Voluntourism is fun, and a lot more than just feeling good about yourself

If you are traveling to a poor country, why not consider giving up some of your vacation time to changing the lives of poor people. There are plenty of charities that would welcome your time and energy, particularly as this saves them the expense of hiring local workers. It could be teaching at a school, or providing childcare at an orphanage. Alternatively, it may involve building homes for poor people, digging latrines in poor villages, or just handing out stuff. And don’t worry that you may not have the necessary expertise, experience, local knowledge, language skills, or cultural awareness to make a meaningful contribution. These are rarely required, and most of the fun actually derives from trying something you’ve never done before and learning on the spot. And the beauty is that unlike a real job, you can make it work to fit your own busy schedule, with volunteer placements ranging from an afternoon, to several weeks, or even longer.

Volunteering opportunities for travelers are opening up all the time, particularly in countries with shaky regulation and poor law enforcement. And now there are lots of agencies who, for a nominal fee, will help find a volunteer placement for you with a charity that meets your specific needs and interests.

And it’s not all work. Voluntourism is as much about socializing with similarly minded people and building self-esteem as it is about helping poor people.