Voluntourism
A Bowl Of Fruit
By Tyrel Nelson It was mid-January, but no snow was on the ground — an odd sight for Minnesotans. The 17 of us were actually in the verdant highlands of Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala. Teammates on a Global Village trip, we were offering our time and sweat on behalf of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (based […]
The Day I Spent Teaching In The Philippines (Without Any Warning)
What does one do when thrust into the unexpected situation of teaching a class of 57 children in the capital of the Philippines? Why, sing, of course. A trip to the Philippines is always an education, but this time I’d planned on taking things easy. Rather than sail out into the wilderness and explore some […]
Does “Voluntourism” Do Any Good?
I like the idea: combining your love of travel — something most of us do for our own pleasure — with your desire to help out the world — something that benefits others. Thus has sprung the idea of “Voluntourism” (I was hoping the term “toureering” would catch on, but no luck), where you can […]
The World Of Philanthropic Travel: Volunteering Abroad
All destinations have a dual nature. In Guatemala there is the Guatemala that is shown to tourists, and then there is the other Guatemala. In the Northern jungle region of the country, tourists marvel at Tikal, a breathtaking parked filled with ruins of Mayan pyramids. Not far from Tikal, in garbage dumps across the country, […]
Ever Wonder What Volunteering In Cambodia Is Like?
Volunteering abroad is full of highs and lows. Choosing to do that in Cambodia, one of the least developed countries in the world, has it’s own set of issues. Seeing the body pits from the genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime, to the ever cheerful village children, Lauren Dickerson (not her pictured above) sits down for an […]
Global Recession? Time To Volunteer Abroad
I can see no better way to deal with the financial crisis than to completely ignore the whole thing and use it as an excuse to go ahead and do what you’ve had in the back of your mind for years: volunteer abroad. Please note, this last statement was intended for most everyone, except for […]