Vacation and Volunteering01 Sep 2015

VoluntourismPerhaps you have traveled a lot and are looking for a new and enriching vacation experience? Voluntourism may be just what you are looking for as a way to feed your curiosity about other cultures and fulfill your longing to give back to society. Volunteering can range from occupying a brief part of your vacation itinerary to being the main purpose and activity throughout your journey. One thing for certain, there is no shortage of need or opportunity to be involved.
What is voluntourism? It is the volunteering of your time and energy and in some cases, specific skills like nursing, surgery, engineering or teaching, while traveling abroad.  Work is done to benefit a selected beneficiary such as an orphanage, school, or an entire community. As mentioned previously, your time commitment is finite, in that it does not extend beyond your vacation dates. Often, you are expected to pay for your expenses; that generally includes a financial donation to the
project.
What voluntourism opportunities exist, and how do you get involved? Volunteer activities are endless and range from teaching, providing medical services, construction, gardening and farming, animal care to archaeological work and much more. There is something for everyone to do. A number of organizations have established outreach programs including chain and high-end hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont, and Six Senses to name a few or eco-lodges such as Lapa Rios in Costa Rica. There are also tour operators deeply involved in the local communities in which they bring tourists such as Micato Safaris, Lindblad Expeditions, Hands Up Holidays and Abercrombie & Kent.  There are also several non-profit organizations such as Global Volunteers and Doctors Without Borders.
Volunteering while on vacation is an excellent way to get to know the local people more intimately. It can also be a great way to bond with your family members and introduce young people to the idea of giving back and helping others.
Want to learn more? Call Gateway Destinations at 602-923-1542.

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