Making a Difference on Volunteer Vacations

Voluntourism. Responsible Travel. Purposeful Tourism. No matter what term is applied, combining travel with volunteering is a booming segment of the travel industry. The Voluntourism Institute posts a prediction that there will be 20 million voluntourists by 2020—and that’s just in the United States. This global trend points to a major change in the way people spend their leisure time. It appears more people want to make a contribution to the world and are willing to spend their vacation time (and dollars) to make it happen, something that will undoubtedly impact travel suppliers who want to meet their needs.

The “Voluntourist” Gives Back while Getting Away

Today’s volunteering vacationer seeks responsible travel, which is defined by Responsibletravel.org as travel that minimizes negative impacts, brings economic benefits to host communities and preserves the cultural and natural resources of the destinations. These individuals and families are actively seeking opportunities to enhance their trips by helping others, or experiencing a local environment or culture in more meaningful ways—all the while creating memories, developing cultural sensitivities and even building life skills.

Citing study from Wales-based Tourism, Research and Marketing,

NPR.org reports that more than 1.6 million volunteer tourists are spending about $2 billion each year. And as shown in The New York Times article, 5 Volunteer Travel Options in Europe, some organizations provide volunteers meals and lodging in exchange for unpaid help, while others charge people upwards of $3,500 to participate in their programs. Such programs allow voluntourists to provide:

• Community Aid. They may volunteer in a local soup kitchen for a day, bring school supplies to a school in need, or teach English to local children or adults.

• Environmental Support. The eco-conscious might conduct coral reef research, collect data on global warming, or work with animals.

• Cultural Preservation. History-minded vacationers can explore historic sites, participate in archeological digs, or salvage ancient works of art.

Here’s just a tiny sampling of some of the organizations on the voluntourism scene:

• Safe Passage empowers the poorest, at-risk children of families working in the community of the Guatemala City Garbage Dump, by creating opportunities and fostering dignity through the power of education.

• United Planet partners with with secondary schools, universities, corporations, nonprofits, individuals and families, and public and private institutions to unlock the potential of every person as a global citizen and catalyst to create a more peaceful, cohesive and sustainable world.

• Together for Good encourages travelers to give back on vacation in order to improve local communities in the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and throughout the world.

• Global Volunteers enables travelers to volunteer abroad as a family, group, individual or couple, sharing unique skills while on life-giving community projects.

And, companies like Holidays for Humanity connect travelers with a “world of purposeful travel options.”

Responsible Volunteering?

Voluntourism has received its fair share of criticism. Concerned parties ask, “Where’s the impact?” and “Who’s it helping?” Some argue that too many for-profit organizations are taking advantage of peoples’ willingness to jump (with their wallets) into a volunteer project for a week or two of fun. Others are concerned that some voluntourism companies offer project opportunities—to unskilled people, nonetheless—that aren’t part of a longer-term strategy for communities with real needs. The result, even with the best intentions, is the potential for causing indirect harm to people and the environment. Read more about the Voluntourist’s Dilemma in The New York Times.

The silver lining, of course, is that the voluntourism trend reflects a growing desire among people to help others—and that’s something that can ultimately help the world become a better place. A recent study by Britain’s Leeds Metropolitan University, published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, describes what truly effective voluntourism might look like: “…Proper needs assessments, appropriately recruited, matched and skilled volunteers working with locals, with clear objectives, sustainable program management, reporting and lasting impact and respect.” (Reuters)

To say on the safe side, every party can do their due diligence. Organizations offering volunteer experiences to travelers need to ensure they are running quality programs, and travelers need to do their homework and pursue opportunities that meet their interests, skills and budgets. The goal, after all, is to bring fulfillment to themselves while helping the world around them.