Aid Organizations

Global Volunteer Network

Global Volunteer Network Volunteer in Kenya with Children

Image source: Globalvolunteernetwork.org

It’s a wonderful thing when entrepreneurs discover an important niche, especially when that niche serves the greater public good. Over the past few weeks I’ve explored several volunteer networks: sites that connect volunteers with projects that need their help. I don’t think we can ever have enough of these networks. With so many volunteer/voluntour opportunities out there, no single site can serve them all. These sites are critical for the industry. As we’ve explored before, they work like filters, sorting the good from the bad. And they also give volunteers a voice, allowing them to share their experiences and to continue giving back to the organizations they support. One of the volunteer organizations I found while researching one of these sites (GoOverseas.com) was Global Volunteer Network (GVN), a company that places volunteers worldwide. They have placed over 15,500 volunteers over the past 10 years.

Charity: Water

Charity: Water Poster - 4,500 Children Will Die Today From Water-Related Illnesses

Image source: Provoc.net

Water is perhaps our most essential resource. It comprises 60% of the human body, 70% of the human brain. Worldwide, a billion people lack access to clean water and yet, in the US, we waste it watering our suburban lawns, taking luxurious baths, letting it run when we brush our teeth, or filling our swimming pools. We waste more resources when we bottle water and pay exorbitant amounts of money for the privilege of drinking it. Industrially, we use obscene amounts of water to cool waste, pressure-wash equipment, or filter materials. According to Water.org, an American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day. Clearly, this is unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous. A billion is a difficult number to conceptualize: try one in nine.

Globe Aware: Adventures in Service

A Globe Aware Initiative in Ghana

Image source: Jessieonajourney.com

I always wonder how much volunteer/voluntour organizations listen to their volunteers. It seems like a no-brainer—the volunteers are on the ground doing the job, they’re a voluntour organization’s bread and butter—and yet, in many cases considering the opinions of the volunteers is an afterthought. Voluntour organizations have a lot to think about. They’re managing projects in communities where local people may or may not agree with their methods. They’re fundraising, politicking, and promoting their companies. Still, at the heart of every good volunteer organization are the volunteers themselves.

When Ecotourism Meets Voluntourism

Earthwatch Expedition

Image source: Gizmag.com

The more I read about voluntourism, the more I realize how in-demand eco-friendly projects have become. In part, I’m sure this is a result of trends: caring about the Earth has become a popular culture movement, and that’s great. But whenever something becomes popular, it also becomes the focus of our capitalist machine. Part of me squirms at the idea that something so important would be co-opted by an industry to make money. It’s my idealistic side. I still feel, deep in my heart, that we should all do things for the purity of them, not for the industry. I know I’m being naïve and impractical. The more people who care about the Earth the better, regardless of how they go about spending their money. Still, I am hyper aware of the interplay: ideology vs. capitalism. It’s a puzzling tension and I think being aware of it makes us more critical consumers, and that’s important.

Groupon Grassroots: Deals for Voluntouring

A Map of Groupon Grassroots' Earth Day Projects, Nationwide

Image source: Grassroots.groupon.com

You may be familiar with Groupon, the online company that offers daily local deals to consumers. It’s a great service. For example, mine was a tale of woe. I’ve always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon but at $375 dollars, I couldn’t justify the expense. I never thought I’d get up there, soaring above the tree tops. Enter: Groupon. I’ve used it for all sorts of purchases, from bed sheets to Beach Boys tickets, and I’m not alone. Groupon partners with businesses to offer outstandingly deep discounts on valuable goods and services. Until yesterday, that’s all I knew about the company. As it happens, Groupon has dipped its inexpensive and convenient foot into the world of voluntouring, to rave reviews.