Voluntourism
Over the past few years, more and more people have been combining two passions: volunteering and travelling, giving rise to a new phenomenon known as Voluntourism.
These volunteering vacations can vary from cleaning local wildlife areas, which require few skills, to providing medical aid in a foreign country – a more specialized type of volunteering for those with unique skill sets. There are also other types of trips that include participating in research and education, or promoting understanding and action for environmental sustainability.
While many people are interested in voluntourism, the majority of people who end up on such tours tend to be high school and university students looking to boost their resumes, travel cheaply, or have a new and different adventure.
Ultimately, voluntourism is for travellers – young or old – who want to make a positive difference in the world around them, and to make that difference while travelling to new and interesting parts of the world.
Meeting Different People
Volunteering allows you to meet new and interesting people with similar interests from the different backgrounds and communities in which they volunteer.
Boost Your Career Options
Many employers look for candidates who have volunteered, believing that those who have volunteered have a more diverse skill set than those who haven’t, and that volunteers are adaptable and open to learning.
A Sense of Community
It is easy for us to get into a routine in our lives, and forget that we belong to a community greater than ourselves. Volunteering in a new and exciting place reminds us that we are part of a global community, that we have a responsibility to take care of each other, and can give us a sense that we are not alone in the world.
Whatever your age, status or motivation, volunteering vacations is something everyone can be involved in. With the myriad options available for voluntourism – from types of volunteering to length of stay – there is a volunteer vacation out there for everyone.
