'Voluntourism' a New Trend for American Vacationers
 Erin Roach - sbcbaptistpress.org
| | Ambassadors for Children provide dental treatments and supplies |
More Americans are opting to spend their vacation time participating in what Christians have known for years as mission work - building houses and schools or visiting orphanages.
The new term for this trend is "voluntourism," and some say it was spurred by the tragedies of 9/11, the Southeast Asia tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. College students are choosing charitable or humanitarian work over a week at the beach during spring break, the Associated Press reported, and baby boomers with money to spend and time to donate also are fueling the trend.
"Immersion with volunteerism is so much more than you could get by sitting on a beach or on a tour bus," Sally Brown of Ambassadors for Children told AP, adding that the number of travel organizations that offer voluntourism trips has probably doubled in the past three years.
The nonprofit Ambassadors for Children lets participants mix purpose with pleasure by boarding them at a four-star hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and allowing them to spend three of the eight days visiting an orphanage, library and preschool, AP said.
Mike Wood spent a recent vacation in Honduras, building latrines and pig pens in a village without electricity, running water or cell phone reception, AP said. He spent the days digging holes, pouring cement and cutting wood, and he managed to sneak in some visits to nearby Mayan ruins.
"It's hard work, but there's nothing to worry about," Wood, a history teacher, told AP. "No one can get ahold of you so you're not worrying about the stock market or worrying about family too much. There's no communication so it's a very nice break from the pressures of the job."
Some participants told AP that voluntourism is more draining than traditional vacations but much more rewarding.
"To see the people's faces - they were so happy we were helping them. That's something you don't forget," said Peggy Fuller, a North Carolina dermatologist who used her sabbatical to build houses in Sri Lanka.
Others spend their time working as mentors to disadvantaged youth, tutoring and learning how the less fortunate of the world live, AP reported March 29.
"You feel that you're helping people and you're also getting to learn about a different culture, whether it's West Virginia or Tanzania," Alyssa Stahl, a Chicago banker, said. |
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