Are you tired of casual vacationing and wish to do more than just sit on a beach or trek to the mountain? If your answer is yes and you are looking for a more meaningful adventure, you could travel and volunteer to make a difference to people’s lives.
You can travel to unusual places, meet different kinds of people, and serve others while having a life-altering experience yourself. Here are 4 particularly good destinations if you’d like to make a difference.
1. Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
Poaching and habitat destruction have led to near-extinction of much of the wildlife in Malawi. The government here has started an intensive conservation program to save iconic species like the rhino, leopard and hyena.
What You Can Do
You can volunteer at the Majete Wildlife Reserve and help the researchers at the park collect data they require to manage the park and ensure that all the species of animals being reintroduced thrive.
You will also get to visit nearby villages and teach children about conservation of wildlife. Your contribution will make the reserve a healthier and safer place for Africa’s animals.
2. Barlad, Romania
Romania is the country of soaring mountains, monasteries, and medieval towns. Writers, musicians, and inventors have lived here and thrived through a tumultuous past.
Romania, however, suffers from the highest rate of child poverty in the entire world. There is a constant need for volunteers to improve the state of health, education, and living conditions of impoverished and orphaned Romanian children.
What You Can Do?
Volunteer work in Romania is focused on ‘at-risk’ and ‘disabled’ children. You can volunteer for taking care of at-risk children or teaching English in classrooms. You can offer assistance to the nursing staff and help them take care of children, especially those who have hearing or sight impairment.
You’ll most likely be staying in a double-occupancy room with running water, private bathroom, a telephone and television. In your free time, you could shop in the nearby towns, hike in the countryside, or attend a soccer game.
3. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Children in Mongolia are facing environmental, social and economic challenges and the smallest bit of aid can make a big difference here. A volunteer vacation will help you contribute and help children in extreme situations.
Unemployment, poor wages, and poverty have led to an increasing number of abandoned children in the country. The capital city of Ulaanbaatar is filled with homeless children, who find refuge in orphanages or on the streets and meeting the most basic needs of survival for them is a huge challenge.
What You Can Do?
You can volunteer at an orphanage to help relieve the pressure on the staff and contribute your time and efforts to the betterment of children who live there.
Your schedule and duties will depend upon the age-group of children you serve and will involve everything from personal care, helping with homework, giving lessons in English, helping with hygiene, job hunting etc.
4. Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Fayetteville in Arkansas is a town steeped in military tradition and home to one of the country’s largest veteran hospitals. The veteran hospital can always use volunteer power for a lot of tasks ranging from patient assistance to greeting visitors and pushing around the library cart.
If you have a driver’s license, you could drive the shuttle van too. Much of your work here would involve helping and taking care of former military personnel, mostly senior citizens.
What You Can Do?
You can be the smiling face behind the coffee cart or bring magazines and book cart to the patients and visitors, or you could drive disabled patients to clinic appointments and escort wheelchair bond patients around.
You could also help the administrative staff answer calls, maintain records, and greet patients and visitors. However, there are no travel, lodging or meal arrangements for visiting volunteers, so contact the hospital to let them know you wish to serve before you get there.
Buy Travel Insurance
If you wish to contribute towards a noble cause, find the right time, book your tickets and fly to any of these destinations. However, while planning your trip, you have more to consider than just the price of an airline ticket and hotel. You must also buy travel insurance, which could be useful if:
- Your trip is cancelled or delayed
- You lose your baggage or passport
- You face any medical emergency during travel
- You have to extend your stay due to an emergency
Having coverage for every imaginable situation will allow you to relax and enjoy your trip. You can purchase travel insurance India policy which will provide coverage when you visit domestic or international destinations and make a difference to people’s lives. This travel insurance India policy will reimburse you for any loss during your trip.
There is nothing as satisfying as going on altruistic travel. So, pack your bags, reach your destination, help people and give your life a real meaning!
