Finding organizations that match your current interests is a powerful way to begin integrating community service into your travels. However, independent volunteering includes a lot of variables; things can go wrong so you need to ask yourself if you have the time on your trip to be valuable and of use. If you don't have much time or have other goals for your vacation, it's okay to admit a trip is better suited to visiting then providing aid. Go. Enjoy. Learn the culture and invest your tourism dollars in the local communities. As one of the first luxury lines to fully embrace the notion of combining meaningful and educational tourism with adventure travel, Crystal Cruises offers a complimentary "You Care. We Care" Voluntourism Adventure on every itinerary (where possible). The "You Care" element offers the opportunity to make a difference in the places you visit at a local level, while the "We Care" portion represents Crystal's own investment in preserving precious historical sites around the world. These adventures focus on hands-on volunteer efforts with no obligation of financial donations. With the goal of improving destinations for future generations, Crystal Voluntourism Adventures allow guests to directly contribute to a need or cause specific to the community you are visiting. Micato Safaris guests get an opportunity to see just how much of an impact "AmericaShare" is having. Through the "Lend a helping Hand on Safari Programme", every Micato guest in East Africa can spend a few hours at "AmericaShare" projects during their safari. You might discover the significance of a grain mill, bore-hole and sewing machine to an impoverished community's survival; or share jokes with youngsters; plant a tree; or simply be a bridge of information and exchange between cultures. You get a glimpse of a different side of Africa, and can see firsthand how African communities are surviving against daunting odds. For many Micato guests "Lending a Helping Hand on Safari" is the highlight of their trip. Lives have been changed...not just the children's. Our thoughts and hearts are with Nepal as they recover from the earthquake's devastating destruction. Should you wish to give to the relief efforts, Ker & Downey suggests supporting Convoy of Hope and Charity Water. 800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ [email protected]
