Time for Change: you CAN make a difference

VentureCo volunteer projects and travel experiences

Working holidays that give the world a break.

Welcome to the VentureCo Volunteer Projects. We have a portfolio of projects around the world designed to broaden your travel experiences, while simultaneously making life a little better for a local community. To be successful, a project must serve both partners: the wishes of the traveller and the needs of the recipient.

The Ethos

VentureCo have been organising ethical travel opportunities since 1999. This website is a collection of inspiring ideas which are opportunities for us in the West to give something back and help, in a modest way, the lives of individual people in the developing world. Our projects are small: they are not going to change the world, but we as individual people can do something to directly benefit other people.

Our partners are NGO’s (Non-government Organisations) around the world. The relationship we have with them is absolutely crucial; without them the sustainability and continuity of the projects would be jeopardized. Projects are clearly defined to provide opportunities for people from the West to make direct contributions to deserving causes in the developing world: a win-win situation. Not only do we welcome your financial contribution, but more importantly, we need the personal investment of your time, interest and enthusiasm.

Project team

Extending your stay

Visit Machu PicchuWhen you choose a project, other travel elements can be built around it to create a truly unique overseas experience. The Book Bus project in Zambia has just set off on its second season, and several volunteers this year are travelling on through Namibia and the Okavango Delta to South Africa after their time on board. The first group arrives at the Shantytown school in June, and they will be visiting to Machu Picchu afterwards. The Galapagos Islands continue to be as popular as ever, and this year sees the launch of “Active Galapagos” combining trekking, mountain biking and sea kayaking as a post-placement trip. A unique and inspired way to explore! We are waiting for the snows to clear in the Indian Himalaya before the Spiti project kicks off for 2009.

Read on to find out How it Works.

Unique, affordable travel opportunities
that benefit local communities

Latest VentureCo.org project news Latest Project News

Thanks Susan Pinkus!
The Book Bus Foundation are grateful to the generosity of children’s author Susan Pinkus. Thank you Susan for your gift of 5,000 of your books which we will donate to primary schools in Zambia.
Click for Book Bus project.
 

> The Book Bus, Zambia

The Book Bus Project, Zambia
The Book Bus brings reading, art, music, puppet-play and creative play generally to rural schools. We stimulate children’s imaginations and encourage them to associate books with enjoyment and creative thought

> Galapagos Conservation project

Galapagos Conservation Project
Introduced plant species have had a huge impact on the indigenous ecosystem. Your help is required to restore the indigenous flora which will allow the indigenous fauna to return and balance to be restored.

> Himalayan Solar Energy Project

Himilayan Solar Energy Project
Spiti is a hidden-away little kingdom high in the Himalayas. It lies within the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. Not many people even know this region exists.