24 Jun How to Make the Most of a Family Volunteer Trip
In the summer of 2005, I traveled to Tahiti on my first volunteer trip. I was 16 years old and my adolescent mind had not yet wrapped itself around the fact that traveling could be more than a reason to vacation. For two weeks, I spent time with other youth my age in Pape’ete, witnessing language barriers diminish in the shadow of soccer matches and other games, and learning about other kids who had the same dreams and fears as I did but lived in a completely different way. It was a challenging and transformational moment in my life that has forever changed me. I don’t have children of my own, so I don’t know a parent’s perspective on volunteering with their families, but I can attest to what it did for me when I was young.
© MissHibiscus
To better understand how families can find the best opportunities to volunteer, I contacted Shannon O’Donnell from Grassroots Volunteering. O’Donnell spent a year volunteering around the world, traveling solo and with friends and family (including her niece, whom she homeschooled while abroad). She has worked at an orphanage in Cambodia, taught English in Nepal, and partnered with a number of volunteer initiatives along the way to create an online resource for travelers. Here are some of her best tips on making the most of your family trip if you’re planning on volunteering.
Focus on the Experience First
Location, cost and duration should all be on your radar, but if your pre-teen son or daughter is not remotely interested in planting community gardens for a rural village, then you’ve lost their focus—and you’ll lose the connection. O’Donnell says, “Families should focus on an experience that best fits the age range and interests of the children. There are many projects that welcome a wide age range, and you want to have clear communication that any programs you are looking at are a good fit.”
Search and Research
Once you narrowed down what your children like and dislike, cast your net around the web to see what opportunities are available. Many online resources cater to volunteer opportunities. O’Donnell’s website, www.grassrootsvolunteering.org, has a wide range of trips with easy-to-access overviews that include cost and location. And remember, it’s important to know where your money is going amidst the rise in voluntourism scams. “Do your due diligence in asking questions and making sure your money is being spent on community-based projects,” O’Donnell advises.
Think Outside of the Volunteer Bubble
Investing your time and money into hands-on help in another state or country can be a powerful bond within families, but, as O’Donnell explains, “Not every vacation is an ideal opportunity for volunteering. Consider instead touring relevant community projects, schools, or locally-run crafts centers instead. You can still engage and support communities overseas by teaching your children how to use tourism dollars to invest in local enterprises and businesses — often this is just as rewarding for the family to tour and learn about a range of initiatives!” Many of the Adventure Collection’s member companies partner with local organizations on their trips.
Bridge That Gap Between School and Play
One of the many ups and downs of traveling with kids is keeping them academically engaged. O’Donnell traveled with her niece through Southeast Asia while homeschooling her along the way. “Homeschooling my niece overseas seemed like a bigger undertaking than the reality,” says O’Donnell. “By using online courses and the internet, we were able to connect with lessons plans and subjects being taught either by certified teachers, or I was able to easily adapt the curriculum and books to make them relevant to our travels together. I recommend picking something like reading and writing practice or history — subjects that are easily linked to international travel — and integrating them into the trip.”
Kristina Bolton
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