The role of practical volunteer projects in BTCV's international interventions.
BTCV supports communities and individuals primarily in the UK by helping them to be active citizens so they can achieve sustainable environmental benefits, through working on environmental projects, through opportunities to volunteer and by exposing them to personal development, education and learning.
BTCV International works to share BTCV's experience with other organisations worldwide including government agencies, a range of NGOs and community based organisations. This is achieved through a variety of means including formal training in organisation and practical project management, promotion of funded networks and networking opportunities and, where appropriate, by novel application of a working holidays programme for paying participants.
What is a BTCV International Conservation Holiday?
The basics: individual paying participants join a group of between 6 and 12 others for a period of around 2 weeks. With guidance from a BTCV trained leader, the group works to achieve a practical project of environmental conservation value. Participants usually work alongside local volunteers, on a project initiated by a local organisation - BTCV's 'partner'.
There is a strong focus on team-work and participants share in a 'communal' experience, often sharing responsibility for catering and other domestic activities. Interaction between local people and BTCV participants is encouraged, as is cultural experience through trips and visits included in the holiday price.
Holidays are priced to be self-sustaining across the annual programme, and remain competitive for the international volunteering experience sector.
Not just for fun!
Although great experiences for participants, BTCV's International Conservation Holidays are not purely designed as volunteer experiences, nor merely to complete an isolated bit of practical work. Each holiday complements our development work with our partners and this can occur in a variety of ways:
Example: BTCV has worked with the Icelandic Environment Agency (UST) helping them develop their delivery of the practical aspects of their National Park management. A programme of BTCV Holiday projects has enabled the agency to develop its volunteer management infrastructure and skills and it now runs its own very effective volunteer programmes aimed at both international and local volunteers.
Example: In Alpago, Italy, BTCV has run holidays over three successive years. With each, local interest has grown. This has proved appealing to a wide spectrum of local society who see both a positive interest in their region from outside, and experience the direct benefits and personal satisfaction of actively engaging in local environmental improvements. The holidays have been a focus for publicity, further increasing their impact. In three years, very limited local interest has turned to the reconstitution and growth of an existing Natural History Society into an organisation actively and continually developing new projects.
Example: In the remote mountain community of Semonkong, Lesotho, a group had formed to improve local livelihoods. Amongst their initiatives, which included basic sanitation and agricultural development, was sustainable tourism development based around the Maletsunyane waterfall - the second highest in Africa. In addition to providing technical input into footpath construction to improve access to the waterfall, and in establishing a biodiversity impact study, BTCV ran a working holiday. The practical aspects of the holiday focussed on construction of the footpath and implementation of the survey, but in addition, participants were encouraged to consider and share their experiences as visitors with locals. This was achieved through pre-departure questionnaires, workshop sessions and a set of community meetings during the project. Locals involved with planning and development have been able to incorporate the experiences of real tourists into their future planning. See also the case study: Semonkong, Lesotho
Other significant outcomes of BTCV's use of International Conservation Holidays to support development work can be observed:
None of these approaches or outcomes are exclusive and projects can be designed to suit, and maximise benefit to any individual situation.