Giving Back When We Travel: Volunteering Abroad

What is voluntourism? There are several perspectives out there from global non-profits to travel companies: National Geographic, World Vision, Projects Abroad, Working Abroad, and Workaway.

Voluntourism is exactly what it sounds like. A mix of volunteering and tourism, which provide opportunities to help a local community, city, or country while exploring and learning about their culture.

However, there are certainly ways in which our desire to help, fix, or change things can be detrimental because 1) it isn't sustainable (e.g., the opportunity may only last a few weeks to months) and 2) it doesn't take into consideration the larger picture (e.g., what happens to the mental and emotional health of the children at an orphanage I visit if I never return)?

These were considerations I kept in mind in my curation of voluntourism stories for my travel-savvy book. I'm excited to share one story in particular, which can serve as a guiding example for others looking for this kind of international exchange.

My friend Anusha didn't just visit the Jeevodaya Home. She continued to return each year, she advocated for her workplace to donate to Sheep NGOS, and when she was invited by one of the founders for a repeat visit, she took the opportunity to see for herself how the money was being used for these girls.

Anusha's Voluntourism Story

That sense of responsibility Anusha felt, as she walked into the mud brick home on a hot winter afternoon to see a group of girls playing and reading books, would stay with her long after. She was in Hyderabad, India and it was her first time visiting the Jeevodaya Home. Immediately after she left, she knew it wouldn't be the last time she would see those girls.

?Anusha saw herself in each beautiful brown face and knew she wanted to be a dream maker. These girls had come from poor and in some cases very harsh beginnings. With access to education and a safe home, each girl would have the opportunity to begin her journey towards making her dreams come true.