Volunteer Tourism By: Amber-Starr Barbour, Andree Besisle, Bailey Langlois and Casie Winnan

What?

Why People Volunteer?  To increase their international awareness  To contextualize poverty and its affects  As an education opportunity  To help people while having a morally rewarding experience  Give to others  Hope to change the way they think when they return home

Why? Vacations have been hit hard by the recession. However, voluntourism has remained stable because it offers individuals the opportunity to take a guilt free vacation. As many volunteer vacations include tourist activities at the end of the trip, these vacations provide volunteers with an enjoyable vacation that has an enhanced value.

Who?  High School & College Students  Who use these experiences to strengthen their resumes  Travel with their friends to experience new cultures and countries.  Education opportunities/expanding knowledge  Baby Boomers who are moving into a new stage of their lives and are pursuing activities that,  Promote new meaning in their lives- balance.  Skill development.  Health benefits.

Who?  Scientific researcher's that promote and educate the action necessary to sustain natural environments.  Join people together form all parts of the world to engage in a meaningful purpose  Policies and procedures.  Educators who use the experience for an opportunity of unique learning and interactions.  Expanding individuals own understanding social and economic vitality  Arts & Culture  Geography  History

When Volunteer Tourism Started?  There was no one pivotal or defining moment that lead to the establishment of Volunteerism.  Its success is due to a number of events that have taken place to shape it growing popularity.  One major event that took place in the 1990’s was the development of the travel industry with innovative products & firms providing volunteer vacations to:  People with no experience  Young people with their growing trend of Gap Years (tacking a year off after high school before College or University.)

When Continued?  The first edition of “Volunteer Vacations” by: Bill McMillon, that promoted the awareness of over 200 non-profit organizations.  There was also a lot of emphasis on expensive & lavish trips that were becoming too excessive, in turn volunteer vacations became the more appealing option.  The increase in modern day technology helped to contribute to the popularity of volunteerism,  Internet- sending & receiving info on certain destinations that have gone through a disaster or devastation.  Photos, Blogs, Chat-Groups, Media in general generating interest.(VolunTourism.org)

Where? (Organizations)  Volunteer Vacations  Voluntourism  Volunteer Abroad  Responsible Travel  Gap Year Abroad  Projects Abroad

Countries where you can volunteer o Mexico o Jamaica o Costa Rica o Peru o Ecuador o Greece o Italy o Romania o Ghana o Tanzania o Cooks Islands o China o India o Vietnam

How to Volunteer? o The Safest way to volunteer is through well known organizations such as, Global Volunteer, International Volunteer HQ and Great Heart Travel just to name a few. o Volunteering is possible through organization which set up and start programing for individuals who wish to volunteer. o Most volunteering require some form of fundraising. Price will vary depending on where and who you volunteer with.

How Can You Find an Organization? o Most organization can be found on the web. o You can apply directly on their websites. o Organization will have multiple option on where to volunteer depending on interests