Hitting the Road to Give Back
Dec 06, 2018 | Aon
Voluntourism offers people of all ages a way to blend cultural submersion with a hands-on charitable experience – and it’s growing in popularity. In recent years, giving tourists have spent more than $173 billion annually to support causes near to their hearts like education, healthcare and disaster relief. And those who want to make an impact have countless options. Traditional non-profits and government organizations like USAID as well as established travel companies like Contiki all provide opportunities to travel with a purpose.
Whether you plan to stay stateside or want to lend a hand internationally, here are a few things to keep in mind if voluntourism is on your radar for 2019:
- Set goals for yourself: If done well, voluntourism is a win for both the non-profit and the volunteer. Understanding what you really want to get from the experience will help you select the best cause and partner. For example, Royal Caribbean gives cruisers who want to blend leisure and volunteering an opportunity to participate in a service project in the Virgin Islands as part of a larger day-long excursion, while Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program delivers an experience that’s focused almost exclusively on giving.
- Choose the right partner: Do careful research before picking a partner organization for your trip. Unfortunately, there are some organizations that take advantage of peoples’ good hearts, so it’s important to carefully screen potential partners to ensure you’re picking one that’s credible.
- Do your research: Once you’ve picked an experience, make sure you understand all of the details – ranging from what you’ll be doing every day and the associated costs or fees, to how many other volunteers you will be working with and the political climate of your destination.
- Plan ahead: If you’re planning on taking excursions during your time off from volunteering, plan them before leaving your homeland. This will ensure that you have an adequate budget and that you understand the terms and conditions of your excursions.
- Make insurance arrangements: Voluntourism is a great opportunity to visit a country abroad. Traveling internationally, however, has different implications than traveling domestically. Your health insurance may not work abroad, you may be hundreds of miles from a hospital or you might need to cancel at the last minute and risk losing out on your travel investment. Travel insurance can help protect you in all of the above scenarios and more.
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