Save Money by Volunteering on Vacation
Five Tips for Making a Difference and Signing Up for a Volunteer Trip
If you've always dreamed of traveling to Africa, India, Vietnam, Indonesia or other exotic places around the world but it isn't in the budget, consider signing up for a volunteer vacation. The idea behind these programs is to combine sightseeing with volunteering, to make your trip more affordable.
On a volunteer vacation you're able to give back and make a difference and also learn about the community you're visiting. Here are the top five things you need to know before signing up for a volunteer trip.
How to Pick a Trip
If you've decided you're ready for a volunteer vacation but you have no idea where to begin, the first thing you need to do is figure out where you'd like to travel to and how long you want to stay.
There are now some great one- and two-week options. Once you have a destination in mind you can start researching what's offered in the area. A smart place to start is checking out Ambassadors for Children (AFC).
A leader in volunteer vacations, AFC offers programs in 20 different destinations around the globe. These trips include working with orphans in Malawi, Africa, helping street kids in Mexico, building schools in Belize and providing medical help in Jordan and Serbia. AFC's founder Sally Brown says a volunteer vacation will change your life and she encourages people to, "journey with an open mind and a gentle heart."
Some other top volunteer organizations include: Volunteer Adventures, GoAbroad, ProWorld, Cross Cultural Solutions and Habitat for Humanity.
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