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Our Story

Preservation is especially difficult in the Caribbean, where the advantages of saving the past are often not appreciated. Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions (CVE) was started by volunteers  who wanted to work on historical documentation and preservation projects that would otherwise be neglected.

In 1990, CVE's first project was for the US Virgin Islands National Park Service, documenting the slave village at Annaberg.  After completing the project,  team leaders began recruiting other volunteers and contacting Caribbean agencies to determine other local needs.

In 1995, CVE became a nonprofit 501 C 3 corporation.  CVE volunteers have worked on more than 100 projects throughout the Caribbean. Learn more about past trips from our newsletter archive.

THE TEAM

The team is a group of volunteers who love the Caribbean, history, and architecture. Projects may reflect the current team leader's particular area of interest, as well as local needs. Each year, we have new Caribbean agencies contacting us for help. In 1998, our first Elderhostel volunteers joined us.

LOCAL PARTNERS

CVE works with local Caribbean agencies, such as National Trusts, museums, universities, historical societies, etc. involved in the preservation field. These agencies identify the projects where they need outside help, and CVE assesses how we might assist with their goals.

FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION

Volunteers pay for their own costs including airfare, room and board. Much of the administrative tasks are done on a voluntary basis by Board members, as well as by other CVE volunteers.

COUNTRIES AND AGENCIES SERVED
The countries and agencies served include the following:

  • US Virgin Islands National Park,
  • St Croix Landmarks Society,
  • Bahamas Archive Department,
  • National Museum of Trinidad and Tobago,
  • Jamaica National Trust,
  • St. Lucia National Trust,
  • Barbados National Trust,
  • BVI National Trust,
  • NPS: San Juan Historic Site,
  • Capucine Heritage Site,
  • Dominica,
  • St Vincent National Trust,
  • Grenada National Trust,
  • Nevis Historical and Conservation Society,
  • St. Kitts Heritage Society,
  • Museum of Antigua and Barbuda,
  • University of Turkeyen,
  • and Guyana.

 

Partners and volunteers

Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions would not exist without the volunteers, partners, and organizations that make it possible.  We do not have a photo of everyone who is essential to our carrying out our mission, so we have posted a group photo of our wonderful volunteers.