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Writing to Inspire Voluntourists

A Female Volunteer with Four Tanzanian Children

Image source: Womensadventuremagazine.com

All of my research on voluntour organizations has illustrated one thing: we are all in the business of inspiring strangers. Many organizations are primarily focused on the work they do—the travel planning, liasing with local communities, establishing base-camps, and facilitating ongoing projects. Unfortunately, the business of voluntouring means publicizing your projects. It’s not enough to set up the infrastructure: you need to attract the volunteers. That’s where websites come in. We are all aware of the power of social media to help advertise a business, but many voluntour companies are also using their websites by incorporating fresh content and interactive elements to attract repeat visitors.

Worldwide Orphans Foundation: Using Partners and the Media to Make a Difference

Four Orphan Boys

Image source: Salsa.democracyinaction.org

When I try to imagine all of the needy people in this world—the poor, the hungry, the abused, victims of natural disasters, casualties of war—I always circle back around to the children. Children need. It’s the biological way of our species. Babies are born entirely helpless, relying on the love and protection of their parents. But what about children who don’t have parents? How do those innocent, defenseless creatures survive?

Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy: Our Inspiration

Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy

Image source: Roadmonkey.net

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, Steve and Joanie Wynn traveled to Tanzania. They were there to make a documentary about Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy, an organization working to refurbish classrooms at the Bibi Jann School for AIDS orphans. The Wynns were already world travelers, but this trip was special. It showed them the power of sweat equity to make a positive difference, and to connect people to each other in meaningful ways. The Wynns wanted to do more to help so they founded this site, Journeys For Good, to spread the message of volunteer travel, and to help inspire others.

Travelocity: Travel for Good

$5000 Grant for Travel for Good Winner

Image source: Wetv.com

Travelocity is one of the giants of online travel planning. Kids these days don’t go to travel agents. We don’t need third-party facilitators to book our white water rafting trips or our day hikes through the redwood forests. We do it ourselves, on the Internet. By now, most travel businesses have moved online. Those that haven’t are either catering to a very specific demographic of wealthy, typically older travelers, or they’re swiftly shooting down the out-of-business luge run. Travelocity has succeeded as a business because we all want control of our destinies. Perhaps that’s putting it dramatically but the point is made: 2012 travelers are self-possessed, savvy, and resourceful.

Cross Cultural Solutions Welcomes All Volunteers

A Young CCS Volunteer with a Child on His Back

Image source: Flickr.com

In my research over the past few months, I’ve come across an astonishingly wide variety of volunteering organizations. Many of them have a specific demographic target: college students, established professionals, the under 18 crowd, or retirees. From a business perspective, it makes good sense to choose a niche. It’s easier to plan for the needs of a specific group than for the needs of all. It’s also easier to market to one demographic—you can focus your efforts on a narrower field of publications, television programs, social media platforms or events. This strategy is ideal for the volunteer looking to find a group of similarly situated people with which to travel and work, but what about the volunteer who wants a more diverse experience?