Have you ever been on a vacation where you felt like you were viewing the local culture through a glass wall? If you’re nodding your head “yes,” we’re not surprised. The nature of many traditional modes of travel — buses, cruises, massive group tours — can prevent you from truly experiencing new people and places. Community-based tourism, on the … Continued
People naturally seek comfort in recognition. They buy brands they’ve seen in commercials, eat in restaurants their friends have talked about, and smile at people whose faces they know. But when it comes to selecting a volunteer organization, the more recognizable names are not necessarily the best options. Big organizations of any kind are complicated; the more … Continued
It’s time to introduce you to another volunteer traveler! Remember Catherine, who traveled to Tanzania with her college-aged daughters, Deirdre, who traveled to Costa Rica with her grandkids, and John, who called his Cuba trip the best investment he’s ever made? Well now it’s time to meet Jane, a solo female traveler brimming with passion … Continued
We all love hot dogs and fireworks, but this July 4th, try something new and consider volunteering in your own backyard.
Maybe you’ve finally booked that dream volunteer vacation to an exotic country. Before you can start connecting with people and making a difference, though, there are a few important things to do — and packing is one of them! You’ve got to account for a myriad of factors like climate, personal comfort, and your daily activities. Gah! Sounds … Continued
In our bi-monthly profile series, we’ve introduced you to our founder, members of our international staff, and cool grassroots projects. This week, we’re excited to introduce you to someone who is not technically part of the Discover Corps family, but who we’re now proud to call one of our own. Her name is Barbara Weibel, … Continued
Volunteer vacations are a unique way to experience the world. For some people, they might lack some of the luxuries of more traditional vacations, like swan-shaped towels and beach-side cocktail service. But for others, volunteer vacations are the perfect type of cultural experience that opens your eyes to new places and people. Though volunteer vacations aren’t for everyone, one thing’s certain: they can leave an impression that … Continued
Are you pondering that overseas volunteer vacation with excitement? Who can blame you? We sure can’t! Once you start checking out voluntourism companies, it can be tempting to choose one with a packed itinerary that has you hopping from one point to another. Though traditional travel is about seeing as much as you can, you should be wary of … Continued
One of the ways we make sure our volunteer vacations are sustainable is by only supporting projects that are already integrated into the community. A perfect example of this is the Q’ewar Project, which we visit on our volunteer vacations to Peru. Located in the rural highlands of the Andes Mountains, this project has been operating … Continued