GVN Be the Change Program

  New Zealand

• All Other Areas in New Zealand: 
Taupo

Term: Throughout the year 
Dates: * March 15-22, 2009 - Jamaica * June 21-28, 2009 - Breckenridge - Colorado, USA * November 22-29, 2009  Taupo, New Zealand

Description: The 'Be the Change' Program is a week-long intensive course designed to train individuals how to become change agents in communities around the world. This is the program for you if you would like to:

    * Start a non-profit/charity organization
    * Get a job with a non-profit/charity
    * Start a social enterprise or project
    * Or if you just want to learn more about the field of Social Entrepreneurship and /or International Development

The Be the Change week long program is led by Colin Salisbury, Founder and CEO of Global Volunteer Network, and one of the world's leading social entrepreneurs. Recently Bill Gates recognized Colin's work by recommending that young people volunteer with Global Volunteer Network. Assistant facilitators of this program are each social entrepreneurs in their own right.

Facilitators, including Colin Salisbury, live in the Be The Change House with the participants during the course and spend the entire week with group. The week starts with a discussion about how each participant wants to contribute to social change. From there, facilitators will take the group through a series of workshops designed to address the skills needed to start a nonprofit organization, development project and /or social enterprise. The workshops are flexible and the facilitators will focus each workshop on those skills that will most benefit the group as a whole.

The workshops include:

    * Marketing: How to Tell Your Story
    * Website Production- Get online
    * Communications- What is your message and who is your audience?
    * Fundraising- How to raise money for your cause
    * Social Enterprise vs. Nonprofit- Who's doing what?
    * Skill/Passion Identification- How are you wired?
    * United Nations: Who does what and how can I work there?(Jamaica program only)

Highlights: After workshops, the afternoon will be a time to rest, or get outside and do some exercise. We choose stunning places around the world to hold our program because we want to ensure there is an abundance of healthy and fun activities to get involved in.

Activities include:

    * Tennis (Taupo, Breckenridge, Kingston)
    * Water sports (Taupo, Breckenridge, Kingston)
    * Hiking (Taupo, Breckenridge, Kingston)
    * Climbing (Taupo)
    * Hot Pool Swims (Taupo)

Before workshops each morning, participants will have the option to join in a variety of outdoor and indoor activities. Yoga, Kata, Meditation and morning runs /strolls are all available. Each meal will be healthy, nutritional and tasty... and often accompanied by wine.

The 'Be the Change' groups are kept very small so that each participant gets a great deal of individualized instruction. Plus, participants for Be the Change are always innovative, fascinating and motivated people from all over the world. Many people find their plans and ideas grow exponentially during discussions with the group (at the dinner table or in workshops). You will leave with new friends and you will become part of our 'Be the Change' alumni network.

Our 'Be The Change' alumni network is made up of an incredible group of individuals around the globe that are creating ripples of social change in their communities, and countries.

Qualifications: Volunteers for the Be the Change course must:

    * Be 18 years old or over
    * Be from a country that will allow them to obtain a Visa to come to New Zealand, Jamaica or the USA (depending) such as: countries in North or South America, UK, Europe, Japan, China, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, or Australia
    * Be proficient in English
    * Possess initiative and an enthusiasm for learning about social entrepreneurship and willing to be an active participant in workshops.
    * Be willing to brainstorm and choose an idea or project to work on while you are on the course (more information about this process will be provided to you after you have signed up).

Cost in US$: Application fee - USD$350 (fully refundable if you decide not to go); Be the Change Program - USD$1497 New Zealand and Colorado, USD$1997 Jamaica

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to New Zealand Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement: The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is WN/1194442. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded: 2000