Voluntourism is the combination of volunteering and travel. It has gained popularity among sustainable travelers who wish to make a positive impact while traveling. Voluntourism benefits are many since it consists of giving back to local communities and creating a meaningful travel experience.

What is voluntourism?

Voluntourism is an excellent way to learn about various cultures for tourists, it also enhances your experience in exploring a country while giving back to the community. This helps people create a positive impact globally to the places they visit.

Volunteers usually work under large organizations, mostly outside their home countries and are partnered with different local citizens to advocate for causes like health, education and sustainability of the environment.

If done the right way, voluntourism can be an incredibly meaningful and powerful experience.

Voluntourism benefits:

1. Broadens cultural perspective:

• Firstly, it helps broaden cultural perspectives. As voluntourism increases cultural awareness, it boosts the appreciation and preservation of local traditions.
• Volunteers pick out places that they would not usually go to, this gives them a chance to visit unique historic monuments, admire traditions and other religious practices.

2.  Boosts the local economy:

• Another great factor about voluntourism is that it helps bring money into the local economy.
• Volunteers spend their cash on transportation, food and stay, plus their part time fun activities like art festivals, visiting heritage spaces and sports. They can help these communities in terms of their time, money, any other help and services.
• Among all the voluntourism benefits the most important one is that it helps the local economy to grow.

3. Promoting a cause:

• Voluntourism is known to be more alluring than tourism, it presents us an opportunity for exposure to social problems, environmental and political issues.
• It makes a traveler sensitive towards many causes that get ignored quite often amidst enjoyment and recreation. It is rather the best way to contribute towards the progress of the place or destination you visit.
• Voluntourism has gained popularity since 2005, and has only flourished ever since.

Since we now know what is voluntourism and its benefits, let’s look at some tips to do voluntourism:

How to do voluntourism?

1. Choose a cause that matters to you:

When you're choosing a destination and type of volunteering, identify a cause or issue that you are most passionate about. There are numerous opportunities for voluntourism, ranging from healthcare, education, environmental conservation and community development.

2. Research different organizations and projects:

• Once you have decided your purpose, it's time to start your research. Look for reputable organizations and projects that you think are the right fit for you.
• Make sure that the organization is genuine and transparent, and whether they actually benefit the locals.
• Read reviews and ask for recommendations from other volunteers. Do not hold back from asking for more information from the firms.
• Check where your spending will be used and what other activities the organizations is engaged in to enhance your knowledge about them.

3.  Evaluate Your Skills and Time:

• Try to consider how much time you will be able to give the project and if you can perform certain tasks.
• Some projects might require a specific skill set, while others would be open to all who would like to help.
• Be practical and honest about your time availability and skills to the organization. This makes it easier for you as well as them since they can give you a suitable task.

4. It helps bring money to the community:

Money from these tours comes from various sources. Individuals generally have to pay for their own travel; whether it’s in terms of lodging, food or fun activities. This money goes to the locals and their needs. Sometimes, volunteers even hold fundraisers and charities for these regions after their trip is over.

5.  You can do some good for the community:

This is the reason why voluntourism continues to prove popular. You can provide amenities that are uniquely yours, like professions of teaching, doctors, engineers etc. and help the locals with complex jobs as they might have shortage of such occupants there, and your helping hand can go a long way.

Now that we have seen a few ways you can volunteer, let’s understand the reasons of its popularity.

Why is voluntourism popular?

Short-term:

• As we all know, voluntourism is usually a part of a vacation, thus, they generally consist of a small number of tasks or sum of days from one's trip.
• The activities are held for tourists who wish to do good for others and leave a positive impact as they travel and explore new places.
• These kinds of volunteering are best for those with less time to commit, or those who can only work for a short duration of time.

Group oriented activity:

• Voluntourism is mainly a group activity that brings together groups of individuals on trips.
• One can choose the specific program and dates depending on their preference, as they are always up on sites in advance.
• This allows sharing of work, increases efficiency and helps people bond over a good cause. This is a great way to socialize and spread your connections.

  No expertise is required:

• Many times, people hold themselves back from this experience because, they think they are not worthy enough, however, voluntourism does not need much experience.

• These projects range widely from tutoring to helping in conservation of nature and one doesn't need to have a background or a degree in these fields. As long as you wish to help, you are always welcome!

   

• You are not expected to be a genius in any field, as long as you have the willingness and a positive attitude, everything will go well. And if you are new to the experience yourself, do not worry, there will be a supervisor to aid you in any issue.

   

Usually run by a company:

• Not all voluntourism companies are non-profit. The majority of them are set up with the intent to help and earn money.

• Keep in mind though, that your fees do go to the local staff and in service of volunteer projects and development purposes, but some of the sum also covers the salaries of the staff and amenities they provide to you.

   

• It also supports the tourism economy and the workers in marketing and logistics of these companies.

   

• If you ever want more clarity about where your money is going, you can always ask your provider.

   

Emphasis on the experience of the voluntourist:

• Voluntourism focuses highly on the experience of the participant during the trip.

• These companies make it a point to make the volunteers feel like they have expanded their horizons, and they feel good about themselves since they have given back to the community. It gives you a feeling of betterment in yourself after you have completed the trip.

   

• Sometimes not all fun and play leaves you feeling good about yourself.

• One needs to step  a little out of their comfort zone, give back to the community with their own hard work and toil. This will give them a feeling of betterment.

• Voluntourism is the best way of giving back to the local community and also having fun at the same time!

   

We are aware about why is voluntourism popular and its benefits too. So, if you ever think about being a voluntourist get in touch with some travel agency and tour operators who can also guide you.

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