It's been quite the journey. The first seeds for REBAVA were sown on a service based trip that changed Tim's (REBAVA's founder) life. But after the trip he began to wonder if his group unintentionally caused more harm than good for those they sought to 'serve'. His experiences led him to believe the world deserves much more than our good intentions.

Let's be honest. Students don't sign up for  service learning trips hoping to negatively impact host communities. But it happens. A lot. And it's no fun to admit that student trips further complicate challenging issues in developing countries. But they do.

The time has come for thoughtful students to travel differently. An emphasis on learning instead of 'helping' is a great place to start. And with mutual exchange & benefit as the precedent, both students & hosts can win. 

You want to make a difference. It might look different than you think. REBAVA invites you to reap the benefits of a new kind of travel. And you can do so knowing that your venture meaningfully supports the people who will so profoundly impact you.