What is your favorite travel memory?
Arriving in Bodhgaya, India for the very first and being serenaded by beautiful children. My heart has never been so full! The director of the school Dhirendra, taught me a lot about compassion and that the true journey in life is that of the heart. He gave up his entire life and career to build a school to provide an education to the poor children of the villages who had no opportunity otherwise to do so. This has enabled girls to become educated to either do tertiary study or start micro-businesses giving back to the community in a culture that would previously not encourage girls to be self-sufficient. It is through his vision, the shape ofthe entire community has changed and girls having jobs is now normalized. Bodhgaya is home of the Bodhi tree and Buddhist religion so the temples and monks there are also incredible.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Absolutely I have changed! I have learned that by giving back to others my life has become so full. I have had my share of frustrating moments when volunteering (mostly in airports lol!) but I have learned so much about myself and feel called to do more.
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering. Back when there was no internet and phones were a luxury in many parts of the world, we traveled to developing countries in search of credible NGO’s in need of manpower and global volunteer resources. Some of the many relationships we forged are utilized to this day.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
SO many peoples lives have been changed by volunteering, a young volunteer who comes to mind though is his experience of arriving completely lost (mental health challenges) and then got physically lost in India and what emerged was incredible resilience and problem-solving that allowed him to tackle all tasks as the school he volunteered and left a changed person. He has volunteered in multiple countries since as well - Sri Lanka, Fiji and Bali
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
Bodygaya, India and the remote island teaching I think are the most special. You learn quickly how important a strong sense of community is even in the poorest of poor conditions. Because they have each other they really can get through anything! The leaders of both projects are incredibly inspiring as well.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The nutrition and public health and medical projects are our most unique offerings as we send in specialized teams to make a real impact.
Some of the roles include:
– Conducting individual and group consultations
– Remote island healthcare education
– Corporate health
– Children’s health & education
– Identifying protein deficiency among school kids
– Assisting in the prescription of natural protocols
– Providing educational assistance and local talks (if desired)
– Helping build nutrition and diabetes awareness campaigns
– Designing fitness and exercise programs
– Village exercise programs
– General healthy living programs.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Having a humanitarian heart at the centre of a volunteering org is the most important. Giving jobs back to the local community is also important as it ensures the projects are sustainable.
IVI, we are not motivated by profits, but by helping disadvantaged communites around the world to be the best they can be. We would love to have you join us making a positive impact to those in need, as well as to our wonderful planet.
