Voluntouring Travel. With Purpose. Immerse yourself in a culture. Connect with people. Make a difference.

Voluntouring programs are incredible journeys through remarkable destinations, combining unique travel opportunities with meaningful volunteer work. Spend some time helping people in need in the regions in which you travel, and really experience the authenticity of a place, engaging with the people and the culture. At the end of your journey, you will find that despite all you have given, you have received much more. In fact, you may even find that while you were helping to change the world, the experience has changed you.

To read about the last voluntouring program to El Salvador… as featured in Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon's article in Saltscapes Magazine (November 2007), click here.

Outline of a Voluntouring Program
Alongside a team of about a dozen like-minded individuals, you will work in partnership with the local people and see the difference that you can make with your time, your money, and your compassion. Each program starts with an orientation about the local culture, history, religion, and issues. Then, approximately one week is spent working alongside local people on a volunteer project that is led by the local host community and in line with the community’s needs and goals. As a participant, you and your teammates are there simply to lend a hand, and by doing so, you contribute to the development and self-sufficiency of the community and its people. But it’s not all work and no play. Each program includes time for rest and relaxation and time to take part in local activities in the community, and each program concludes with a 3-5 day sightseeing tour that includes the most significant sites in the region.

No experience is required, and this experience is like no other.
No special skills or previous experience is required to participate in a voluntouring program. However, it is important to note that on all of these programs, you are joining a community and living the way the locals in your destination do. Accommodation in the community in which the volunteer project occurs is very modest, meals are very basic, and you may be asked to participate in the preparation of meals and other chores. In addition to accommodation, meals and local transportation, the cost for each program includes a direct donation to the host community’s volunteer project.

The world is waiting for you.
Many parts of the world are in need of helping hands, and our voluntouring programs are designed to take you where your help is most needed. They are arranged with well-established service groups and organizations, such as SalvAide International, that have a local presence in the destination in which the program is offered. Projects that are included in our voluntouring programs may involve:

• Social & Economic Development in local communities
• Construction: building new homes for individuals and families
• Community: improving living conditions in an area
• Conservation: protecting endangered wildlife and the natural world

Is Voluntouring for you?
To participate in a voluntouring program, no experience is required. All you need is your enthusiasm; your desire to leave traditional travel behind and immerse yourself in the culture of a third world country; and your willingness to make a difference in the lives of others. There is no maximum age limit, and participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All participants must be in good health. On some programs, especially construction programs, strenuous manual labour is often required.

Fast Facts: Voluntouring…

• Doesn’t require special skills or experience
• Provides a familiarity with places and people that conventional trips cannot
• Offers a camaraderie that comes from working in small groups of like-minded individuals
• Is not all work and no play – free time is built in to enjoy local sights
• Raises money and offers hands-on help
• Allows you to assist the local economy of the area you are visiting and helps the community achieve self-sufficiency
• Lets you develop new skills and gain a unique set of experiences
• Is an experience you and the people you impact will never forget

Health & Personal Safety
The health and safety of team members on a voluntouring program is always a priority. We keep informed of the latest travel advisories from each country for which programs are planned. However, it is the participant’s responsibility to understand the associated risks and make the final decision to participate with a team.