Since 1968, the ISTC has enjoyed a close relationship with UNESCO promoting travel, cultural exchange, international discovery and understanding to young people. The conservation of the Earth's diverse environments, cultures and communities is of great importance to both organisations. Together they aim to encourage an awareness of a shared world heritage through travelling and learning abroad. As such the World Heritage Sites are ideal destinations for responsible travellers.
What are World Heritage Sites?
Cultural Heritage Sites, such as Kathmandu Valley in Nepal or the Archaeological
Sites of Troy in Turkey represent masterpieces of creative genius, outstanding
architectural structures and examples of traditional human settlement. Similarly,
Natural Heritage Sites such as Grand Canyon National Park in the USA or the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia highlight major stages of the Earth's life,
the geological processes that develop landforms as well as examples of ecological
and biological evolution or habitats of threatened animals and plant species.
A list of World Heritage Sites, designated by UNESCO, can be found at www.unesco.org/whc.
Get Involved
Many of the sites listed by the World Heritage Centre are currently under threat, so UNESCO's mission is ongoing.You could be one of thousands of students who contribute their time to restoration, conservation and research projects at UNESCO World Heritage Sites each year. You could excavate dinosaurs in Argentina, patrol the shores of the Galapagos National Park Marine Reserve in Ecuador or dive along the Great Barrier Reef to help AIDS research and threatened coral.
For more information on participating in a UNESCO or United Nations volunteer
project, check out the links below:
UNESCO
United Nations Volunteers
Coordinating
Committee for International Voluntary Service
