Combine Volunteering and Adventure Travel in Eastern Europe

  Bosnia

  Croatia

• Other Cities in Croatia: 
Zagreb,  Dubrovnik,  Rural Areas

  Romania

  Slovenia

• Other Cities in Slovenia: 
Ljubljana

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Programs depart regularly throughout the year

Description: ISV's Eastern European Program
International Student Volunteers offers you the unique ability to combine meaningful volunteer projects and exciting adventure travel throughout Eastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Croatia). Volunteer projects include orphanage programs and education programs for homeless children as well as community education programs and working with poor and destitute communities who have been devastated by war and poverty. After your incredible volunteer projects, ISV will take you on an action-packed tour throughout some of Eastern Europe's most stunning locations. Spend a week aboard a yacht as we sail between the beautiful Adriatic islands, go caving in the Slovenian Alps and experience the cultural wonders of Croatia.

About ISV
International Student Volunteers Inc, is a US-based non-profit organization that offers globally minded participants the unique opportunity to combine meaningful volunteer projects and adventure travel. ISV has offices all over the world to look after over 4,000 participants who volunteer with us every year. ISV volunteers come from many countries and you don't have to be a student to participate. ISV offers programs in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Eastern Europe, South Africa and Ecuador. Because of ISV's strong educational focus, many university students apply to receive academic credit for their involvement in the program.

About Eastern Europe:
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.

The region has a rich, vibrant history, majestic scenery and incredible culture, which makes it perfect for ISV's volunteer and adventure program. The ISV European Program will take you through the cobbled streets of former medieval towns to mountainous regions of forests and rushing rivers. With ISV, you'll explore deep gorges and canyons, fertile farmlands and view vibrant coastal settlements. Experience the excitement of sailing aboard our private yacht and exploring the Adriatic islands, feasting on seafood and learning about World Heritage listed palaces and castles built over two thousand years ago. Join us on this unique experience as you discover the natural and cultural diversity of Eastern Europe.

Volunteer 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 and orphaned brown bears in a relatively natural setting.

Habitat Restoration: Volunteer in unique landscapes in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
ISV is dedicated to assisting with several habitat restoration projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina on public and privately-owned land. The goal of these projects is to help enrich important habitats through native revegetation (tree planting) and to protect them so they can be appreciated without being degraded.

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.

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 underprivileged families, or have no families at all, and are in need of care and companionship. You may find yourself assisting in an art class, organizing sporting games or rehearsing a play.

Adventure Tour
You will travel through the mountains of the Slovenian Alps before hitting the rolling plains of northern Croatia and heading south towards the Dalmatian Coast, its Mediterranean islands and a seven-day sailing adventure! You will explore World Heritage Sites such as Plitvice Lakes National Park, a magical world of lakes and waterfalls, Diocletians Palace, built in 295 AD, and the fortified Old Towns of Dubrovnik and Trogir. In addition, you will experience alpine environments with wild rivers and lush forests, medieval style towns with cobbled stone streets, quaint rural villages, idyllic beaches and the vibrant city culture of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

You will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:

- Mountain biking around Lake Bled and Bovec
- Hydrospeeding on the Soca River
- Caving in underground karstic systems
- Discovering the historic Old Towns of Zagreb and Dubrovnik
- Visiting a world of cascades and waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park
- A two-day kayaking adventure on the Zrmanja River
- A seven-day island hopping adventure on a chartered boat
- Rock climbing on limestone cliffs around Omis
- Canyoning in the Cetina River gorge
- Exploring and swimming in the national park on Mljet Island
- Enjoying local cuisine cooked the traditional way

Highlights: Key achievement from last year:
Constructed enclosures for the rehabilitation of orphan baby brown bears

Why travel with ISV?
Combine meaningful volunteer projects with exciting adventure travel
* ISV has support offices in every program country we operate in
* Trained staff to guide your project and tour
* Group travel you will make friends from across the globe and not be alone
* Educational learn a lot and possibly receive academic credit (if applicable)
* ISV is not a sending agent we run our own programs with our own trained staff to ensure you have the most amazing experience possible.

Qualifications: No qualifications are necessary; ISV will give you all the training you need. To maximize your experience it is preferable you can speak English fluently. You do not need to speak the language of your host country, as you will have bi-lingual project and tour leaders to guide your experience. Minimum age is 18 years old by the time of departure. This program is open to everyone, not just students.

Cost in US$: Program prices vary. Please see wesbite for details.

The program cost also goes towards the equipment or building materials needed for your projects, your in-country support, your adventure activities, your amazing trained project and tour leaders, AND towards the ongoing sustainability and training of each project. We give you and our projects the support and structure many other volunteer organizations cannot, as we have an office in each country to look after your entire experience and develop lasting relationships with the communities in which we operate.

Cost does not include: passport costs, insurance, international flights, in-country domestic flights (if required), vaccinations, spending money, extra activities on tour (available through Optional Activity Package).

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Despite our name, any person may volunteer with ISV as long as they are over 18 years old. The majority of our participants are 18 to 30 years old, but we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and make a difference. You do not need any special skills to volunteer with ISV. We just ask that you are willing to give back to your host country; you are willing to learn as much as you can about the people, environment and issues facing your host country, and are ready to make the best friends along your adventure of a lifetime.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

International Student Volunteers's Mission Statement: To create an environment that combines conservation, community development, education and recreation into the ultimate adventure travel program for anyone who desires to make a difference by volunteering in local communities abroad.

Year Founded: 1981