Pay to volunteer?

One of the most unattractive features of voluntourismthe combination of volunteer work and tourismand any volunteer work abroad is the cost. Helping people isnt always cheap.

A common misconception about volunteering abroad is that its free. On the contrary, volunteering abroad can be quite expensive. Many volunteer program costs range in the thousands of dollars, and thats usually not including airfare. Voluntourism can cost even more because of the additional tourist travel.

The reason for the high cost of volunteering is simple: volunteering doesnt pay. With the exception of government funded programs such as the Peace Corps, funding comes from the volunteers themselves. Volunteer and voluntourism organizations cant afford to pay for people to travel on their programs. The volunteers are paying for their own experience.

Why should students, who are already short on funds and buried in student loans, pay such high prices to do volunteer work abroad? The straightforward answer is its worth it. Voluntourism offers an opportunity unlike any other. The important to budget travel is to plan in front. When it happens to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new locations we have never been before, the truth of cost and budgeting is always in the back of our heads. Considering and consuming our travel budget correctly is a priority for most families. Curbing consuming and costs, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed accomplishment and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning regarding saving money while travelling is simple: Even if your personal budget is extremely tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, no matter whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel bill!. Its the chance to experience parts of a country that most tourists never will.

Sure, you could fly thousands of miles to stay somewhere with all of the comforts of home, but do you really want to? Voluntourists often stay in remote locations, such as poor villages, that you would never see in a travel brochure. Some of these places are so obscure they are unknown to many of the citizens of the country.

Many of the popular travel destinations cater to the travelers. The people speak English, the food is familiar, and the streets are overrun with tourist traps selling cheap souvenirs. Its a nice way to travel, but its not a real depiction of the culture. When you travel as a voluntourist, youre the one doing the accommodating. Most of the people wont speak English, the food is traditional, and what stores you see are meant to service the needs of the residents, not you.

Students who choose to do voluntourism will be exposed to some of the countrys best kept secrets. Dont be surprised if toward the end of the trip normal tourists start asking you for advice on where they should go (seriously).

Voluntourism programs give students more for their money. Although it is expensive, the price is much less than the regular cost of the activities. So, pay a little more to get a lot more out of your travel. If you still want the standard tourist vacation, no problem; voluntourism programs give you that as well, and they do it better than you ever could.

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