Voluntourism
Though this blog is called The Eco-Traveler, not all of the posts this far have had to do with travel. As new ideas and opportunities to get involved in the community come across my path, I like to spread the word.
Throughout this blog, I will continue to post eco-friendly ideas, and provide information on access to fresh and organic products as well as service-oriented opportunities. My aim here is to expand the knowledge base of those who are interested in such things. However, I am also going to put more of a focus on programs catering to service and learning abroad.
I am an advocate of service learning and voluntourism. The difference between the two simply depends on what you take out of it. If you go abroad to volunteer on your off-time- a very noble cause- this is often referred to as 'voluntourism'. On the other hand, if you do service work with a focus on learning something about the location, culture and people in the region you are volunteering in, this tends to be called 'service learning'. There is the argument that one cannot volunteer without learning something from their foreign hosts, and so all volunteer work is service learning to some extent. I believe it boils down to your mindset. And in the end, it doesn't matter that much what you call it. Just get out there and do it.
You will see an increasing number of posts relating to specific opportunities to get involved in international service work. Some programs I have done myself (or am scheduled to participate in), some programs have been referred to me by friends, and other programs simply sound cool. Be on the lookout for projects and locations that interest you, and I will be providing links to the organizations' websites so you can explore them more in depth.
Whether you're a student looking for a gap year, an educator seeking a sabbatical project, or are simply someone trying to find a more meaningful way to spend your vacation time (however long of a vacation you might need!), there are programs out there for everyone.
If you are looking for a particular location (literally, anywhere), project duration (from one week to one year) or field of work (animal or environmental conservation, orphan assistance, women's issues, etc), comment on this page or e-mail me at askandrea@yahoo.com and I'll be happy to help you find the project that's right for you.
