Building Communities and Friends

Volunteering is something i've always felt as a rewarding gift you can give someone else and yourself. In Jessica Courtney's "Volunteers for Peace: Making Travel More Meaningful," she takes a look at the organizatoin Volunteers for Peace. Volunteers for Peace is a inexpensive travel oppotunity for any adult who wishes to make a difference at any location around the world.

They offer placement in more than 3000 projects, often referred to as work camps, in more than 100 countries every year. VFP also organizes 50-60 service projects in the United States each year. Some of the most popular destinations for volunteers in 2007 included Italy, France, India, Thailand, Kenya and Vietnam. Many different kinds of work are available, including environmental protection, working with children and orphans, and historic preservation, to name a few.

Hogar Urpi provides shelter for boys who have been abandoned by their families, or who have been removed from their homes by the state. “Our goal was to do activities with the boys that would be something they could use in the future,” said Chang. “Something that would help them in a long-term way.” The program lasted two and a half weeks. Each day Chang arrived at the home around nine in the morning to help the boys with homework, get them ready for school, and engage them in planned activities, such as English lessons, cooking, gardening, athletics, circus activities, and photography.

Laurie Eggett Goundeiah participated in her first VFP project in Bojnice, Slovakia in 2004. The goal was to improve the landscaping at Bojnice Castle. “I decided to volunteer abroad with my first work camp in Slovakia because I had frequent flyer miles I wanted to use, but didn’t have any friends with the financial means to travel with me,” she said. “With Internet browsing I found the Volunteers For Peace website and realized it would be a good way to travel alone. I would be involved with people there, in a meaningful project, and have food and boarding for two weeks for only $250.”

Goundeiah was glad that the project allowed her to understand the conflict. “My eyes were opened to things outside my safe and happy life in America,” she said. However, her favorite part of both projects was meeting the other volunteers. “I have made friends from South Korea, England, France, Slovakia, Belgium, Italy, Palestine, Hong Kong, and Jordan,” she said. “They have been lasting friendships.”

Travel and Save the World While You're At It

If you have the travel bug, why not lend a helping hand while you're at it? Better yet, why not do it for practically free? I love to volunteer, almost as much as I love traveling. It brings a feeling of good and humility that is truly indescribable. Here is a website that gives a handful of options for those itching to make a difference in the world. Enjoy the excerpts!


"The chance to give something back, an opportunity to share your skills and knowledge, to meet other travellers or simply to meet the locals…

There are many reasons to volunteer while you’re travelling and there are literally thousands of charities and organisations that look for help from passing travellers."



"WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), Worldwide

Board and lodging is offered in exchange for a days’ work on the farm. Stays available from one week to many years, and with thousands of hosts available in 53 countries there is an opportunity suitable for everyone."


"Help Exchange, Worldwide

- www.helpx.net - A website that lists worldwide hosts that are looking for an extra pair of hands; whether it be in their farm or garden, working in schools or on religious projects, building houses or community centres to simply helping a family take the kids to school."


"Kibbutz Volunteer, Israel - www.kibbutzvolunteer.com - An area that is rarely out of the news, Israel offers superb community but complicated politics.

Being a volunteer gives you the opportunity to experience this region first hand while living as part of a socialist community where everything is provided. The region also serves as a good base from which to explore the Middle East and North Africa."

A Positive Outlook: Volunteering in Bomang'ombe

Nellie Huang tells her heart-warming story about volunteering in Tanzania, getting stuck in the mud, hitchhiking and the people she meets along the way. This is an inspiring article that must not be overlooked. Enjoy the excerpts!


"Our new friend Osle, one of the village committee members, wanted to show us his hometown. In his words, "You have to see Machame. I want to thank you for teaching our children and I want to show you my home. It’s beautiful, you won’t regret it." He was right. We would never forget this day."

"We had entered into the simple lives of the villagers in Bomang’ombe, and the hearts of children hopeful about their bright future. Within the few months of teaching in Bomani Primary School, I bonded closely with Naomi, a fellow teacher and a real friend whom I could confide in and be myself."

"Her husband Deo showed us many sides of Tanzania, even a thing or two about drinking beer in Tanzania (he sure could drink!). We shared travel tales with them, while they told us about their childhood and families."

"Not long after, Osle’s truck came to a halt. Two locals were standing by the side of the road and smiling as us. Conversations in Swahili were exchanged, and in no time, the two men were climbing up onto the truck and joining the ride. We said hi to our new travel mates. Life was as simple as this in Tanzania."

Spring break isn't just for the kids

As a student in the middle of a crazy jam packed semester full of papers, tests, and projects... spring break sounds like music to my ears! Many of my fellow students have booked cheap travel to the usual Cancun Mexico, Miami Beach, Florida or some other "hot spot" around the USA. Although my break won't be as exciting, just seeing my family and dogs is good enough for me.

But kids are not the ONLY ones who deserve a spring break vacation. Adults who work just as hard at their jobs, who put up with their kids and who barely have enough time for coffee in the morning are just as much in need of a getaway. On the front page of MSN Travel today I found the perfect article for all the non students who are interested in a week of bliss. Listed in "Spring Break Escapes for Adults," are several different types of vacation options. From your typical sandy beaches, to different cultural excursions, there are also volunteer options and international. Below is a snippet of a few of these:

During March, sun-kissed areas of the United States as well as Mexico and the Caribbean become virtually off-limits for anyone not currently affiliated with a college fraternity or sorority. Find salvation, though, with these adult-friendly getaways that offer cultural, recreational and sensory delights.

Island adventure: St. Lucia

Unlike some of its Caribbean neighbors St. Lucias has never been a prime spring-break destination, leaving grown-ups and families free to traipse through the island's tropical rain forest, bike along the ocean or ride horses across its beaches.

The island may also offer the Caribbean's best windsurfing, while Rodney Bay Marina and Marigot Bay have long been yachting favorites.

Volunteer vacation: Costa Rica

Costa Rico is well-known as an excellent entry point to Central America: safe, beautiful and home to some of the region's best beaches. The volunteer organization United Planet (http://www.unitedplanet.org) can help community-minded visitors get even more out of their Costa Rica experience by arranging a volunteer vacation.

Glam getaway: Miami

Though spring-break crowds render much of South Florida inhospitable to the over-21 group, Miami is big enough to absorb them almost invisibly. Plus, there have never been so many reasons to visit the cultural capital of the South, especially given the tremendous success of the city's Art Basel and Design Miami shows.

For more vacation option visit MSN Travel!