ISV Awards and Acclamations

In 2010, ISV was honored as one of the top 10 volunteer programs (out of over 1000 organizations) by the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy’s International Voluntary Task Force. ISV is proud to be recognized by the US State Department for excellence in programming, leadership and making a difference abroad.

Click to view website:
http://uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/summit/international-voluntary-service-task-force

In 2009, ISV’s Founder and Director Randy Sykes was elected to the board of directors for WYSE Work Abroad, a global not-for-profit organization and sector association of the World Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation. Randy has been instrumental in setting up the WYSE Volunteer & Travel sub-group and providing resources and support to volunteer organizations internationally.

Click to view website:
http://www.wyseworkabroad.org

International Student Volunteers has been selected as the winner of the 2011 Best of Yorba Linda Award in the Tourist Attractions category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

ISV is proud to win yet another award and be recongized on a local and international level.

In 2009, ISV’s USA headquarters received an award for the ‘’Best Non-Profit in Yorba Linda” by the city of Yorba Linda, California. ISV was presented with an award by the Mayor of Yorba Linda for our outstanding programs and changing the lives of thousands.

ISV was honored to be a guest speaker at the 2010 World Youth and Student Travel Conference in Beijing, China. ISV’s International Program Director – Narelle Webber represented ISV alongside Conservational Volunteers Australia (a long term partner of ISV) to speak about safety and risk assessment best practice, including ISV’s internationally recognized Global Risk Management plan. Such an invitation highlights ISV’s commitment to quality programs for both ISV and our colleagues globally.

View video here:
http://www.vimeo.com/15978391

ISV Costa Rica has been conducting important research into sea turtle conservation strategies since 2004. At Playa Ostional on the Pacific Coast in particular, we established a leatherback and black sea turtle research program with approval from the Ministry of Environment and Technology. Wagner Quirós, a marine biologist and ISV’s Project Director in Costa Rica with more than a decade of experience in sea turtle conservation, presented ISV’s research and findings at the 30th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation in Goa, India. This honor highlights how the efforts and data collection by our local staff, researchers and volunteers are used for practical management application and shared with other organizations globally.

View symposium information:
http://www.seaturtle.org/iotn/pdfs/issue-9/iotn9_15.pdf 

View ISV sea turtle research:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/52622310/Marine-Protected-Area-Extension-Proposal-for-the-Ostional-NWR

ISV’s founder was invited to be a guest panellist at the very first group seminar on volunteerism at the 2008 World Youth and Student Travel Conference in Brooklyn, USA. Randy joined industry leaders to present information and opinions on the rise of volunteer programs, as well as how to ensure projects are successfully managed.

View video here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2477942223537834410

In 2011, ISV and Santos Tours, one of our project partners in Costa Rica, were awarded first place by the Universidad Nacional out of 22 entries in the Entrepreneur Program for a joint initiative to use recycled cooking oil as fuel for our vehicles in Costa Rica. The aim is to expand the program to include some of the members of a local community where we work.

Read More

In 2011, ISV volunteers conducting important environmental rehabilitation in southern Australia were featured in on WIN News. Monica Brockmyre, ISV’s Australian Project Coordinator was interviewed about the significance of the work being undertaken.

View Video

Rady Sykes, ISV's founder and Director is interviewed by David Clemmons from www.voluntourism.org about how ISV started and where we are going.

Listen to Interview Snippet here

We often get fantastic feedback from our host organizations. Here is a message from a valued partner who ISV works with in Australia to complete important conservation initiatives.

"The work done by our international students each is quite phenomenal. Coming from all over the world and without knowing one another they work well as a team or in smaller groups or as individuals. This allows Wild Mountains to achieve getting stuck into a variety of tasks that are essential to achieving our outcomes, not only for the year but for the long term. It’s hard work, hard play and good fun and their attitude is fantastic. Looking forward to another year. Thanks."

 Richard Zoomers, President Wild Mountains.