Three Kiwis To Embark On The Trip Of A Lifetime

Media Release 08 October 2008

Three Kiwis About To Embark On The Trip Of A Lifetime

The recipients of travel scholarships aimed at helping people getting outside their comfort zones while making a meaningful difference to their lives of others have been named.

Over 1600 Kiwis applied for the three Flight Centre Unbeatable Experience travel scholarships, offering the opportunity to travel to their choice of India, Thailand, Vietnam or Fiji and work on community projects such as teaching English or mathematics, building schools or hospitals, and coaching children’s rugby, netball or soccer.

The 2008 Flight Centre Unbeatable Experience travel scholarship winners are:

Malcolm Winnie, Napier Corporate Management Trainer (chosen country: Vietnam)

Donna McColl, Timaru Sign Language Peer Tutor, Aoraki Polytechnic (chosen country: India)

Nicola Stewart, Christchurch Youth Worker (chosen country: Vietnam)

These candidates stood out in their written applications and telephone interviews for their dedication to community work in New Zealand, their passion for travel, and in demonstrating just how much an Unbeatable Experience travel scholarship would change their lives for the better.

Flight Centre Communications and Sponsorship Manager Melanie Pohl says the scholarships are an exciting initiative that gives the travel company a way of sharing its passion for travel with Kiwis, while giving back to the less fortunate regions of some of New Zealand’s emerging holiday destinations.

“We are really excited about offering scholarships that combine our love for travelling to far-flung destinations with a very Kiwi concept like volunteering,” says Ms Pohl.

“These scholarships will open up the world to three people who might not otherwise get the opportunity to travel, to really learn about another culture, and also allow them to make a difference to those countries.”

Volunteer holidays - or “voluntourism” - has been one of the fastest growing travel trends among Kiwis over the past five years. They have become a popular holiday option for students, middle aged executives and even retirees, all looking for something different in a holiday and to give something back.

Each Flight Centre Unbeatable Experience travel scholarship includes airfares, volunteering package (accommodation, meals and volunteering placement) with respected volunteering project operator Intrepid Travel, and travel insurance for the duration of the two week project.

About Flight Centre Limited Flight Centre New Zealand is New Zealand’s largest travel agency, with more than 900 staff in 130 retail stores and support businesses nationwide. The company has won the Unlimited / JRA “Best Places to Work” Large Workplace category award for six consecutive years. Flight Centre Limited globally has more than 12,500 staff in countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, India and China.

About Intrepid With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.

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