What Are Volunteer Vacations? | Are They For Me? |
The Global Volunteers Model
Traveling as a short-term volunteer departs from conventional adventure travel and cultural immersion experiences in one very important way. The purpose of a "volunteer vacation" is foremost to serve, and thereby, to learn first-hand about the host community and its people. It's not simply an alternative to a standard vacation, but an opportunity to use your skills and interests in an unconventional setting to benefit others in a community requesting outside help.
Short-term international and USA volunteer options are also frequently referred to as "working vacations", "service-learning travel", or "voluntourism" although these options are not all the same. As a prospective volunteer, you can choose to serve from hundreds of worthy causes both at home and abroad. It's most important that you carefully review the goals, methods and outcomes of the effort you support to avoid the possibility of exploiting local people in your desire to help. Ethical non-profit organizations devote their efforts fully to the host community's needs and sustained, catalytic support. Learn more about choosing an appropriate opportunity here.
If you select carefully, your opportunity to broaden your global perspective and truly make a difference has never been greater. Consider these advantages to serving with Global Volunteers:
- "Give back" to society in a practical, compassionate way.
- Wage peace personally and help eradicate racism.
- Learn first-hand about poverty and homelessness.
- Contribute to the successes of local development work.
- Share cultural insights with like-minded team mates.
- Employ your talents and skills in an unconventional setting.
- Experience a foreign culture from inside -- as a "non-tourist."
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As a team member on a Global Volunteers volunteer vacation, you're assured that you contribute to genuine development projects and that our itinerary strictly follows IRS tax-deductibility guidelines. As a link in a long chain of those who have come before you, and will follow, you ensure long-term development support. Global Volunteers was privilged to help lay the foundation of this type of international volunteerism in 1984 and to make "volunteer vacations" accessible to everyone. We started by developing working partnerships with under-served rural communities striving to become self-reliant and engaging short-term volunteers in their service. Since then, our programs have expanded from the developing world to emerging democracies and most other types of host communities around the globe. Why pay to volunteer? Charity Guide features Global Volunteers.
"One of the best things about a Global Volunteers program
is that you can be dropped into a setting in another part of the
world for just a few weeks. Things are already set in motion,
and you pick up where the last team left off. Being part of one
team in a series, part of a long-term commitment served by
many teams, I realized that I was participating in something
much bigger. It was perfect for me because I only get a few
weeks' vacation each year. And yet, it was one of the most
thrilling and rewarding things I have ever done."
~ Jim Hausler, NY
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