Raleigh International is celebrating it’s 40th birthday. We’ve evolved over the last four decades but what has never changed is our dedication to working with young people and communities to create an impact that lasts.
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40 years of Raleigh International
2024 marks 40 years of Raleigh International. 40 years of dedication to our original mission.
To young adults into global citizens and leaders who have the skills and confidence to work with others to build a fair, inclusive and green world for everyone.
Has Raleigh International been a big part of your life and does it continue to be? If you’ve lost touch with any of your fellow Venturers or Raleigh, we’re on a mission to Reconnect as many alumni as we can. Help us in our next mission to spread the word.
1978
1978
Operation Drake was launched by King Charles III and Colonel John Blashford-Snell, with scientific exploration and community service as its aims. It was a round-the-world voyage with the participation of young people from many countries, sailing in the brigantine Eye of the Wind. It inspired a generation of young people to change the world.
1984
1984
Operation Drake evolved into Operation Raleigh, a trailblazing programme providing the space for young people to volunteer on projects around the world. Almost 4,000 volunteers took part in Operation Raleigh.
1992
1992
Operation Raleigh became Raleigh International Trust. They charity worked with thousands more young people across the world to create sustainable change on a wide range of projects around climate change, water and sanitation, sustainable enterprise and social accountability. Through Raleigh Expeditions and national youth programmes, young people made significant contributions towards the achievement of the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
2019
2019
Raleigh International’s global community of volunteers and alumni grew to over 50,000 people across more than 100 countries. Former volunteers set up projects engaging other young people in 14 active national alumni societies; went on to form charities of their own; in politics; fight for the planet and take on the world’s biggest problems.
2020
2020
Raleigh International officially became a global youth action organisation, however, it was a challenging year for Raleigh, as it was for many charities. All international volunteering programmes had to be cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and volunteers returned home safely home. This is the first time Raleigh ever had to close international programmes on such a scale.
However, vital work with young people continued and a global consultation with over 100 young people took place to understand their views and concerns. You can read they report ‘Tomorrow is too late’ here.
2021
2021
The pandemic continued to have an impact on young people and Raleigh International’s work. But despite being another year of uncertainty, in 2021 Raleigh proudly launched its first youth-led global environmental campaign, Action Not Excuses where young people led environmental campaigns in their home countries in Malaysia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nepal and the United Kingdom.
Raleigh International also launched Re:Green, its first UK programme based in Scotland, providing volunteering opportunities for young people in the UK. The organisation was also able to put young people back in the driving seat of development and relaunch Expedition in Costa Rica after an 18-month break due to the pandemic.
2022
2022
2022 marked 30 years since Raleigh evolved from Operation Raleigh into Raleigh International. In May the Raleigh International board of trustees decided to close the organisation permanently.
In July 2022 the Impact Travel Group acquired the Raleigh International brand and committed to upholding they values at the core of Raleigh International: supporting young people to take action on the world’s most important issues through international volunteer programmes.
2024
2021
Now under the Impact Travel Group, Raleigh has turned 40! What a journey the organisation has been on since becoming Raleigh International. At it’s core the organisation still strives to develop young adults as global citizens and leaders who have the skills and confidence to work with others to build a fair, inclusive and green world for everyone.
Entering adulthood is a transformational life stage. Raleigh International supports young people in gaining independence and new experiences to forge their own paths. We know that young people face many barriers, to reaching their full potential.
Through Raleigh Expeditions we work to provide a programme which supports young people to build resilience and skills to overcome challenges and life’s ups and downs – creating society serving citizens and future leaders.
Reconnect with Raleigh
Have you travelled with Raleigh International before and would like keep giving back?
One way to do that is as a Raleigh Ambassador. It can be as simple as spreading the word among your family and friends to representing us at local events or telling your story in a case study to go on the site and inspire other.
