Skip to content

Travel the RIGHT way with the Compass Ethical Travel and Volunteering Conference

Free conference set to empower and educate those looking to make ethical choices abroad

Location: thestudio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP
Date and Time: Sat 25 February 2017, 10:00 – 14:20 GMT

International wildlife and conservation charity the Born Free Foundation is linking-up with Compas Ethical Travel and Volunteering to host a FREE one-day conference this February.

Perfect for anyone looking to volunteer abroad, take a sabbatical or gap year, or book a safari adventure, this insightful conference will help travellers to ensure that their trip is valuable not only to themselves, but to the people, animals and environments which they are looking to work with.

Speakers will include Will Travers OBE, President of The Born Free Foundation; Daniel Turner, Born Free’s Associate Director of Tourism and EU Compliance; Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust; Cathy Smith from Orangutan Foundation, plus a number of representatives from ethical volunteer agencies and projects will be on hand to provide advice and information.

The conference will also be screening the critically-acclaimed documentary film Blood Lions which lifts the lid on the shocking canned hunting industry in South Africa, where well-meaning but misguided volunteers are often recruited to volunteer at these facilities, mistakenly believing they are helping threatened and endangered species.

Watch the official trailer for Blood Lions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T86GCjCpus

Will Travers said: “I meet so many people who ask me what they can do to help wild animals in need and, of course, one way is to volunteer for a project designed to care for individual wild animals, or protect thretned species, or assist remote local communities – or all three. However, when choosing which project to volunteer for it is essential to make an informed choice to ensure that your generosity is appreciated, valued, effective – and not in any way abused. This conference will most certainly help people make the RIGHT decision.”

Sarah Magalotti, co-founder of Compass Ethical Travel, said: “Whether it’s for a few weeks or a couple of years, there are now a huge number of organisations which can help plan the perfect trip or find the ideal volunteer programme. However, while volunteers’ intentions are nearly always good, overseas volunteer placements are not always ethically sound, and in some cases can do more harm than good. This one day conference will empower volunteers with knowledge to help them make informed decisions.”

To register for your FREE ticket, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/compass-ethical-travel-and-volunteering-conference-tickets-27000457094