Author: Developer

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The Crocodile Hunter’s Legacy: Volunteering Aboard the Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin Holding a Young Crocodile

Image source: Masey.com.au

While some people might think it silly, one of the people I admire most is the late, great Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter. Yes, he was goofy and flamboyant. Sure, he hammed it up for the cameras. But when it came down to caring, generosity, and real work to make a difference, Irwin was a hero. While he wasn’t a volunteer himself—Irwin ran his family’s Australia Zoo—he welcomed volunteers from all over the world, encouraging them to learn about the Australian wildlife, and to spread his message of conservation.

Researching Your VolunTour: Follow the Money

Volunteer with Four Children in South Africa

Image source: Blog.geovisions.org

After yesterday’s post I started to do some digging. I was looking for information about scam voluntour opportunities and unfortunately, I found a very long list. It makes a whole lot of sense. By definition, many of these opportunities are in impoverished areas. These areas are home to many desperate people who see foreign voluntourists walking through town and think, “hey, I’m starving and those people have money to burn.” A desperate person sees that as an opportunity for personal financial gain, which may truly mean the difference between life and death. It’s hard to get enraged by desperate people doing desperate things.

Being Realistic: Avoiding Scam Voluntours

A Young Girl Looking in the Mirror

Image source: Thestir.cafemom.com

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I have this existential crisis moment. I think, “that’s me in there… behind those eyes.” It’s the kind of thing you can’t think about every day or you’d go crazy—that you’re whole self, everything you are, is totally contained inside your skull. But it’s true. Everyone must think about that sometimes, and to think about it is to realize how fragile we are, how strange it is to be self aware, and how important it is to protect that delicate shell that we reside within for the entirety of our existence. For that reason I suppose we are all motivated by a certain self-interest. We are all concerned about our own survival.

VolunTouring For Empty-Nesters

Empty Nest Volunteers Traveling Abroad

Image source: Wrvs.org.uk

There is no platonic form for a voluntourist. While we may imagine the “gap-year” 18-year-old first, the reality is that many of the most prolific and committed voluntourists are well outside that demographic. Volunteering at any age is a rewarding experience, but if you happen to be a bit older with grown children, it may be deeply personally healing as well.

What to Look Out For: Potential VolunTouring Problems

Kathy Mcphail in Uganda

Image source: Buyanet.ca

As we’ve discussed on the blog over the past few weeks, voluntouring is a potentially life-changing experience for both the volunteer and the people she helps. It is a real, accessible option for people with full lives, families, and tight budgets. The voluntour opportunities out there are as varied as the people of the world. Of course, with such an overwhelming number of voluntour organizations in operation, some of them are bound to be better than others. Here are some important things to look for when planning your voluntour.