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Global Vision International (GVI) is an ethical volunteering organisation working in partnership with over 150 critical conservation and humanitarian projects worldwide. With staff in 30 countries and thousands of ex-volunteers there are many different stories to tell. This news section gives a brief overview of how you can find out more about GVI, its work and its people, and gives you a sample of some clippings from the international press.
International boost for sea turtle project
12 December 2006A fundraising appeal for a sea turtle rescue centre launched by Blackpool Sea Life Centre and its sister attractions across Europe has won the backing of one of the world’s biggest conservation support organisations.
Global Vision International, formed in 1998, sends over 2,000 volunteers away every year to work on aid-reliant projects worldwide.
After learning of the plans for a new loggerhead turtle rescue and wildlife information centre on the Greek island of Zakynthos, GVI has pledged its support.
“This is fantastic news as it guarantees that the rescue centre will have the necessary manpower to provide the required care for any injured turtles it looks after,” said Blackpool Sea Life aquarist Jay Torres.
The Sea Life network has already raised over 50,000 Euros towards the new facility and its appeal will continue throughout 2007.
Zakynthos hosts 80-per-cent of the nests of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles and adults gathering in the spring to mate are vulnerable to injury from pleasure craft and fishing activity.
At present any casualties face a long and potentially fatal journey to the only existing Greek rescue centre in Athens.
The new centre will be operated by island-based conservation group Earth, Sea & Sky whose founder Yannis Vardakastinis was instrumental in getting two badly disabled turtles re-located from Athens to the Sea Life centre in Scarborough six years ago.
When Yannis conceived the idea of building a much-needed rescue centre in the heart of Zakynthos’s National Marine Park, he once again turned to the Sea Life network for help.
Thanks to the success of fundraising so far work on the new facility looks set to start this coming Autumn, and it should be ready to accept its first patients early in 2008.
Global Vision International has offices in the UK, USA and Australia and draws its volunteer workers from all over the world.
Through its alliance with over 150 project partners in over 30 countries in enables volunteers to help with environmental research, conservation and community development.
