Mixing Impact with Travel with Ana Carreto
Bob DePasquale, CFP?CAP?
Keynote Speaker | Helping growth-oriented organizations attract top talent and the most loyal customers
F-I-R-E = Feature, Inspiration, Resources, Education
Feature:
Ana Carreto is the Founder and CEO of Bausse Beauty USA and a non-profit organization, Let’s Do It Amigos. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the Anglo in 2010, she went on to obtain her master’s degree in Psychology from Instituto Mexicano de PsicoterapÃa Gestalt. She was also a teacher in Mexico City for eleven years prior to exploring her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Inspiration:?
by:?Stacee Jacobs?CPWA? RMA?, BFA?, Lead Planner at Initiate Impact
Ana grew up in Mexico and when she was six years old, he died.? As she grew from that experience, she recognized that she received help, love, and hope from her family, their friends, her teachers, and most everyone she encountered.? She derived the need to help others and inspire hope for those who were suffering from that time.
At the age of fourteen, Ana spent some time moving around the globe in Switzerland, England, and the US.? She acquired a deep passion for travel from these times.? She learned of opportunities to travel abroad and combine her passion for travel with her deep-seated value for helping others while she was teaching.
She began to explore opportunities to volunteer in other countries serving various causes from orphans and refugees to animals and the environment.? One thing she often encountered with trips that were preorganized was even though the trips that were to do volunteer work, they were still often unaffordable for her on a teaching salary in Mexico.
This is when Ana ventured out on her own to build relationships across the globe with different non-profit organizations.? She was successful at creating her own volunteer adventures that fulfilled her desire to help others and her passion for international travel.? She set and achieved the ambitious goal of traveling to 30 different countries before she turned 30 and most of those trips involved some volunteer work.
In 2020, Ana decided to pursue her entrepreneurial aspirations. She brought Bausse Beauty to the United States from Mexico, starting the US enterprise in San Antonio, Texas.? She has used this platform to inspire others to be generous.
Ana felt compelled to have others join her after several years of traveling to do volunteer work. Many of her friends and family had asked her how she was able to afford the trips.? Occasionally, she would take them along on her journeys and leave them excited about their own experiences helping others.
In 2022, this motivated Ana to establish a non-profit that both educates and arranges group trips around the world to serve others.?
Most recently, she took a group of volunteers to Lebanon to teach English to young orphans.
Ana believes that you don’t have to be wealthy to live generously and serve others. Also, she knows that by serving others you not only transform their life, but you also grow yourself.? I was motivated by her story to continue the pursuit in my own generosity journey knowing that there is a great reward to humanity and growth and humility for me.
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Resources:
Ana Carreto - ?LinkedIn
Education:
Traveling to other countries is exciting.? It is a great cultural experience and can be very enlightening for you and your family as to how others live.? You can also learn about new cultures.? The adventures and memories created by exploring a different geography and society are often fulfilling and rewarding.? Coupling this with volunteering for a cause that you care about takes international travel to a whole new level.
Before you dive into planning your volunteer trip abroad we have four quick tips to help you experience the most success and joy from your volunteer vacation.
1. ? ? ? According to the HHS website depending on where you travel you may encounter serious diseases that are not common in the US.? Many countries will require proof of vaccination prior to entering.? Understanding these diseases and the requirements can help you protect yourself, others traveling with you, and of course all who you encounter when you return home.
2. ? ? ? Likewise, the water in many countries does not meet the same purity standards as the US. Research the water purity in the region you intend to go.? If it is less than desirable, consider purchasing a reliable purifier bottle and/ or boiling your water before consumption - also check with the organization with which you’ll be trabveling.? They may make arrangements for potable water.
3. ? ? ? Understand your accommodation options.? Depending on the project and the host organization, your accommodations could range from homestays, to shared accommodations, to hotels, and guest houses. The organization will normally offer one of these options but not multiple.? Understanding and being agreeable to the arranged accommodations will help you feel more content during your stay.
4. ? ? ? Understand the true cost to your trip.? The average cost of volunteering abroad is $688 per week according to some online sources.? This is a drastic difference from the $1,008 per week average international vacation travel cost.? The fees paid often support the work of the organization.?
There are organizations that offer volunteer opportunities for less depending on the area or region you would like to go and the causes you would like to support.? Additionally, some of the cheaper programs may require you to be there longer to receive the reduced price.? We encourage you to do your research just like any type of travel.? The cheapest options are not always the best. It is important to weigh the outcomes of the program and what is included in each volunteer package.
Volunteering internationally can be a great way to live out your generosity, giving time, talent, and money to support causes that you care about while at the same time expanding your own cultural experiences.? Doing your research and working with a reputable organization like Let’s Do It Amigos can help ensure that the time you spend is impactful for humanity and for yourself.