I’m not great with small talk – so here’s the point… You don’t have to spend your whole vacation volunteering to make a difference. Period. You don’t need to feel guilty enjoying a relaxing day at the spa, visiting the temples for hours on end, or even sipping Thai Iced Tea by the pool. There are so many wonderful ways to make a difference within the countries you are visiting, and it doesn’t have to take your whole vacation.
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You can call it Voluntourism, or call it “giving as you go”… I call it, choosing to make a positive impact through travel. The key is really knowing what it is that you, or you and your family want out of a vacation. Some of you may want to volunteer for a day, some may want to incorporate volunteering throughout, some of you want to make a difference but really don’t want to take any time out of your limited vacation. Below are a few suggestions for each travel type.
No time to volunteer, but you want to give back?
You can get involved prior to traveling, so that your time spent on vacation is vacation time.
I have a family traveling with us who really wanted to get their daughter involved with the country that she was about to visit. I suggested they ask her daughter to start a pen pal relationship with a JWOC English student in Cambodia. Just today I received a packet of 30 letters written by the daughter’s third grade class in Ohio. The Ohio class wrote the letters and are working to fundraise for the JWOC English School program. Beyond the donated funds, the JWOC students will be so excited to see these beautifully decorated letters describing a typical day of a US student. Our students will get to practice their reading and writing skills, in an engaging and non-disruptive way. In addition, this took no time out from the family’s vacation schedule .
You want to spend a day volunteering, but do not want to disturb the local community?
Donate prior to traveling and visit the project you have supported when you arrive.
I’ve had guests donate a clean water well through JWOC and then visit the well when they arrive in Cambodia. It is a really unique afternoon, taking a moto bike out with a scholarship student to go meet the people who are benefiting from the clean water you helped provide. It only takes an afternoon of your time, yet the local community benefits from the clean water long after your visit and the experience itself lasts a lifetime.
You want to volunteer, but you are traveling to many different places quickly?
Give as you Go.
Work with your tour consultant/travel agent and discuss opportunities to give back to each community you are visiting. Discuss the greatest needs in each location and determine how you can make the most impact with your limited time.
For guests traveling to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia we’ve scheduled a day in Chiang Mai to drop off donated diapers to a local orphanage because the orphanage told us that was their greatest need, scheduled a Big Brother Mouse book party in Luang Prabang where the guests donated books to the local children, and scheduled an afternoon to teach English at a school in Siem Reap where hearing a native speaker helps improve English skills for Cambodians. This took an afternoon of the travelers time in each location, but allowed them to make a positive impact in each country.
Whichever travel type you are, it’s great that you’ve chosen to make a positive impact through travel.