TRAVEL THERAPY

One of the top travel trends right now is volunteer vacations and that’s why an entire chapter of my TRAVEL THERAPY BOOK, coming out in the Spring 2009, is dedicated to this inspiring new way to travel.  

 So how do you find the right group to travel with? First of all you need to research the different volunteer organizations offering volunteer vacation to make sure you pick the group that fits your time frame, budget and goals for giving back.

I found the Ambassadors for Children (AFC) program top-rated for volunteer vacations where the focus is helping children so decided to go with AFC for my first volunteer vacation experience and it was everything I expected and much more! AFC offers dozens of different trips around the world but a new trip to Malawi, where you volunteer at the Mtendere Orphanage, is one of the highlights.

This volunteer vacation is about two weeks long and is 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.

Some other volunteer organizations I’ve heard good things about that offer some interesting volunteer vacations include: 

*Volunteer Adventures

*Goabroad

*Cross Cultural Solutions

*Habitat for Humanity 

Again, be sure to do the research and try to find the right fit.

Ask the organization you’re interested in if they have any former volunteers who you could talk to about their experience and be sure to ask any questions you might have. Volunteer Vacations are a physical, financial and emotional investment so be sure to choose the trip that’s just right for you!