Volunteer During Your Next Vacation!

It seemed like everyone went abroad my junior year. Every other Facebook photo album was a chronicle of someone’s overseas adventure, and over half my friends were off gallivanting around the globe. I just knew that when they all came back, they’d have tons of amazing stories to tell.

But in January, when we all reunited and hugged and asked each other, “how was it?” I didn’t hear all the magical tales I thought I’d hear. Most people I talked to spent the whole time taking clichéd pictures of tourist spots, doing BS schoolwork (study abroad classes are notoriously easy), and drinking like fishes. Photos and homework and beer – that was it.

Sounded boring to me.

However, some of my friends went off the beaten path and did something nontraditional: volunteer programs abroad or in another part of the U.S.. While students have always done study abroad, it seems like more and more of my friends are choosing the volunteer route. I know girls who’ve done work in Mozambique, volunteered in South Africa, and rebuilt homes in New Orleans. It’s called “Voluntourism” – when people not originally from an area do a combination of tourist activities and volunteer work.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I probably will do it again,” says Anita, a recent grad, who volunteered in Belize last Spring Break. She helped rebuild a school, fixed and varnished furniture, put up drywall, and read to small children.

Where do voluntourists travel? Everywhere, from Uganda, to France, to New Orleans. Volunteers can do all kinds of activities depending on the location they choose – from building schools, to teaching children English, to working in wildlife preserves, to working in hospitals and orphanages.

And it’s not just students who volunteer. There are volunteer programs targeted toward people over 50, teens, families, and working professionals. So if you decide to be a voluntourist, you can take your best friend, your little sister or brother, or your mom!

Choosing whether to volunteer abroad can be a very big decision. Traditional study abroad programs can usually give you academic credits towards graduation, and/or give you a transcript from a foreign university. However, voluntourism has unique perks that you can’t get from a study abroad program.

First, volunteering is often more affordable. Study abroad programs include tuition for classes, which can add up to thousands of dollars. It’s often possible to do month-long volunteer programs for under $1000.

Volunteering can give you a realistic perspective on what life is like for the less fortunate in a specific country. You can do your part to help out the rest of the world. “it's too easy to point to a poor neighborhood and say "oh isn't that sad," and then go back to the hotel and back to the states without doing anything,” says Itohan, a junior who went to Belize with Anita. “I have two working hands and feet - so in essence, I have no excuse not to help!”

The great thing about voluntourism is that you never go it alone. Programs are often coordinated by foundations who have staff members traveling with the group. If you’ve never volunteered abroad before, they’ll tell you what to do.

Also, you still get to be a tourist! Itohan and Anita both saw the Mayan ruins while they were in Belize. Itohan was extremely brave and went swimming with sharks (that girl is really a risk-taker!). Anita went shopping for Belize keychains for her family, a mug, and a cute shell ring. Volunteering doesn’t mean that you don’t get to have fun.

Is volunteering abroad right for you? It’s an incredibly rewarding experience. However, everyone’s not cut out for it, especially if you’re thinking of traveling to especially rural or obscure areas. Could you go to the bathroom on the ground or in grass? Could you live without electricity, hot water, phone, or internet? If so, great! But if you can’t live without a hot shower each morning, your makeup bag, and a cup of Starbucks, you might want to think again. Each program is different. Do your research.

Also, ask yourself this question: do you have skills or capabilities to contribute in the place you want to volunteer? For example, if you want to teach children English, are you a good teacher? Do you work well with kids? If so, go for it. If not, check out a different voluntourism program where you can make use of your special talents and skills.

Want to be a voluntourist? Check out websites like www.crossculturalsolutions.org and www.volunteerinternational.org. Or just type “international volunteering” into Google and see what pops up. Happy traveling! and

(Photo credit--GoDifferently.com)