Smart Traveler

MANUAL

Volunteer Vacation Primer
Save a cheetah, build a school, teach a child, see the sights, hit the beach. By MANYA CHYLINSKI

No longer on the fringes of travel, voluntourism
has attracted increasing numbers of travelers
looking to learn new skills, meet people, and
give back to the global community. In a recent
Travelocity poll, 38 percent of respondents said they
planned to volunteer while on vacation; thats up from just

6 percent in 2006. People tell
me that a vacation with us is
the most meaningful experience 
of their lives, says David Minich of Habitat for Humanity.
Heres how to plan one.

THE EXPERIENCE
Go with your interests when
deciding whether to work
with people, animals, or the
environment. Most programs
dont require you to have any
special skills. Despite the
short-term nature of these
trips, you may complete a sig-
nificant task, such as building
adobe stoves in an Amazon
village. Were not solving all
the worlds problems, says
Globe Awares Kimberley Hay-
ley-Coleman. But volunteers
do make a difference.
THE RIGHT BALANCE
Do you want a volunteer job
with a little R&R? Or do you
want a vacation with a dose of
volunteering? Be honest with
yourself and make sure the
trip you choose has the right
work/play balance. In general,
nonprofit organizations focus
on the work. United Planet
volunteers in Cusco, Peru,
work in clinics, orphanages,
or after-school programs for
street children, but also have
opportunities to visit Machu
Picchu. With Travelcitys new
bite-size volunteer adven-
tures, part of its Travel For
Good program, volunteering
is more of a side activity. For
example, you can devote as
little as an afternoon working
in an animal shelter to assist
with post-Katrina recovery.

THE SElF-EXAMINATION
Explore your motivations for
volunteering. Not every pro-
gram, location, or lodging
option is right for everyone.
Know your comfort level. An
Earthwatch trip tracking dol-
phins in the Bahamas is a very
different experience than
digging foundations in rural
Mexico with Habitat. Ask
yourself what youre hoping
to get out of the experience,
says Theresa Higgs of United
Planet. Sand be realistic.

Expectations can make or
break someones experience.

THE BACKGROUND CHECK
Many U.S.-based organiza-
tions work directly in other
countries. Others are like
brokers, working with lo-
cal partners; these may have
a different level of control
and accountability over the
program on the ground, so re
search the local partners too.
Trip costs generally include

food, lodging, ground trans-
portation, and planned excur~
sions, but find out exactly
what is and isnt included.
Finally pick up the phone.
The best way to learn about a
trip is to ask-both the organi-
zation and past volunteers.

Helping hands: Teaching kids
in Brazil (above), community
work in Zambia (below): and
doing maintenance work at
Utahs Bryce Canyon (left).

Dont assume your trip is tax-deductible,
though some expenses for trips with U.S.-
based nonprofits may be. Check with the
IRS or your accountant before you book. 

RESEARCHTOOLS  The closest thing to an umbrella organization, with stringent membership requirements, is
the International Volunteer Programs Association (www.volunteerinternational.org).  Check with the Better Business Bu-
reau (www.us.bbb.org) to End reports on charities.  Confirm that an organization is a registered 501(c)3 at www.guidestar.org.


CROSS-CULTURAL SOLUTIONS (SCHOOL CHILDREN). AFRICAN IMPACT (VOLUNTEERS PAINTING).
JEFFREY D. ALLRED/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX (DRYCE CANYON). THOMAS NORTHCUT/GETTY IMAGES (HAMMER)