How Tourists Can Give Something Back With Volunteer Vacations

Everyone, it seems, is getting into the act.

Even cruise ships and hotels now offer guests the opportunity to volunteer. Last summer, Holland America launched the “Cruise With Purpose”: Passengers stopping in Juneau boarded research vessels to collect water samples and record ocean-temperature readings to try to predict the success of Alaska’s salmon run season. Ritz-Carlton arranges half-day volunteer activities at 74 locations: In Cancun, Mexico, guests travel to a Mayan pueblo to help renovate a school. In Jakarta, they cook and clean at a shelter for street children.

From charities to tour companies to luxury hotels to cruise ships, there’s no shortage of non-profits and for-profits willing to organize a volunteer trip for the altruistic — and paying — traveler.

“Voluntourism” has grown in popularity since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Experts cite another reason for its ascent: It’s trendy. Think Angelina Jolie touring refugee camps in Darfur.

“There’s just much more interest in reaching out and helping people in poverty,” said Genevieve Brown, executive director of the International Volunteer Programs Association, a group of nongovernmental organizations involved in volunteer work.

Voluntourism usually works best when the volunteer contributes to a well-organized project while interacting with other volunteers and local residents. But sometimes volunteers don’t have a fulfilling experience. Worse, sometimes they actually harm, not help, the community.

For instance, some voluntourism experts advise against volunteering at an orphanage, because vulnerable children can get too attached to someone who won’t stick around. Others say volunteers should make sure they aren’t taking jobs away from locals. “Any project can be harmful to the community if it’s done wrong,” said Zahara Heckscher, co-author of “How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas.”

With so many voluntourism opportunities out there, and so much that can go awry, how’s a traveler to choose?

David Clemmons, founder of VolunTourism.org, said potential voluntourists should first carefully consider their motivation. Anyone doing it just for school credit (some programs offer courses) would probably be better off getting a summer job. Anyone doing it simply to write off a vacation probably shouldn’t be a voluntourist at all, Clemmons said. (Some US voluntourists may seek a tax deduction if they pay fees to a US nonprofit organization.)

Prospective volunteers should assess their skills to figure out what they can offer. There are many different types of volunteer opportunities: educational, environmental, research-oriented, humanitarian and cultural. Volunteers should decide what kind of work they want to do and what they’re qualified to do.

“I advise people to have reasonable expectations, to understand what you will and won’t be able to accomplish in a week, and to not downplay cross-cultural exchange as a key part of the experience,” said Doug Cutchins, co-author of “Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others.”

Ask practical questions: Where do you want to go? What kind of accommodations will you tolerate? Can you handle the local food? How much time do you want to spend volunteering versus sightseeing? How long can you volunteer?

Once practical concerns are addressed, choose an organization. If you’ve decided on a nonprofit organization that does nothing but coordinate trips, do more digging: Interview someone who works for the group. Make sure you share the organization’s values, as some have overtly religious or political views.

Find out whether the organization is actually running the program in the community you are being sent to or whether it’s simply matching you with a local organization. While you shouldn’t automatically stay away from every organization that acts as what Clemmons calls a “pass-through,” you run some risks.

“At the end of the day, it’s difficult for you to have any kind of recourse because, really, there’s a disconnect between a pass-through organization and the on-the-ground organization,” he said.

But programs originating with the pass-through organizations often cost less simply because the organizations don’t have paid staff in the host community — which raises the question of cost.

Prices run the gamut from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Ask exactly what the fee covers. Some organizations cover only housing and food. Others will include transportation to and from the airport, supplies, liability insurance, evacuation insurance and more. Some include a donation to the community in the price.

The more expensive organizations often provide volunteers with more support at the project site. “It’s not necessarily the case that if you pay more money, you’re going to get a more quality experience, but in general, you are going to get more support,” Heckscher said.

Be clear about what kind of on-the-ground support you’ll be getting. If you’re volunteering abroad, will there be a bilingual staff member on-site at all times? Do they follow up with you after your trip to make sure you’re not having re-entry problems?

Find out what the organization would do if you were became ill or injured. Finally, ask to speak to former volunteers. Many organizations have Facebook pages, which you can use to find volunteers. They’re also willing to put you in touch with former volunteers, but most likely only ones who had good experiences. Talk to them, and ask them to refer you to someone who was not so pleased with the program. “The happy customer/critical customer technique,” Heckscher said. “I think that’s the way to go.” The Washington Post

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