ISV Partnerships with Local Host Organizations
ISV partners with more than 100 local and international organizations to provide meaningful, hands-on volunteer experiences that really do make a difference! ISV projects are run in direct partnership with organizations who have specific goals they wish to achieve. Our partners range from large, international groups to local, grassroots community organizations, government and non-government agencies, research institutions and many others. We meet regularly with partner organizations and community leaders to assess the progress and impacts on the local communities or environment. We conduct thorough site inspections and risk assessments on our projects and maintain open communication with each of our partners. With more than 100 partners worldwide, ISV is able to offer a wide variety of volunteer projects that are locally-driven and hands-on. We believe in working with local communities and host organizations to customize programs for ISV groups according to the needs of the local community. We use a set of at least eight criteria to develop effective partnerships with host organizations and provide high quality volunteer projects.
ISV Requirements for Volunteer Projects
Safety
Like ISV, our host organizations prioritize volunteer safety in their planning, risk management, and program delivery.
Need
Projects have a genuine need for ISV volunteer assistance that goes beyond simply financial aid or manual labor. We aim to ensure that all participants return home feeling like they made a positive, significant contribution where their help is truly needed.
Appreciation of Volunteers
Project hosts and locals demonstrate their own commitment and appreciation by working alongside ISV volunteers.
Education
ISV volunteers learn about the importance of project goals and associated tasks, as well as related cultural and environmental issues that are important at the local, national and international level.
Leadership
ISV ensures that all partner hosts, communities and organizations have demonstrated leadership that is professional, positive, and organized.
Achievable Goals
Projects have clearly defined short and long-term goals to which the volunteers contribute. Short term goals must be tangible and achievable for ISV groups during each program season.
Sustainable Development
Once ISV groups have achieved the short-term goals of a project, our project hosts ensure that the efforts of volunteers are continued long after they have left. Also, project and volunteer tasks support sustainable development in the communities and areas where we operate.
Fun
Projects are fun despite demanding tasks or challenging conditions. Positive leadership, teamwork and task diversity keep volunteers motivated for the duration of the project. At the end of each project, all ISV volunteers should look back on an experience that was rewarding and FUN!
Habitat Recovery Team, Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources
"All I can say is ISV is absolutely awesome and we couldn't have achieved what we have without you. The amazing ISV participants have made a big difference to our local environment and contributed directly towards healthier habitats for some of our country's most rare and threatened plants and wildlife. There's nothing like having a group of young people who have made the effort to come halfway around the world to work on our little patch alongside local volunteers to give them and the wider community the boost they need and help them realise that we can all make a difference in some form ISV is the ultimate way to see the world, make a difference and from a host organisation perspective helping us achieve meaningful on ground and community environmental outcomes-yay and thanks so much!"
To further enhance our contributions and overall experience for our participants, ISV hosts collaborative workshops for our partner communities and host organizations in Australia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Thailand. These workshops provide an incredible opportunity for local community groups to come together, discuss and plan how to maximize the volunteer experience of ISV participants.
The ISV organization and volunteers helped community development in a post-war divided community. It improves the lives of children and youth that have no opportunities to travel and opens up their worlds by introducing them to volunteers from all over the world.
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