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Two favorite fantasies of mine include helping to save the world and traveling the globe. But I often think of them as two separate affairs. Saving the world is hard, grueling work—requiring sweat and sometimes tears. And traveling on the other hand is a vision of fun, sun and sand.
Over the recent years however, I’ve learned that my two lofty goals can get bundled up nicely into one cool package thanks to the increasingly popular idea of volunteer vacations, where one can both escape their daily grind for a week (or more) but also spend some of their time away lending a helping hand to a community in need.
Whether your regular schedule doesn’t allow consistent volunteer work, or you’re itching to get away from it all, or your jonesing for a little more meaning in life and a much-needed dose of inspiration, here are seven exotic volunteer vacation experiences that are sure to rock your eco-lovin’ socks off.
1. Earthwatch
Planet Green’s non-profit partner Earthwatch offers a plethora of expeditions where you can work with leading environmental researchers on critical issues from biodiversity to coral reef health, indigenous cultures, habitat loss and climate change. This summer and upcoming year you still have time to join tours helping to save black rhinos from extinction in Nairobi, Kenya, observing and working with meerkats in South Africa, helping to protect Pacific grey whales in British Columbia, or helping conduct urban ecosystem research in New York City.
2. SEE Turtles
Image courtesy of Burcin Tuncer/iStock
Have a soft spot for the hard shelled and ancient sea creature? Take a trip to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico or Tobago where you can help work to protect sea turtles for only a nominal fee per day ($10 and up). In addition to working with researchers and dedicated local conservationists, you’ll also have the opportunity to make friends from around the globe. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the chance to release hatchlings out to sea! Fill out SEE Turtles’ volunteer matching form to get placed in the adventure that’s best for you.
3. Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute
Ready to rock the farm life? If you’ve ever dreamt about living off the land, here’s your chance to give it a taste the tropical way. Set in the Caribbean’s St. Croix island, farmer wannabes can immerse in a farm stay retreat for a few nights ($35/night and up) or a week at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute. Volunteer in the fields and gardens, feed the chickens and the rabbits and then enjoy the fruits of their labor: farm fresh chef-prepared dinners. When you’re not getting your hands dirty in the field, lay back and enjoy the lush island life.
4. Stellaris
Image courtesy of brytta/iStock
A Christian Study Abroad travel company, Stellaris offers volunteer opportunities abroad with an education and mission-based twist. Sustainable Travel International (STI) recently highlighted there ambitious Witness in Africa program, where travelers can at once vacation in Tanzania but then also help benefit the country’s local economy by providing safe drinking water by building a deep freshwater well and encouraging the building of a church that will double as a community center where women can learn sustainable practices like low-water farming and solar cooking. To sign up for their July 2010 trip click over to their application form.
5. Go Philanthropic
Socially conscious travel company, Go Philanthropic believes firmly in offering travelers authentic experiences abroad while simultaneously supporting humanitarian projects. All of which can be seen in their vacations for individuals, families and small group tours. Book a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia to bring educational tools to areas in need and visit an organization providing clean water to local villages. Or travel to Uganda for their BeadforLife and Safari Tour to check out how Ugandan women are turning colorful recycled paper into beautiful bead jewelry. You’ll be able to participate in a bead sale and engage in important health and education initiatives including working with an HIV prevention team.
6. Comunidad Connect
Image courtesy of Ammon Cogdill/iStock
If white sand beaches, surfing, and Salsa dancing all strike your fancy, couple it up with some do-gooding work as a ‘VolunTourist’ for Comunidad Connect. The non-profit’s mission is promoting sustainable development in Nicaragua’s Pacific Southwest including local community projects, a micro-savings program, a recycling program and a local sports park. Unique to this volunteer vacation however, is the ability to lodge with a Nicaraguan family as part of a homestay—an incredible opportunity to taste the local culture and food and brush up on Spanish! Choose from a series of volunteer opportunities from planting trees and beach cleanups, agricultural projects or working with rural kids. You can even pitch your own project!
7. Azafady
Image courtesy of Simone van den Berg/iStock
Based in Madagascar, Azafady works to restore its environment through tree-planting, conservation initiatives and alleviating poverty through clean sanitation, drinking water, and health care. Work alongside the NGO to set up innovative ways to sustain both the forest and local people like the construction of new and improved stoves, for instance, that require less firewood (and hence, less deforestation) and helps to promote greater health. While volunteer work is challenging, you’ll be able to spend free time up-close-and-personal with various species of lemur, touring the beautiful beaches and surrounding islands, and enjoying the one-of-a-kind culture.
Thanks to Planet Green’s non-profit partners Earthwatch and Ashoka for their very helpful volunteer vacation suggestions!
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
More on Volunteer Vacations:
Forget Vacationing: Travel through Volunteering with EcoVolunteer.org
Travel Guilt-Free Through Green Volunteerism
Are You a Green Globetrotter? (Quiz)
Volunteer Vacations on TreeHugger:
Trend: Philanthropic Travel
Los Amigos: Volunteers Vacationing with Scientists
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