Voluntourism - A New Trend
Voluntourism – A New Trend
By Karen Safarik, Green Monkey Guest Blogger
“Sometimes, when you set out to change the world, the world changes you."
Antigua, Guatemala… a casual excursion? I don’t think so….
I have never been the same. The experience was so different and special in so many ways- I will always be seeking to taste it again and again. I had no idea what was in store when I signed up for the medical/Spanish learning opportunity in Guatemala. I had just graduated from the University of Florida’s Physician Assistant program and thought it would be good to immerse myself in a Spanish speaking country since I would be working in Miami. I stayed with a family that provided 3 meals a day, Monday through Friday. I was there for one month and every weekend started on Saturday at 4 or 5 am to enjoy travel excursions to other parts of the country. Throughout my week, I went to Spanish class for 4 hours, then worked in clinics performing exams and visiting hospitals.
I had the most amazing time living with a Guatemalan family, experiencing first hand the values and traditions, which supported the culture there; understanding the medical issues and healthcare issues which impacted individuals, families, and whole communities. In all of this- much deeper, yet very tangible, was the human spirit. It is the human bond that unites people across all languages and races.
Now, after 3 years, I have been craving a return to the rain forest of humble smiles and food cooked with love and ancient tradition. I have been seeking to cultivate my talents and gifts here in the United States, and create an extension to help other cultures/societies.
And I love to travel! I hiked through rain forests, listening to howling monkeys, climbing 150 steps to the top of an ancient Mayan temple. That was just one of the magical experiences that the tourist in me had the privilege of enjoying.
VOLUNTOURISM- A NEW TREND
In the last year or so, I keep hearing about these “Voluntourism” excursions, also known as Volunteer Vacations. The destinations range from Costa Rica, Brazil, Africa, even Thailand or Cambodia. Anyone can apply the skills that seem commonplace here in the States to the less industrialized places you’ve always wanted to visit. Basics of nutrition, assisting with building schools or shelters, and even assisting teachers in the classroom can be implemented through connecting with one of the organizations that coordinate these services.
In coordinating your vacation time with volunteering, one can gain an experience that is like no other. One can see the inside, the true nature in struggles and celebration that the town or culture knows so well. The opportunity for personal growth is huge. Any traveler knows there is nothing better than the state of mind that being in a new place can bring. You can perceive smells and colors more potently. Your consciousness is so focused and present, it’s meditative in itself. Everything is new and different; it’s hard to not become more acutely aware of all you experience, but that’s just the beginning of personal growth. What about confronting all that you are grateful for? What about a native touching your heart with their resilient happiness in the midst of very difficult situations? The greatest lessons in life are there to be learned- and it starts with being humbled, cultivating your humility, and reaching out for humanity.
Here are some of the companies and their websites:
Globe Aware http://www.globeaware.org/
Earth Watch http://www.earthwatch.org/ Focusing on the environment, go on an expedition in 40 different countries.
Cross Cultural Solutions http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/default.asp
There is also one that focuses on the United States Volunteering:
Take Pride in America http://www.takepride.gov/index.html
Travelocity has partnered with these companies to embrace traveling as “an agent for positive change.” I was truly impressed with the resources that each website offers. There is a blog on every one, and an opportunity to communicate with those who have already been. Earth Watch even has opportunities for teenagers. The programs go anywhere from 3-4 days up to 12 weeks!
The objective is to teach self-reliance and maintain the integrity of the values and priorities of the people, not impose a new way that disrupts core traditions and beliefs.
CAN’T AFFORD A VACATION RIGHT NOW?
You can Volunteer and get most of it paid for…
“…for many Americans, a volunteer vacation can be an economically affordable alternative to their traditional vacation plans. But we know there are lots of potential volunteers who cannot afford to go without assistance, and it is for them that we’ve created the Change Ambassadors Grant.”
Read more at http://leisure.travelocity.com/Promotions/0,,TRAVELOCITY|3702|vacations_main,00.html
What else can I say? I can’t wait to find one for myself. Don’t resign to your excuses or self-imposed obstacles. There is only one life to see this one beautiful world in which we live. Check out the sites or google ‘volunteer vacations’ and see what is out there for you. There is a new experience waiting for you, and a person who is waiting to learn something new. As someone once said: “Sometimes, when you set out to change the world, the world changes you.”
