Our Origins
Founded by Sheila Fitzgerald, EVA (Ethical Volunteer Adventures) is the culmination of decades of experience in the voluntary and academic sectors as well as the travel industry. Combined with a lifelong passion for community development Sheila started EVA in 2024 joining forces with Matt Fenton from Inspired Ventures Limited in 2025 to form a robust, financially responsible and comprehensive travel opportunity.
We recognised that the 'young at heart'—those over 50 and way over!—were looking for more than just sightseeing. They wanted connection, authenticity, and the chance to contribute their skills to meaningful journeys. Most of our guests arrive as solo travellers but leave as a firm part of the EVA community.
Our Vision
We envision a world where travel can be a force for good. Through grassroots involvement, we work hand-in-hand with local communities to ensure our projects deliver genuine, sustainable impact.
Our commitment extends to the environment with our 'One Traveller, One Tree' initiative. For every person who travels with us, we plant a tree to support reforestation and climate resilience.
Meet the Team & Hosts
EVA Travel is led by passionate, caring hosts on the ground and powered by Inspired Ventures behind the scenes — bringing together decades of ethical expedition management, personal care, and rigorous safety standards.
Sheila Fitzgerald
Founder & HEAD OF EVA TRAVEL
Sheila created EVA Travel out of a lifelong conviction that travel for the 'young at heart' should be restorative, deeply personal, and ethical. Personally hosting the majority of EVA's departures across Africa and Asia and having vetted every partner on the ground, Sheila brings unmatched warmth, personal attentiveness, and infectious enthusiasm to every group.
Carmen Goresky Penn
Expedition Host
An avid adventurer and cherished host, Carmen is widely praised by EVA travellers for her calm resilience, infectious humour, and caring approach. Having hosted our celebrated Cambodia journey, Carmen steps into Borneo 2026 ensuring every guest feels valued, safe, and part of the family.
"Carmen was and is a terrific host. She rolled seamlessly with unexpected changes, looked out for all of us, and brought so much laughter." — Maureen F., EVA Traveller
Matt Fenton
Head of Operations
Matt leads the operational delivery and trip logistics behind EVA Travel. Working closely alongside Sheila, Matt coordinates flight routing, ground logistics, and 24/7 safety protocols across all destinations. With over 20 years managing international group adventures, Matt ensures that every EVA departure runs seamlessly and effortlessly for our travellers.
Hywel Roberts
Head of Customer Service
Hywel leads EVA's customer care, ensuring every traveller feels supported, informed, and confident from their first enquiry to the moment they return home. From coordinating pre-departure Zoom sessions and managing rooming preferences to answering flight questions and supporting in-country needs, Hywel ensures a seamless, warm, and responsive guest experience.
Our Third Act
“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
— William Shakespeare
Shakespeare felt we had 7 acts to live, but I think that can be simplified to a life in 3 acts.
In the first act, we have our youth and childhood, full of learning, development and exploration.
This is followed by the second act which is adulthood. We have careers or home lives, grow into maturity and live the life we were meant to lead.
For those of us lucky to make it this far, we are in the third and final act of our lives.
For me, while I had a good life, I feel that founding EVA and giving people the opportunity to travel with purpose has been the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I have done.
Our generation of boomers are probably the luckiest generation to be alive right now and we have a unique opportunity to right some of the environmental wrongs of the past.
What Makes Us EVA
Social Connection
Arrive as a solo traveller, leave as part of a friendship group of like-minded travellers. Our trips are designed for the vibrant over-50s who value meaningful human connection.
Purposeful Impact
Every trip includes hands-on volunteering. All of our projects are based on identified local needs working in conjunction with small NGOs or community groups. Every project has a purpose.
Authentic Discovery
Get off the beaten track. We prioritise local homestays, loca led tours, and genuine cultural immersion over generic tourism.
