GoEco is a leading eco-tourism company with a varied selection of affordable, ethical volunteer projects abroad. Our team is made up of experienced and passionate specialists who are eager to give you the voluntourism vacation of a lifetime!..
We act as a gateway to over 150 extraordinary community, wildlife and environmental initiatives all over the world thanks to our great partnerships. Our providers are well diversified, ranging from local community groups to renowned global organizations. All of our projects are carefully vetted to ensure every volunteer experience meets our standards and yours.
We make it our mission to help you make the most of your time abroad and that is why we start by getting to know you and your interests! GoEco provides you with all of the necessary information to help you make informed decisions about the project, the country and the time of year you want to go.
Our goal is for you to leave your host country with an even greater passion for volunteering and a desire to share your experience with others when you return home.
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Jonathan Gilben and Jonathan Tal met in high school and instantly became friends, bonding over their appetite for travel and adventure. After graduating, they travelled extensively together around Southeast Asia – a captivating experience for them both.
It came as no surprise when they both chose to study Geography. They wanted to learn more about the communities and wildlife they had encountered on their trip.
In Gilben’s final year of study he signed up to volunteer with a sea turtle project in Mexico in search of an unique ecological experience. His experience was so inspiring that he approached the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Michmoret, Israel about volunteering; convincing Tal to join him.
Within their first week of volunteering, Gilben and Tal thought up a pilot project where wildlife enthusiasts would come from abroad to volunteer with them. They continued volunteering at the rescue center for two years while they figured out how to bring their idea to fruition. Both Gilben and Tal became increasingly passionate about the sea turtles, deciding to participate in a sea turtle rescue project in Greece. It was on this trip that GoEco was conceptualized.
Soon after, they pushed the pilot project idea forward with approval from the Israeli Nature Park Authority. In 2006, GoEco received an official stamp declaring them a business which allowed them to bring international volunteers to the rescue center. They managed to sign up 12 devoted individuals for the first volunteer project, which turned out to be a huge success.
During the first year of operation , GoEco was primarily focused on bringing volunteers to help with sea turtle conservation along the Mediterranean coast. They then started contacting international NGOs about sending local volunteers overseas to do similar work. One of the first volunteer experiences abroad was a wildlife initiative in South Africa with a partner with whom GoEco still works with today.
Since launching in 2006, GoEco has sent thousands of individuals to participate in over 150 volunteer projects around the world. They have also expanded their office to include a passionate team dedicated to offering volunteers the best experiences abroad.
