Experienced travelers value their ability to find cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages. They want to get the most out of their travel dollars. So do people interested in volunteering and helping others when traveling want to make certain that their money and time is devoted to activities that really make a positive difference in the communities where they work.
The voluntourism industry is growing because more and more people are looking for meaning, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose in life. Voluntourism is for people who are going on vacation and do not have the time to be involved with traditional aid programs that require long term participants.
The skill of the volunteer greatly impact the benefits felt in the host communities. Doctors can fill an obvious need in a community while other volunteers can help build libraries, schools, or houses that a community could otherwise not afford.
If you want your voluntourism experience to be a positive one, you should:
Make certain that whatever voluntourism organization you are considering has strong environmental and social responsibility credentials and will provide guides trained in responsible travel principles while you are on your trip.
Voluntourists should find an organization that consults with local communities and identifies projects that are created by the communities themselves rather than imposed on from outside entities.
Participants should be matched to a project and given access to previous clients who have volunteered there before.
Ask questions before selecting a volunteering project: Is the project needed? Is the company sponsoring the project a charity or profit making company? What percent of the companys funds is spent directly on charitable activities vs. salaries and fund raising?
Remember, voluntourism, done right, can and does make an enormous difference.
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