About Us
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Education is at the heart of everything we do. It is embedded in the roots of every overseas EDventure, the focus of every in-country project, and the goal of every endeavour.
We are moving forward in positive ways in an effort to seek small and not-so-small possibilities to change the world. We work to provide education to those without, and in turn, enhance the education of our participants to have a greater understanding of their own leadership potential, and their personal role in taking a proactive approach in making that change impactful.
We believe that education is empowering.
We believe that cultures are sacred.
We believe that a fusion of individual potential, leadership, education, cultural immersion, and social collaboration will help give local communities in the global world the chance for change in positive ways.
EDventure sees the inherent value in education, seeks where it can be found, and provides education where there is a need. We see the value in inspiring others to continually learn, to further their own education, and to develop as individuals in personally successful ways.
Nelson Mandela was a leader who accomplished feats of greatness in his lifetime; one of those feats being the impact of his powerful words on education, which will long live on to inspire us to action.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
With education at the heart of every EDventure, we believe that positive change will be created, and continue to be created with every individual who recognizes the value of learning, the power of teaching, and the potential for great leadership and personal growth.
This is what EDventure is truly about.
OUR MISSION
EDventure is committed to developing education and create a positive social impact on our programs internationally. These are carefully designed to incorporate a sustainable approach that cultivates and strengthens each individuals’ leadership skills and personal capabilities.
After experiencing our leadership volunteer programs, you will return home having gained professional development, and with a broader perspective of the world around you. You will have a greater understanding of your own potential to make a positive difference as you progress through your life. And, you’ll have achieved this while having made a significant and positive change in a community in another culture.
Through specific volunteer projects with EDventure’s partners overseas, your efforts on our programs will focus on assisting in various ways within schools, communities, and environmental conservation efforts where they are especially needed.
Our mission for our EDventure participants is for you to identify, improve, and utilise your own leadership skills in a way that enables your actions to be more powerfully effective and meaningful.
Our goal is to then provide opportunities for our local communities to benefit from your personal skill set, talents, and abilities, as you apply your leadership potential directly to a community in need. This could be through education in the classroom, education in cultural exchanges and immersion, or environmental conservation efforts, depending on which of our locations you travel to, where your participation would be most valuable.
Our EDventure programs will push your boundaries, and you will gain valuable hands-on experience. And, your EDventure program will provide you with positive outcomes from physical and mental challenges that you will encounter during your experience internationally, but which will leave you empowered, and leave our local communities changed visibly and positively impacted.
With this focus in place, our programs create a positive impact both within yourself as an individual and local communities, due to EDventure’s sustainable development procedures and all of your effort and hard work.
EDventure is about creating opportunities for passionate individuals to positively make an impact globally.
Our Team
Jamie Christopherson
Director & Founder
Jamie is a highly accomplished educator with more than 10 years of teaching experience. With degrees in both Education and Psychology, Jamie has applied his skill set to developing corporate training sessions, orchestrating international development initiatives and enhancing the impact of education itself.
Sarah Lueck
Director of Internal Operations and Development
Sarah brings over 8 years of experience as a facilitator, manager, and consultant, with a focus on developing leadership skills, whilst improving individual, team and organizational performance.
Cari Peck
Program Manager
Cari Peck graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Oregon. She has lived in seven different countries and loves learning the way people live around the world.
Stefan Jarmusz
Program Manager
Stefan Jarmusz has a diverse background in medical training, mentorship, and outdoor guiding services. These experiences have enabled Stefan to provided direct domestic and foreign teaching support for students of all ages.
Alex Solis
Program Manager
Alex (Pan) Solis brings over 5 years of experience as a hands-on research assistant working on Costa Rican beaches to conserve national parks. His expertise ranges from working with endangered sea turtles, reforestation, beach and river clean-up initiatives, and recycling programs within local communities in Costa Rica.
Lisa Bark
Program Manager
Lisa caught the travel bug when she was chosen by the University of Minnesota-Duluth to play a role in a performance arts show in Italy. Since then, she has had the opportunity to provide conservational experiences with elephants through the jungles of Krabi, Thailand and has volunteered at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia.
Tahiri Carrasco
Participant Support Coordinator
Tahiri is currently in her last year at the University of Texas in Austin, studying business and biology. She has previously worked in the pharmaceudical field, which allowed her to connect with people on a more personal level. This experience, combined with her previous experience as a participant on an EDventure program enables Tahiri to provide attentive support to any future EDventure participant planning to travel overseas.
Tanner Heath
Program Manager
Tanner has brought over seven years of young adult leadership and teaching experience to EDventure. Throughout university and post-university Tanner has worked firsthand with young adults developing their leadership capacity, cultural consideration and global perspectives.
Sarah Camilleri
Program Manager
Sarah was born ‘multicultural’, and destined for travel. She grew up in rural Australia spending time with her Maltese grandparents in Melbourne and Danish-Australian grandparents by the sea whenever she had the chance. An awareness of social justice issues and a keen sense of wanting to make a difference have been driving forces in Sarah’s life and she was determined to try and find a calling overseas.