Seeking a life-changing experience? Voluntourism elicits worldly appreciation, an understanding of people and cultures, and a chance to see another part of the planet.
The motivation to take a voluntourism trip comes from within. Maybe you want to explore a new destination, but can’t quite afford to prance around South America for the summer. Or maybe your human passion has persuaded you to give back. Whatever your reason, the benefits of these eye-opening trips usually outweigh the costs.
What is voluntourism? If you’re not familiar with voluntourism – the word means exactly what it sounds like: a combination of tourism and volunteering, with an emphasis on the latter.
Many organizations have sprung up to capitalize on the trend, so we decided to put together an introduction for beginners to show just how approachable these trips are, and how anyone, despite age or circumstance can get involved for as little or as long as they want.
We talked with Sarah Van Auken, the creator and operator of Volunteering Global, who advocates for voluntourism and has first-hand experience with trips. In an excursion to Costa Rica, Van Auken researched and monitored leatherback turtles, and re-nested their eggs in a protective hatchery.
That’s the volunteer part – now cue the tourism part: “My favorite part was being in a place so different from where I live (Washington, DC). I’d never been in a jungle, seen monkeys in the wild, or been to black sand beaches,” she says.
One of the benefits of voluntourism is the length of time you spend in a new place, and the proximity to locals.
“You’ll be exposed to more in-country issues than you might as a vacation traveler – the work you do as a volunteer will open up conversations with others who are engaged in similar work, and who invariably will share their ideas and concerns about the political, environmental, or social climates of the area,” says Van Auken.
Is volunteering for everyone? Some travelers wonder if they’re cut out for the work that lies ahead, but Van Auken suggests that it’s more about choosing a program that’s right for the individual, rather than wondering if the individual is right for volunteering. Beginners can sign up for a shorter amount of time to get a feel for the concept, and then choose a longer trip later if they want more involvement.
“Many people romanticize volunteer travel, and are surprised at the hard work and oftentimes rustic conditions, so [going for] a week allows them to get an idea of what it’s like to work in the field, but not feel trapped if they dislike it,” says Van Auken.
Spending an extended period of time in a new country can be intimidating, but choosing the right organization can quell fears of being alone, or unanticipated mishaps with local government or hospitals. Most organizations provide English speaking liaisons and services that aid those with injuries.
If you’re interested in the work, but weary of the costs, think again. One organization in particular – International Volunteer Head Quarters – focuses on affordable volunteering. The group sends more than 1,500 people each year off to places like Kenya, India, Peru, and Thailand to do things like teach English, work in orphanages or assist in health facilities. Programs start at just $220, and increase with the amount of time you stay, but not greatly.
For example, spending a week in Nepal costs $220, but spending five months only costs $1020. While flights are your responsibility, the program fee covers 24/7 support, program supervision, and all accommodations.
Daniel Radcliffe, executive director of IVHQ says that although they’ve created low-cost programs, the organization offers even more help by aiding with fundraising for people who can’t afford to volunteer, but want to.
“IVHQ has an A-Z fundraising booklet available to all registered IVHQ volunteers from their program coordinator. This provides a ton of ideas for fundraising ventures,” he says. In the near future, Radcliffe would like to expand on the establishment. “We want to increase our volunteer numbers over 3200 abroad annually,” he says, “and open new programs in Guatemala, Cambodia and South Africa whilst improving our current programs and ensuring we continue to make volunteer travel both affordable and accessible.”
Ready to take the first step?
Check out a few of these other programs that Van Auken personally recommends:
Watamu Turtle Watch (www.watamuturtles.com)
Andean Bear Conservation Project (www.andeanbear.org)
El Ghana (www.elghana.com)
Common Ground Relief (www.commongroundrelief.org)
Colibris Women’s Artisan Cooperative (www.colibrisecuador.org)
Intiwawa (www.intiwawa.com)
Travel & Learn (www.travellearnstudy.com)
© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney
