About - Colin Salisbury

Throughout these years I have committed myself to a process of discovery and learning. I have read hundreds of books and attended countless seminars, as well as completing a Bachelors degree in Social Policy and a Masters degree in Development Studies.

This commitment to education has led to the discovery of the strategies and techniques required to enable me to have a huge impact on not only my own life but of those around me. If you would like to learn strategies and techniques required live a life of significance, then you will be interested in our Lives That Matter™ Program.

In October 1998 I was in northern Ghana carrying out research for my Masters in Development Studies. While I was there I visited a number of schools and I was shocked to see how few teachers there were. One school I visited had one teacher for every 100 children. As you can imagine, not a lot of teaching was going on! It seemed to me that although the long term goal was more Ghanaian teachers, the short term solution was volunteer teachers to ensure that we did not lose a generation of children.

Upon returning to New Zealand I set up the Global Volunteer Network (www.volunteer.org.nz) with the goal of connecting volunteers with communities in need. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. I believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs and to help them achieve them we provide volunteers to help them. This is a reciprocal process, and the programs give volunteers an opportunity for personal growth in their own lives.

The number of people volunteering through GVN also continues to grow. In 2002 we placed 250 volunteers, in 2003 we placed 720 volunteers, in 2004 we placed 1520 volunteers, and in 2005 we placed 1960 volunteers. Our goal for 2006 is to place 2500 volunteers.

With the Global Volunteer Network now established, I feel that it is time to focus some of my time and energy on helping people like you discover their purpose and live a life of significance.