Travel With a Purpose: Volunteer Vacations

Volunteer vacations are ideal for travelers that are seeking a more rewarding way to spend their holiday time.  From tutoring school children, to building affordable housing or even helping out at an archaeological dig, the opportunites are diverse and abundant.  In addition to helping out a worthy cause, the other added benefit is that these vacations will generally be less expensive.  How so?  When you go through a charitable organization for your trip, it is typically cheaper than paying individual rates for hotels and dining, especially when visiting a foreign country.  Plus, a portion of the costs might be tax-deductible.  Make sure read the program’s fine print closely and always double-check with your accountant first.

Elderhostel Service Programs, a branch of Elderhostel, matches volunteers ages 55 and over with service programs.  The website notes that “Throughout your stay, you will experience the area and the community where you are living. Most importantly, you will learn from the people with whom you are working - fellow Elderhostelers, project staff, and members of the community - as you contribute to bettering our world.”

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, is dedicated to bringing decent, affordable housing to people worldwide.  Habitat has built over 250, 000 homes, providing shelter to over 1 million people since its founding in 1976.

Earthwatch, a pioneer of the volunteer vacations, is the world’s largest environmental non-profit.  It has a mission of helping the world realize its goal of a sustainable environment.  These volunteer opportunities that typically last 10 to 14 days on average include projects on ecology, zoology and archaeology.

Global Volunteers International,  another veteran in the volunteer vacation movement, promises “travel that feeds the soul”.  GVI has extended stay options up to 24 weeks in length and they support some 100 host communities in 21 countries year-around through short-term volunteer teams.  You can teach conversational English abroad, provide health care services or work with children or community elders.

If you’ve been on a service oriented post a comment and tell you did and what you thought of it!

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