and maintaining animal enclosures, fence building, vegetation removal, tree planting, surveying, and animal husbandry (daily care for animals). All of these tasks are directly related to the establishment or maintenance of the sanctuary and the promotion of animal conservation.



• Heritage and Habitat Restoration: Volunteer in unique landscapes in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
  ISV is dedicated to assisting with several community heritage and habitat restoration projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina on public and privately owned land. Get ready to get your hands dirty and see the results of your efforts by helping to rehabilitate the natural environment, man-made structures and construct low impact walking trails. The goal of these projects is to support the communities’ efforts to maintain the integrity of their natural environments while promoting responsible tourism. This is a unique chance to volunteer amongst one of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes where you may find yourself building trails through natural forest, restoring an ancient castle, or helping to extend the playground at a local school!



• Community Construction: Help create schools and parks for children in Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina!
  Helping to build a school for young children or a public recreation area for a whole community has lasting benefits. The goal is to create areas where children have an opportunity to participate in learning and to provide communities with areas where they can come together to celebrate. Roll up your sleeves and be prepared for some light construction work, to meet the community and share in village life.



• Children’s Development: Teach and inspire children in Romania and Croatia!
  Several opportunities exist to assist at educational summer camps, community centers and orphanages which focus on the education and personal development of children and youth. Many children come from under privileged families, or have no families at all, and are in need of care and companionship. For other children the opportunity to attend a learning center can provide them with a creative outlet for expression, an opportunity to further their learning, and to make new friends. The goal is to promote active participation, cultural awareness and respect. You may find yourself assisting in an art class, organizing sporting games or rehearsing a play.

Project Locations

Projects are spread across Eastern Europe and are constantly being updated according to the changing needs of our host organizations.

Please note: These are ALL great projects with significant conservation and educational value in phenomenal locations. Please be flexible with your project preferences as project availability is specific to departure date.

More on ISV's Projects

Each project runs for two weeks and is operated in partnership with well-established local organizations including, not-for-profit government and non government organizations (NGOs), private industries, and local grassroots groups. Projects are based in various locations, from remote village communities to urban settings. Each volunteer team will be supervised and directed by professional staff from the host organization and an ISV project leader. The volunteer team will consist of around 10 - 14 people, depending on the project.

Choosing Your Project: When making your project preferences please refer to the below table and note what type of project (Conservation or Community Development) is offered in each country for your departure date.

Departure	Croatia		Bosnia and Hercegovina		Romania
Date	Conservation	Community Development	Conservation	Community Development	Conservation	Community Development
14-May-10	X					X
28-May-10	X	X				X
11-Jun-10	X	X	X	X
25-Jun-10			X	X		X
09-Jul-10	X	X

No prior experience or expertise is needed in order to participate. Accommodations vary with projects, ranging from volunteer houses, dormitory style accommodations to research stations. Meals (3 per day) will be provided during the volunteer project.