Revolution GrayIf you like to travel as much as you like to volunteer, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy both together. Want to discover new places around the world while giving something back to the communities you are visiting? Here are eight ideas:
#1: Kerala, Southern India
This is a great way to visit India. At Kerala, located in Southern India, there are numerous children ranging between 3 and 16 years old who would love your teaching abilities. You can take your free time to enjoy the region and explore the backwaters of Cochin and explore Alleppey. You won’t want to miss the Munnar Tea Plantations as well as the Kovalam or the Varkala beaches, which are not only great to relax but are safe to swim in.
#2: Kolkata, East India
India is a poor country with many inequalities. The truth is that women still aren’t seen as equal to men. And this is why this volunteer program is centered on the women’s empowerment in India. During your stay, you’ll be dealing with women’s colleges, community centers, schools, and orphanages. This program’s goal is to provide English language lessons to the women who live in this region . This will allow them to teach their kids better and communicate with members outside of the community as well as get high-paid jobs.
In your free time, you need to make sure that you go to the Sundarban jungles where you may actually see a tiger, visit the famous tea town of Darjeeling, or explore the Himalayan foothills.
#3: Peru
If you’re considering South America to travel and volunteer at the same time, you’re going to love it. Most volunteering programs are located in Cusco, which was once the capital of the Inca Empire.
There are numerous volunteer programs there, so you just need to choose the one that appeals you most. While you’re there, make sure to pay a visit to Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu. In case you prefer to see other things, you can also enjoy Peru’s coastline, culture, history, and amazing architecture.
#4: South Africa
If you’ve ever dreamed about traveling to Africa, this is a great opportunity to visit a beautiful place and still give back to the local community. Most South Africa volunteer programs aim to empower women by offering them education, life skills, and income opportunities.
Even though the global situation has improved, there is still huge inequality in South Africa. And this is why your help is so important. Some of the volunteer programs you’ll find work in the Limpopo Province, a rural area, and the volunteer programs aim to teach women to develop their skills in order to handcraft products and sell them.
During your free time, you can take the opportunity to do an overnight safari camping trip at the Kruger National Park. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy nature, and you may even have the chance to spot a rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo, or lion. Plus, don’t miss the Blyde River Canyon.
#5: Costa Rica, Mexico, or Belize:
If you’re in love with Central and South America, that you’re going to love the Oceanic Society Expeditions volunteer programs. And if you like to be in contact with nature and animals, this is definitely a plus.
All their volunteer programs aim to support ocean conservation. From doing coral and shark research in Palau, dolphin research in Mexico, or sea turtle research in Costa Rica, among others, this is the right program for you.
#6: Helping At-Risk Children and Their Families:
In case you just don’t have a perfect spot that you’d like to visit at this moment, one of the best things you can do is to look at the different volunteer programs available at Global Volunteers. They are present in 19 countries, and they aim to help children and their families have a better life. From caring for these children to teaching English or doing some public health care assistance, you can find a way to help.
#7: Numerous Volunteer Programs:
While you may still don’t know what place you want to visit, you have, without any question, a lot of skills that you can pass to others. And this is exactly what the GVI—Global Vision International—is looking for. They have a wide range of volunteer programs that include animal care, child care, teaching, and health care, among others. One of the best things about their programs is that you’ll have the time to visit the place and still learn some new skills.
#8: Present in more than 20 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand), Projects Abroad also has numerous volunteer programs that you can participate in. You are the one who decides where you want to go, when, and for how much time. Some of their most popular programs include nursing and medical projects, cultural and archaeological preservation, environmental conservation, care work in orphanages, and teaching English.