TRAVEL THERAPY

Copyright Karen Schaler All Rights Reserved

One of the top travel trends right now are volunteer vacations and that’s why TRAVEL THERAPY  is headed to a village in Africa this summer to take part in a volunteer program aimed at helping hundreds of orphans. Here’s what it takes to “PAY IT FORWARD” first…  

You need to research the volunteer organizations involved to make sure you pick the right group that fits your time frame, budget and goals for giving back. I’ve found the Ambassadors for Children (AFC) program is top-rated for making a difference in more than a 50-thousand children’s lives. This photo was taken by Kelly Campbell, on of AFC’s staff members.

The trip they set up to Malawi is two weeks long and offered several times of year. The hardest part is getting to this remote area in Africa but once you’re there you can start making a difference immediately working with the orphans in so many different capacities. Volunteers are told they need to be flexible because needs change so you really need to show up ready to help out wherever and whenever you can.

To go to this part of Africa you will need a host of shots and AFC can help you with what you need to do and it’s also recommended you go on the CDC’s site for the most updated immunization information. On this trip you’ll spend most of your time at Mtendere Village, one of the largest children’s homes in the country with close to 600 orphans living there. It’s estimated there are two million orphans in Malawi so there’s an ongoing need for volunteers who can give their time and love to the children who so desperately need some attention.

If you’re not able to make the trip yourself AFC says any donation, large or small can help so much. If you’re fortunate enough to be in the position to make a huge difference in someone’s life a donation of $5,000 is all it takes to build a home for the growing orphan population.

What an amazing gift to give a child, a roof over their head so they’re protected from the elements. This is a great idea if you have some friends or family wanting to give back because you can all pool your money together and even get naming rights to the home you fund with the $5,000.

Stay tuned for more on the Malawi Project coming up when TRAVEL THERAPY heads to Africa this summer.

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