GREAT ESCAPES Vacations With A Heart


Perhaps you are considering an “escape” where you will not only be in a place you have always wanted to visit, but where you can also give something back while you are there - a real heartfelt vacation. Whether you want to spend a month building in communities, a week tracking whales or just tack on an extra day to your vacation, you can make a difference by donating your time and efforts to places in need.


Disaster Relief The Haiti earthquake is still in the minds of people around the world and many seek to do more than donate money. The charity, Hands On Disaster Response (www.hands.org) continues to operate helping with rebuilding in Haiti. The program has transitioned from recovery and cleanup to mostly rehabilitation and sustainable development. Some of the current specific positions open include: Business Improvement Program Mentor, Business Directory Designer, Dam Business Mentor, and Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor. There is no fee to help, but airfare is not covered by the organization.


Community Building Global Citizens Network


(globalcitizens.org) states a commitment to enhance quality of life around the world while preserving indigenous cultures, traditions and ecologies. Destination projects involve working with members of


Global Citizens Network


communities and are available in the U.S. (Arizona or Washington) or as far as Peru or Thailand. You


may participate in building fences or a community center, planting corn or working in


a community park, helping in a daycare or youth center - there are many choices for these cross-cultural giving and learning experiences.


If you like to work with your hands, you can help communities through the Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) program in cities and towns across the U.S. or around the world with its Global Village program. Travelers help construct houses and spend a few days exploring an area. Trips range from far-flung destinations such as Kenya, New Zealand, Poland, and Brazil to U.S. locations, including Alaska, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Costs include room and board, travel insurance, and a donation, but airfare is additional. Habitat’s RV Care-A-Vanners program is a volunteer program for those who travel in recreational vehicles and want to build Habitat houses. The group welcomes people of all ages, from all walks of life who want to pick up a hammer and help change lives. No previous construction experience is necessary and every build project is a unique and rewarding experience. Volunteers pay their own expenses, which may be tax deductible. The local Habitat host affiliate will arrange for free or low-cost RV parking.


The Fly For Good organization (volunteer.flyforgood.net) has done humanitarian work in over 100 countries across the globe. While building is a key project in many countries, they also offer teaching, environmental and health opportunities. Volunteers not only help people directly at their chosen destination but a portion of the airfare is donated to a specific humanitarian project each year from the discounted airfare rate. This organization connects with projects through other groups as well as offering their own opportunities.


Global Volunteers


Teaching Although many teaching programs require long- term commitments, several organizations have shorter


vacations options for English speakers. Global Volunteers (www. globalvolunteers.org) offers volunteer vacations to teach conversational English around the world, in countries such as Ecuador, Ghana, Italy, Poland, and Vietnam. All that’s needed is a native level of speaking. Standard programs are 2 weeks, though one-week trips are also available.


6 YOUNG AT HEART ♦ February 2012


In Italy, volunteers teach middle and high school students for a standard 40-hour week, leaving weekends free to explore the Puglia region. Trip costs include lodging, meals, in-country transportation, and a project donation. The fee is tax deductible and the group even offers assistance for fundraising your own fee.


Work & Volunteering Abroad (www.workandvolunteer.com) also provides volunteer opportunities to teach in other countries, in a formal or informal setting. Additionally, they offer Orphanage Volunteer Projects in Ghana orphanages that were set up to support children suffering neglect and abuse. Work with other volunteers providing care to these African children living in orphanages. For stays shorter than one month, guest volunteers can teach sports, crafts or painting to students. Program fees include a project donation, lodging, and meals. WAVA has opportunities in environmental and wildlife areas also, such volunteering to work in the Elephant Protection Program in Thailand.


Environmental Environmental voluntourism can vary from sea turtle conservation to hiking trail construction. The American Hiking Society (www. americanhiking.org) offers 6-10 day volunteer vacations year-round in several states, including Hawaii, Minnesota, and West Virginia. You can help eliminate invasive weeds in Alaska’s Chugach National Forest, repair the Shepherd Pass Trail in California, or help stop trail erosion in Virgin Islands National Park. Nonmembers can join the trips for a fee, which includes meals, park fees, a crew leader and, often, airport pickups. Accommodations for most trips are based on camping (although some include cabins), and participants provide their own tents and airfare costs.


Gap Adventures (www. gapadventures.com) also provides opportunities to work with and protect endangered or threatened animals. The 15-day Project Costa Rica tour includes five days on a Sea Turtle Conservation Project monitoring a baby turtle hatchery, counting and releasing baby turtles, and cleaning the beach. The remainder of the trip provides time to explore the Monteverde cloud forest and the town of La Fortuna. The fee covers a horseback riding excursion, a guided visit to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, the sea turtle conservation project, some meals, in-country transportation, and accommodations.


American Hiking Society


The Wild Dolphin Foundation based in Hawaii (www.wilddolphin.org/ volunteer) offers volunteer projects from performing ocean or shore- based observations to designing, facilitating, and/or presenting awareness programs at hotels and more. There is neither compensation nor a charge for the program - they simply ask volunteers treat their assignment with the dedication they would on a paid job. Longer term projects allow at least 3-4 days per week free time to enjoy the beautiful islands.


Lighthouse Keeper The United States Lighthouse Society (www.uslhs.org/resources_be_a_ keeper.php) and a number of other groups offer lighthouse locations around the country from Alaska to Wisconsin (including Oregon) where you can be a volunteer lighthouse keeper. In the Wisconsin area (nps. gov), you can travel to the lighthouses on Devil’s Island, Sand Island and Michigan Island. You must commit to a three-week stay and bring your own food and supplies. Your duties will be to lead tours, mow the lawn, do light maintenance and serve as an emergency contact.


Your Own Special Destinations If you already have a vacation planned or have your heart set on a certain destination, it’s still possible to volunteer your time with local organizations. Many convention and visitors bureaus have a voluntourism section on their websites. For example, travelers to Aruba can sponsor a mile of beach on the third Wednesday of each month. In Colorado, visitors can spend three days building or re-routing trails with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Choices for voluntourism to provide help to others are many and varied - take the time to make the right decision for you and set out to enjoy your special “giving back” vacation.


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