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Volunteer vacations combine travel and philanthropy, offering opportunities for teaching, healthcare, animal conservation, construction, and more. Anyone can participate, and some programs offer travel arrangements and discounts. Costs vary, but part or all may be tax deductible.
For many, an ideal vacation means lazy days at the beach or powder skiing. For some, volunteering to improve the lives and communities of others is a fulfilling vacation. Many people are unaware that they can combine giving with travel and maybe even some relaxation. A volunteer vacation is a way to get away from the daily grind while also satisfying those philanthropic impulses. Students looking to make the most of their gap year are eligible for a volunteering holiday, as well as an established professional taking a gap year. There are endless opportunities to volunteer around the world, no matter what your talents, background, or personal cause.
A volunteer vacation can be anywhere from one to 40 weeks, can be anywhere from Ecuador to Mississippi, and can be anything from education to healthcare to construction. If your passion is teaching, the need for native English speakers is abundant around the world. Teaching skills may be needed in other areas such as math, sign language or basic life skills. Many if not most teaching volunteer vacations do not require the volunteer to be a certified teacher.
For those who love animals, there are volunteer vacations for whale watching, sea turtle and their habitat rescue, and chimpanzee rescue efforts, among many others. Conservationists may want to get involved in saving the rainforest, protecting coral reefs and wetlands, preserving hiking trails, and volunteering organic farming vacations.
Compassionate volunteers with a soft spot for children can find plenty of plans for a volunteer vacation. Countries all over the world have orphanages and hospitals overflowing with sick children. There are programs where volunteers can help care for children with HIV and AIDS, cancer and deformities. Project Smile has missions around the world for plastic surgeons and doctors who want to help correct facial deformities. Doctors Without Borders offers numerous volunteer vacation opportunities for qualified medical professionals. Many countries lack basic medical care for the majority of their population, and without programs like this, easily treatable diseases would become rampant.
For those in construction or who just have a strong back and want to work, they can take a volunteer vacation to help build schools, housing and medical facilities in poor or devastated areas. Habitat for Humanity is a well-known charity that has ongoing projects around the world. You don’t have to be a carpenter, electrician or contractor to be useful on a construction site, but those with specialized skills are very helpful.
Anyone wishing to take a volunteer vacation can contact their favorite charity directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities, or they can find companies that help organize trips for charities around the world. Some well-organized programs will arrange travel plans, airline tickets, ground transportation, accommodations, and meals. Most volunteers take time off during their holidays to explore local attractions and culture.
The cost of a volunteer holiday varies according to the destination and the degree of services offered. For example, a one or two week trip to Ecuador can range from $2000-2300 US Dollars (USD). Student discounts are available. In addition to the reward of feeling a sense of satisfaction and a renewed sense of gratitude for your blessings, part or all of the costs of a voluntary vacation are tax deductible.
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