2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsEcoteer provides funding for international volunteers
Memorable moments created through helping in other countries
Dan Snyder
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Features
Borneo, Belarus, Belize and Bali are just some of the exotic locales offered by a new volunteering organization that caters to those who want to volunteer, but are turned off by the price.
Ecoteer is a volunteer organization that covers the cost of accommodations and food when volunteering in another country.
Daniel Quilter, a graduate of the University of Plymouth, U.K., founded Ecoteer in November 2005. Since that time, Ecoteer has sent approximately 1,000 volunteers to work on projects in more than 50 countries.
Ecoteer started as Quilter struggled to find volunteer opportunities, but was discouraged by the cost.
Quilter said volunteering with Ecoteer is fairly simple.
"First of all, you search our 200 projects for suitable placements," Quilter said. "On our home page, www.ecoteer.com, there is a world map. You either click on the continent you want to visit or the type of volunteer project."
After the payment is made, the volunteer can start looking for projects all across the world. There are many to choose from including teaching English to workers in Argentina, planting an organic farm in the shadow of Mount Fuji and helping orangutans in Malaysia get back into the wild.
Once a person has found a suitable placement, he or she needs to become an Ecoteer member, Quilter said. Membership costs about $20 for one year and gives access to the details of more than 200 projects.
"You then e-mail the projects that interest you, say why you want to volunteer, your skills, suitable dates and the project leader will reply within two weeks," Quilter said.
Quilter said he advises those accepted to keep in contact with their leader and ask many questions so nothing is surprising.
Many options set Ecoteer aside from other volunteering organizations, including the price.
More than 50 percent of the projects associated with Ecoteer are free. Often, the only part of the trip that volunteers must pay for themselves are the flights. All food and accommodations are free.
Ecoteer is a volunteer organization that covers the cost of accommodations and food when volunteering in another country.
Daniel Quilter, a graduate of the University of Plymouth, U.K., founded Ecoteer in November 2005. Since that time, Ecoteer has sent approximately 1,000 volunteers to work on projects in more than 50 countries.
Ecoteer started as Quilter struggled to find volunteer opportunities, but was discouraged by the cost.
Quilter said volunteering with Ecoteer is fairly simple.
"First of all, you search our 200 projects for suitable placements," Quilter said. "On our home page, www.ecoteer.com, there is a world map. You either click on the continent you want to visit or the type of volunteer project."
After the payment is made, the volunteer can start looking for projects all across the world. There are many to choose from including teaching English to workers in Argentina, planting an organic farm in the shadow of Mount Fuji and helping orangutans in Malaysia get back into the wild.
Once a person has found a suitable placement, he or she needs to become an Ecoteer member, Quilter said. Membership costs about $20 for one year and gives access to the details of more than 200 projects.
"You then e-mail the projects that interest you, say why you want to volunteer, your skills, suitable dates and the project leader will reply within two weeks," Quilter said.
Quilter said he advises those accepted to keep in contact with their leader and ask many questions so nothing is surprising.
Many options set Ecoteer aside from other volunteering organizations, including the price.
More than 50 percent of the projects associated with Ecoteer are free. Often, the only part of the trip that volunteers must pay for themselves are the flights. All food and accommodations are free.
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