By Karen Safarik, Green Monkey Guest Blogger
“Sometimes, when you set out to change the world, the world changes you."
Antigua, Guatemala… a casual excursion? I don’t think so…
I have never been the same. The experience was so different and special in so many ways- I will always be seeking to taste it again and again. I had no idea what was in store when I signed up for the medical/Spanish learning opportunity in Guatemala. I had just graduated from the University of Florida’s Physician Assistant program and thought it would be good to immerse myself in a Spanish speaking country since I would be working in Miami. I stayed with a family that provided 3 meals a day, Monday through Friday. I was there for one month and every weekend started on Saturday at 4 or 5 am to enjoy travel excursions to other parts of the country. Throughout my week, I went to Spanish class for 4 hours, then worked in clinics performing exams and visiting hospitals.
I had the most amazing time living with a Guatemalan family, experiencing first hand the values and traditions, which supported the culture there; understanding the medical issues and healthcare issues which impacted individuals, families, and whole communities. In all of this- much deeper, yet very tangible, was the human spirit. It is the human bond that unites people across all languages and races.
Now, after 3 years, I have been craving a return to the rain forest of humble smiles and food cooked with love and ancient tradition. I have been seeking to cultivate my talents and gifts here in the United States, and create an extension to help other cultures/societies.
And I love to travel! I hiked through rain forests, listening to howling monkeys, climbing 150 steps to the top of an ancient Mayan temple. That was just one of the magical experiences that the tourist in me had the privilege of enjoying.
A NEW TREND
In the last year or so, I keep hearing about these “Voluntourism” excursions, also known as Volunteer Vacations. The destinations range from Costa Rica, Brazil, Africa, even Thailand or Cambodia. Anyone can apply the skills that seem commonplace here in the States to the less industrialized places you’ve always wanted to visit. Basics of nutrition, assisting with building schools or shelters, and even assisting teachers in the classroom can be implemented through connecting with one of the organizations that coordinate these services.
In coordinating your vacation time with volunteering, one can gain an experience that is like no other. One can see the inside, the true nature in struggles and celebration that the town or culture knows so well. The opportunity for personal growth is huge. Any traveler knows there is nothing better than the state of mind that being in a new place can bring. You can perceive smells and colors more potently. Your consciousness is so focused and present, it’s meditative in itself.
Everything is new and different; it’s hard to not become more acutely aware of all you experience, but that’s just the beginning of personal growth. What about confronting all that you are grateful for? What about a native touching your heart with their resilient happiness in the midst of very difficult situations? The greatest lessons in life are there to be learned- and it starts with being humbled, cultivating your humility, and reaching out for humanity.
Here are some of the companies and their websites:
Globe Aware www.globeaware.org
Earth Watch www.earthwatch.org Focusing on the environment, go on an expedition in 40 different countries.
Cross Cultural Solutions www.crossculturalsolutions.org
There is also one that focuses on the United States Volunteering:
Take Pride in America www.takepride.gov
Travelocity has partnered with these companies to embrace traveling as “an agent for positive change.” I was truly impressed with the resources that each website offers. There is a blog on every one, and an opportunity to communicate with those who have already been. Earth Watch even has opportunities for teenagers. The programs go anywhere from 3-4 days up to 12 weeks!
The objective is to teach self-reliance and maintain the integrity of the values and priorities of the people, not impose a new way that disrupts core traditions and beliefs.
Can′t afford a vacation right now? You can Volunteer and get most of it paid for…
“…for many Americans, a volunteer vacation can be an economically affordable alternative to their traditional vacation plans. But we know there are lots of potential volunteers who cannot afford to go without assistance, and it is for them that we’ve created the Change Ambassadors Grant.” Read more at leisure.travelocity.com
What else can I say? I can’t wait to find one for myself. Don’t resign to your excuses or self-imposed obstacles. There is only one life to see this one beautiful world in which we live. Check out the sites or google ‘volunteer vacations’ and see what is out there for you. There is a new experience waiting for you, and a person who is waiting to learn something new. As someone once said: “Sometimes, when you set out to change the world, the world changes you.”
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