The popularity of “volunteer vacations” is hard to ignore. I have a clear bias towards the benefits of seeking out meaningful volunteer opportunities while abroad because I’ve been working for an NGO that offers these kinds of international travel programs for many years, and I’ve seen powerful, transformative results for both travelers and host communities. […]
volunteer travel
Voluntourism: Do they really need our help?
In this month’s National Geographic Traveler, Costas Christ questions the ever-blossoming voluntourism industry in his article, The Giver’s Conundrum. As both a traveler and a staff member at a non-profit volunteer travel organization, this is something I think and talk about almost every day. The questions that come up are completely valid and, in my […]
Thailand’s Andaman Coast Thrives Following the Tsunami
Sunday marks the six year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that swept through southeast Asia. It’s a day that always sticks in my mind, as I was in southern Thailand when the tsunami occurred, and the ensuing mourning that took over the country is still palpable to me. But Thais are resilient people, always looking […]