Being involved with a volunteer programme can have many benefits for a young solo traveller. If your child wants to go abroad, volunteering is generally a safe alternative when it comes to travelling alone. That being said, it is still natural to be nervous, or at least caseous regarding you child taking off to a new country on their own.
One of the most beautiful things about travelling is to experience the diversity of cultures that exist in the world. This will open up your eyes and widen your perspective. Indeed, it gives you a different point of view than what you might be used to from you home country.
We have been working on the set up of a new Women's Empowerment Project in Peru. Located in Pinagua, just outside of Cusco, the project is now up and running. The project was set up to empower women from the village to have their own businesses so they are not completely reliant on their husbands. It will also allow them to have more control over their own lives.
Make the Most of Volunteering Abroad with a Digital Detox!
A digital detox means giving yourself a complete break from digital devices. This is often done to release stress and mentally refresh. It also allows you to focus on the real world and what is around you. Digital devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers have slowly worked themselves into our everyday lives, even to the point that cutting them out completely is practically impossible. Many of us are dependent on them for work and our daily routines.
With increasing possibilities to travel, more and more people decide to wander off for a holiday further away from their homes. However, a growing number of travellers wish to be more cautious about the trace they are leaving behind when exploring the world. Therefore, the interest is rising in “sustainable travel” or “green travel,” defined by the World Tourism Organisation as: “development [which] meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future.”
Solo travelling has become a common phenomenon, and according to FaceBook’s measures, solo travelling has higher interest by women than men. Travelling by yourself can be an amazing, lifechanging experience. This challenge will give you strength, confidence and memories that no one could ever take away from you.
When you’re looking for a volunteer placement overseas, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the choices. You want to work with children, and you want to do some good. But how can you be certain that your volunteer organisation of choice is really helping children?
"Voluntourism" is the merging of volunteering and tourism - the growing trend of people travelling to do some good in other communities. While not inherently bad, the term has developed negative connotations due to recent criticism in the media.
Although this criticism is sometimes accurate, voluntourism is not a black and white issue. It can therefore still make a positive difference when carried out correctly.
Preparing for your volunteer adventure can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. Trying to think about what to expect when you arrive, what the work will actually be like.
Our Volunteer Coordinator, Rosie, recently went and enjoyed her own volunteer adventure at the Peru Amazon Conservation Project! She shares her volunteer experience so that you can gain an insight into what life is like as an Amazon Conservation Volunteer.
