Responsible Travel
GVI is dedicated to responsible tourism. All of the projects that GVI supports directly benefit the environment, the local community, or both. All projects are carefully chosen to offer our volunteers sustainable and responsible travel, with specific attention being paid to their involvement in the sustainability of all their practices and project goals.
All of our projects and expeditions issue the participants with clear guidelines on responsible tourism and ecotourism, all specific to the particular environment or region. These cover a number of issues, ranging from waste disposal in remote areas, recycling materials and buying from local businesses to not exploiting the area’s wildlife or harming the environment.
Below is a list of ways in which GVI ensures that we act responsibly at all times – financially, environmentally and socially:
Responsible tourism forms a large part of Global Vision International’s mission statement. It is something we have been actively involved in since we started in 1997, having always ensured all our volunteer vacations operate in a responsible, ethical and sustainable way. All of the volunteer projects that GVI supports directly benefit the local community, environment, or both.
All of our programs issue the volunteer with clear guidelines about responsible travel, all specific to the particular environment or area in which they will be based on their volunteer vacation. These cover a number of issues, ranging from cultural interaction, recycling materials and buying from local businesses to waste disposal in remote areas and not exploiting the wildlife or harming the environment.
Below is a list of ways in which GVI ensures that we act responsibly at all times – environmentally, financially and socially:
Environmental Responsibility
- There are opportunities for all staff to work from home in the North American, Australian and UK offices
- We recycle in our North American, Australian and UK offices
- We use local suppliers and businesses
- We use sustainable practices in project operations
- Research rights all stay in the host country
Economic Responsibility
- GVI has a Charitable Trust, which is used as a fundraising vehicle for our partner projects
- A percentage of volunteer contribution goes directly to the project or expedition
Social Responsibility
- Pre-departure information and training is provided to all volunteers
- Volunteers are given on-site training in local customs and cultural norms
- We employ experienced in-country staff
- Training and education is given to local communities
- Training and education is given to individual volunteers
- We run a National Scholarship program.
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