Big Giving Updates
We've now raised US$49,125 and counting!
We're just about to send out next round of funding with $75 going to Brazil, $825 to Costa Rica, $75 to Ecuador, $75 to India, $75 to Indonesia, $75 to Kenya and $450 to Nepal.
Since 1994 i-to-i Volunteering has been giving explorers the opportunity to get closer to the lives of local people and the destinations they visit. i-to-i volunteers can work across the globe in over 22 different destinations, giving their time to help improve the lives of countless underprivileged children and communities, or lending a hand with the conservation of wildlife or endangered habitats worldwide.
We've already achieved a lot! Click here for a more detailed list of how i-to-i has been helping communities around the world since 2004.
2010 Highlights
- Purchased a shipping container and the funds to renovate it into a classroom at our Paint a brighter life for the disadvantaged children of Cape Town, South Africa project
- Funded the building of a new new play room and counselling room at our Build to rebuild the lives of Costa Rican children project
2009 Highlights
- Bought bicycles, plus shoes and fresh water for 1 year at one of our Work with orphans in Cambodia projects
- Supplied electrical batteries to store solar power at one of our Conservation work in Ecuador projects
2008 Highlights
- Provided furniture for the newly built education centre through our Building with underprivileged communities in Kenya project
- Bought a new cooker for one of our Community work with children in San Ramon, Costa Rica projects
2007 Highlights
- Bought our Animal rehabilitation work in Posadas, Argentina project materials to improve the size of cages helping to give a higher quality of life to the animals at this under-resourced centre
- Purchased new bedding, toys, books and nappies for one of our Community work with children around Xi'an, China projects
2006 Highlights
- Installed a bore hole at one of our Community work with children in Mombasa, Kenya projects in Kenya
- Provided necessary funds to help construct a community centre at one of our Community Work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil centres
What is Big Giving? - [-]
Over the past two decades over 50,000 i-to-i volunteers have contributed more than 2.5 million hours working with local initiatives on our projects. They've already made a massive difference! That's in addition to the US$3 million per year we send through globally to our local partners for support, accommodation and food. Every penny of this money goes into the local economy and helps small businesses around the world succeed.
Sometimes the great work of our projects can be limited by a lack of resources which can often be simple things such as text books or mattresses. Big Giving is our way of helping these projects and providing them with the physical items that they really need – and that's on top of the hard work of our volunteers!
Wherever you see this logo, your trip will include a donation to the community or project featured to buy additional essential materials. For example, on our 'Help Teach and Care for Children in Cambodia' project, US$75 will buy 7 mosquito nets, 500 text books or equivalent per volunteer we send. With over 5,000 volunteers heading overseas each year this will make an enormous and tangible difference to our projects.
See our Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand projects to read about Big Giving in action!
How does Big Giving work? - [-]
We believe that it's important for all of our projects to be sustainable in their own right and for that reason we do not donate items that would encourage dependence on us. What Big Giving will provide are items we know are genuinely required by projects to help improve lives or meet goals - mosquito nets, bags of cement, sand or ballast bags or corrugated iron sheets may not sound exciting, but these basic materials are what the communities really do need!
Some projects take more volunteers than others, so we aim to fairly distribute materials in the best way possible. By making regular contributions to our projects on behalf of each volunteer we can ensure this equipment is fit for purpose and replaced as the need arises. In the first instance, the donation will go directly to the project you are volunteering on, however if that project is currently fully funded, it will go towards a similar project or a project in that destination that really needs it! Where all local projects are fully provided for, the fund will go towards larger ‘Big Giving Projects'. For example, the funds give to projects in Costa Rica and South Africa in 2010. These projects are only possible because of Big Giving funding.
13 trips have been found based on your choices
Experience life in rural Costa Rica and work alongside locals on a housing project designed to improve the living conditions of the local community. Why not include 2 weeks of Spanish language lessons before you start your volunteering? Call us for more details!
- Location: Costa Rica
- Continent: South America
- Type:Building
- Duration: 1 to 8 weeks
Latest trip review:
Enlightening and defnitely changes your perspective....
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
There's more to Nepal than just the Himalayas and Kathmandu provides a unique setting for valuable community work with disadvantaged children.
- Location: Nepal
- Continent: Asia
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
A confronting world, miles away from home, an incredible challenge....
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
The Galapagos Islands boast one of the world's most incredible natural habitats and amongst the lagoons, forests and beaches you'll be right at the heart of the fight to protect it. Your return flight from Quito to Galapagos is included in the price!
- Location: Ecuador
- Continent: South America
- Type:Conservation
- Duration: 2 to 10 weeks
Latest trip review:
The project was well worth it!...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Build brighter futures on building projects across Kenya's poorest communities.
- Location: Kenya
- Continent: Africa
- Type:Building
- Duration: 1 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
One of the most enriching experiences of my life, unforgettable....
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Passionate about people? Put a smile on the faces of children who have been abandoned, orphaned or live their young lives in poverty while experiencing Kenya's beautiful coastal city.
- Location: Kenya
- Continent: Africa
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
An amazing and inspirational experience that i wil always remember! ...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Are you a natural with people? Why not put your energy and enthusiasm to great use by brightening lives in one of India's most fascinating cities!
- Location: India
- Continent: Asia
- Type:Community Work
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
This trip, experience, people, places sometimes shocking but overall super...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Cambodia is one of Asia's must visit destinations and this project in Phnom Penh allows you to experience the magic of the city and also to make a significant difference to the lives of some of its youngest residents.
- Location: Cambodia
- Continent: Asia
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
The experience is one i will never forget!!...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
These projects are perfect for anyone who's ready for a challenge, loves spending time with children and has lots of energy. You will be having fun and making friends as you work side by side with a team of inspiring women to care for children growing up in a township near Cape Town.
- Location: South Africa
- Continent: Africa
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
Weather was bad
kids were great
house could be better
...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Help bring some happiness to disadvantaged children in Goa by helping at this day care centre. With the beautiful sands of the Goan beaches nearby to enjoy in your spare time, what more could you want?
- Location: India
- Continent: Asia
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
An experience that opens your eyes to the wider world!...
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
Experience a rare insight into intriguing culture and bond with the locals living within a Chinese community.
- Location: China
- Continent: Asia
- Type:Work with children
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
Latest trip review:
Opportunity to add value while gaining new experiences....
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Secure your place for $US329 deposit (or 10%, whichever is greatest) - Book today!
