European Disaster Volunteers (EDV) is a volunteer driven, UK registered charity that aids disaster affected communities worldwide by helping them achieve sustainable recovery. Our origins are European, but our
approach is global – we welcome donors and volunteers regardless of nationality.


We all get a lot of appeals from NGOs looking for funding, and, let’s be honest, we ignore most of them. So why shouldn’t you ignore this one? What makes EDV different?

First and foremost, EDV focuses on long term, sustainable recovery rather than the initial aftermath of a disaster. We deploy as other organisations are beginning to withdraw and run projects that will affect the lives of survivors for years to come.

Furthermore, most disaster response organisations only take highly skilled volunteers: Doctors, structural engineers, electricians, etc. If you’re unskilled and want to go to a disaster zone, your only realistic option
has been to buy a “voluntourism” package, and that can cost thousands.
EDV is different: We don't charge a registration or participation fee and almost anyone can volunteer in a disaster zone with us. But that’s just the start:

We welcome all volunteers regardless of the amount of time they can commit, money or background. If you’re willing to work and willing to learn you can make a real impact, even if you can only stay for a few days.

We don’t think your financial status should hinder your ability to affect change in the lives of families devastated by disaster. We think that the work you’re capable of doing is much more valuable than your money, so when we say free, we mean it: No member dues, no joining fees, no
deployment fees, no hidden costs. You need to take responsibility for your own transport and living expenses but we help you keep those costs to a minimum.

We value transparency and make as much information as we possibly can public on our website.

What’s more, we encourage donors to come on deployment and actually see how their money is changing lives.

We work to further the practical education of volunteers and disaster survivors. Volunteers can learn how their choices at home impact on disasters half a world away and can help survivors to be
better prepared for the next disaster. Together, we can reduce the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities.

We’re basing a proven model in the EU for the first time. EDV is based on the successes of existing groups. Our experience with these organisations proves that our model has tremendous ability to affect change. Now this model is directly available to the European population.


As we don't charge fees we have to fundraise independently for our work, so please give generously at http://www.edvolunteers.org/donate, or by shopping online at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/edv.

For information on volunteering please visit http://www.edvolunteers.orgvolunteer.

A message from our Media and Marketing Director :

Hello all,

We hope this finds you well! Our most recent newsletter outlined our most recent exciting development - our acceptance into Global Giving's Open Challenge.

Global Giving is an internationally recognised marketplace for philanthropy that connects individual donors to the causes they care most about. EDV has a chance to win a permanent spot on Global Giving. To secure our spot we have to raise at least $4,000 (EU 2,650) from at least 50 donors by December 21st.

This challenge gives us the chance to raise valuable funds toward deployment in disaster affected Asia, accept tax deductible donations from US donors, and publicise our projects to the huge, international audience that Global Giving attracts. For a new group like EDV, the value of this kind of publicity can't be overstated. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

There is also a special prize of $3,000 (EU 1,900) for the organization that recruits the most donors. Global Giving accepts donations as small as $10 (EU 6.70), so even if you can only afford a small donation, you're taking us toward the award for the organization that mobilises the most donors.

Since the newsletter, we've only had two donations on Global Giving. This leaves us well short of securing our permanent spot on the site and taking advantage of all the opportunities Global Giving has to offer. With just under two weeks remaining in the challenge there is time to turn the competition around, but we need your help.

Even if you cannot afford to make even the small donation of $10 (EU 6.70), you probably know someone who could give, and you can do your bit by simply writing them an email explaining EDV and asking them to get involved.

This is the link to our project page on Global Giving:

http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/edv-asia-disaster-recovery/

Please check it out, give what you can, and spread the word!

Thanks so much for your past and continuing support of EDV. We are beyond appreciate everything that you've already done, and we look forward to working with you in the future, or even seeing you on deployment in Asia.

Best,

Emma Taylor
Media and Marketing Director
European Disaster Volunteers