Students at George Brown College can access financial assistance grants for Operation Groundswell’s volunteer tourism programs.

The organization, started in 2006 by students to create volunteer programs for meaningful contribution to local communities, is offering volunteer tourism opportunities and grants for George Brown students through the winter and spring 2023 programs.

“It started with the idea of how we can get to a place from the perspective of the people who live there and try to learn about the things that we are doing to prevent this,” says Lauren Chu, communications director of Operation Groundswell, “The approach taken is very much led by the partners we meet. It’s a very collaborative thing. We’re sort of taking leadership from them and realizing that the best way we can help is by amplifying their work”.

The company is currently focused on countries in the Global South, with programs in Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and Tanzania with plans to expand in African and Southeast Asian countries.

As Operation Groundswell was created by students interested in volunteer tourism, they have a community around the world who are interested in social justice, and who can come up with connections to ensure that the values for social change are intact in the creation and execution of these programs.

As a travel organization, COVID-19 has been a real challenge for them.

During this period, they ran a virtual marketplace consisting of products from countries to which they could not travel.

They also had events like virtual cooking classes and virtual weaving classes to try to keep the spirit of learning alive. A virtual marketplace was also held in Toronto where they sold the products imported from the communities they were trying to help.

“it’s tricky because, for a lot of communities who rely on tourism, the risk of us not going and engaging with their work and being there was actually greater to them,” said Chu about their decision to stop travel during the pandemic.

The group resumed travel only when they felt they could do it safely and ethically and they are now ready for programs focused on winter and summer breaks. Ultimately, Operation Groundswell feels like they are in a good place to fully open travel again in a way that is safe for everyone involved.

There are programs designed to be between eight and nine days long that fit right into breaks to make it easier for students. These programs are also designed to offer grants that cover up to 25 per cent of their program, to folks who might need it.

To apply, students can fill out application forms on www.operationgroundswell.com, detailing their interests and why they want to go on the trip. The organization then connects them with an alumnus who can talk to the students about what to expect. This is to ensure that students have realistic expectations of the trip.

Operation Groundswell encourages students of all backgrounds and interests to apply.