Vesa (www.vesabroad.com) is a two week experience incorporating volunteer work and an Amazonian jungle tour in South America’s Ecuador, volunteering whilst staying with a host family, followed by a week long cruise of the Fijian Islands or working in orphanages or in crocodile conservation in South Africa and Kwa-Zulu Natal followed by a safari.

Where would you like to volunteer?

If you choose South America, you will be based in an Ecuadorian jungle village and commute daily via canoe to an indigenous community to undertake volunteer work. This includes helping to construct much needed facilities for the village school, teaching English and installing ablution facilities to give the villagers access to better health and hygiene. Your second week will involve trekking through the wild jungle of the Amazon Basin. Here you will see all manners of jungle life, stay in tribal accommodation & lodges, visit a shaman and top the trip off with an intense day of white water rafting.

If your choice is The Fijian Islands, you will be working alongside, a local non profit organization. Here, you will be staying with a local family in their village, working in the community helping to educate the children by teaching them English, as well as basic hygiene, building washroom facilities at the school as well as helping to construct water tanks and pipelines. The second week of your trip will see you sailing up the remote Yasawa Islands. Every day will see you partake in a different activity, whether it be relaxing in your own private hammock, snorkelling/scuba with sea turtles, kayaking to a deserted island, or chilling on the beach with new mates.

Or if your choose South Africa as your destination you will be working in the world heritage site of St. Lucia. This year you will be working alongside the local Zulu tribe; working in orphanages, teaching English, building houses for impoverished families and working alongside cheetahs and crocodile`s in their conservation projects. To top off your time in Africa, you will be traveling by open air bus, visiting 3 game parks, sighting Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffe, Hyena, Zebras, Leopards, Hippos and Lions.

Or finally, if you choose South East Asia as your destination you will be staying in a remote elephant conservation centre in Laos, living and working alongside them in a variety of projects such as building, viewing, and feeding platforms, rebuilding the hospital as well as working with local children refurbishing their schools and teaching basic English. To finish off your trip you will embark on a cultural and adventure tour. You will spend your time visiting ancient temples, kayaking, biking, hiking, caving and loads more with all the new friends you have made.

If you would like to participate this upcoming summer or would simply like more information, there will be information session at the following location:

Tuesday September 22nd at the University YMCA Boardroom, Level 2 at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm.

Feel free to bring along any friends you feel might be interested in this opportunity. If you can’t make the meeting please feel free to find out more information or apply online at www.vesabroad.com. Check out their Facebook group, Volunteer Eco Students Abroad to see what current participants say.