Lesli's Lists: Voluntourism

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. We all have these amazing travel experiences and then come home wishing we could have immersed ourselves on a deeper level. Voluntourism is a way to do this. Whether you have just a week, or longer, make a positive impact through your travels by making use of your everyday talents – care for wildlife, work with children, build and renovate or teach English. The following are some ideas on how to widen your horizons and have the time of your life doing it:

• Hanoi, Vietnam: Mix your exciting visit to Vietnam with a more meaningful experience by making a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children while lending a hand at the Thuya An Rehabilitation Centre.
• Sri Lanka: See the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer and get hands on experience at a primate conservation camp. Track monkeys in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.

• Galapagos: Base yourself on a biological station whose aim is to help preserve the natural habitat of the island and introduce new organic farming methods to the islanders.
• China: Volunteer at the largest Panda reserve in the world and help ensure these distinctly Chinese icons are around for future generations to admire.

• Nepal: Volunteer at a community project deep in the heart of the Kathmandu Valley and experience local life in a way that will be hard to forget.
• Cambodia: Play a small part in a very large and ongoing mission to help develop this confounding kingdom and provide much needed care and attention to young children on this exciting project. You’ll help to create an educational and fun environment for the local children of Phnom Penh, as well as supporting the children’s nutrition and health.

• Rio, Brazil: Volunteer in a Samba School in preparation for Carnival. Activities range from helping decorate floats and making costumes to helping build the stage.
• South Africa: A once in a lifetime chance to do hands-on work with African elephants and be involved in the inner workings of this elephant park in South Africa. You’ll get to experience many aspects of the park by helping the elephant handlers with daily tours, feeding any baby elephants that need hand feeding, food preparation for the adults, general maintenance, research and environmental education.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

        - Mahatma Gandhi