 |
| ciku and chiru while helping to watch over the household goats |
As a traveler, you have two
choices: You can buy an all-inclusive package, never step foot off the
resort, or you can venture outside your comfort zone, leave a place
better than you found it, and return with a refreshing new perspective.
Are you one of the many looking for something off the beaten path, outside of the tourist areas?
Traveling with Oloi changes your perspective on life and on what the
purpose of a vacation could really mean.
When
Celeste Herbert decided to go on a volunteer trip to Cambodia, she
never expected to feel so refreshed and invigorated after spending two
weeks building a home, latrines, and community garden with a dozen other
volunteers and local workers in the impoverished village of Chamcar
Bei. “It was more than just a beach vacation,” says Celeste, an account
supervisor at an advertising agency and an avid traveller, “I was
looking for something off the beaten path, outside of the tourist areas,
and I found it. This trip changed my perspective on life and on what
the purpose of a vacation could really mean.”
Celeste is just one of thousands of philanthropic travellers who have
added a new element to their vacations – helping others in need.
According to a recent United Nations report, this concept of
interweaving short-term travel and volunteering, often referred to as
voluntourism, has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past
decade.
[1]
No longer limited to gap year students or skilled professionals, there
are voluntourism opportunities available for just about anyone, so long
as you’re willing to put in some sweat equity and a week or two of your
time. Numerous organizations exist to facilitate these trips, including
the one Celeste used, our non-profit organization
- See more at: http://www.travelculturemag.com/voluntourism-the-benefits-to-travelling-with-a-purpose/#sthash.4ISAqTOH.dpuf
When
Celeste Herbert decided to go on a volunteer trip to Cambodia, she
never expected to feel so refreshed and invigorated after spending two
weeks building a home, latrines, and community garden with a dozen other
volunteers and local workers in the impoverished village of Chamcar
Bei. “It was more than just a beach vacation,” says Celeste, an account
supervisor at an advertising agency and an avid traveller, “I was
looking for something off the beaten path, outside of the tourist areas,
and I found it. This trip changed my perspective on life and on what
the purpose of a vacation could really mean.”
Celeste is just one of thousands of philanthropic travellers who have
added a new element to their vacations – helping others in need.
According to a recent United Nations report, this concept of
interweaving short-term travel and volunteering, often referred to as
voluntourism, has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past
decade.
[1]
No longer limited to gap year students or skilled professionals, there
are voluntourism opportunities available for just about anyone, so long
as you’re willing to put in some sweat equity and a week or two of your
time. Numerous organizations exist to facilitate these trips, including
the one Celeste used, our non-profit organization
- See more at: http://www.travelculturemag.com/voluntourism-the-benefits-to-travelling-with-a-purpose/#sthash.4ISAqTOH.dpuf
 |
| 2nd year in form two |
Being a socially responsible traveler doesn’t mean you have to spend
two weeks laying bricks instead of daydreaming on the beach.
You can
relax at your dream destination and still make a positive impact on the
local economy and your worldview.
If you haven’t experienced a culture personally, it’s easy to write
off an entire country as “impoverished” or “politically unstable,”
when each place has its own complex history and social
structure. Seeing
areas’ hardships, customs, and attitudes can inspire you to give back
in a variety of ways.
You don’t have to make your vacation an all-out service trip to gain
insight and contribute to improving the local economy. Sometimes, just
immersing yourself in the culture and staying open to new experiences is
enough to achieve a larger benefit .If you open your eyes and see how things are different outside your home country, you have a better understanding of how the world works, as well as what projects or social causes you might support.
There are plenty of socially responsible vacations that don’t require
you to dig a well or build roads.
What do you get by making social responsibility a priority on
vacation? It might be cliché, but it truly is possible to leave a place
better than you found it. Boosting the economy by supporting local
businesses is like making an investment in that country. It helps
everyone who lives there, and hopefully, it will be a better place when
you return.
 |
| happy after teaching an English volunteering session |
Traveling to new places and soaking up other cultures makes you a
more well-rounded individual. Perspective gained from travel can help
make you more socially conscious when you conduct business, and you can
bring the lessons you learn abroad back to family and co-workers.
we
have seen firsthand how volunteering abroad can positively impact those
living in developing world. Communities are provided with increased
human and financial resources and improved facilities.[2] While some
voluntourism critics argue that volunteers take away work from locals,
in reality, many of these projects could not be completed or even
started by the community without funding from volunteers. Developing
World Connections actually employs local workers who play a vital role
in project completion. We also use local resources, products, and
construction techniques, such as using water levels instead of laser
levels. - See more at:
http://www.travelculturemag.com/voluntourism-the-benefits-to-travelling-with-a-purpose/#sthash.4ISAqTOH.dpuf
At Oloi we have seen firsthand how volunteering can positively impact those living
in the developing world. Communities are provided with increased human and
financial resources and improved facilities. While some people may
argue that volunteers take away work from locals, in reality, many of these
projects could not be completed or even started by the community without
funding from volunteers.
So,
what about benefits for the volunteer? What makes volunteering abroad worth
taking? For one, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of knowing your
financial and physical resources have helped someone in need to achieve the
means for a better, brighter future. Unlike donating money online to an aid
agency, volunteering abroad gives you the unique opportunity to see your
dollars at work in the form of a new school, educated children, or irrigation
system. Plus, volunteering abroad often allows you to work side-by-side with
locals, experiencing a country’s culture in its truest form.
International
volunteers frequently gain new or enhance existing skills. Finally,
voluntourism offers a rare opportunity for people to make connections with
members of the global community they might never get the chance to meet
otherwise. These connections foster a new sense of international
awareness and understanding, which helps build stronger, more caring
communities across the planet
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already on a mission to be
mindful of your decision-making. That will spill over into being
socially responsible at whatever latitude you find yourself. If nothing
else, the act of travel promotes greater understanding, leading the way
toward a better world. Go on vacation. Be a part of it.
BOOK NOW
