Volunteer
abroad for a great travel experience
For anyone
who has had their fill of holidays at the beach, trips to Disneyworld or
other popular destinations, volunteering abroad is a great alternative.
While volunteering takes you away from the normal humdrum activities of
life and work to all kinds of exciting destinations, it also has that “feel
good” effect, realizing that one can make a difference in other people’s
lives.
There
are many volunteering
opportunities abroad to choose from, whether in Africa, Asia or South
America and it allows a traveller to travel where they would never imagine
they could go. But also it is all in a worthwhile cause and is a great
life experience to the volunteer themselves, whether teaching English to
the locals, helping in the medical sphere or in childcare.
South
America is a great option and Costa Rica one of the best destinations to
choose. While the country is a popular tourist destination and boasts wonderful
achievements in ecology and ecotourism, there are still many aspects that
need help.
| As
in so many countries in the world, the wildlife is in danger and volunteer
opportunities exist to educate the local people on the need to conserve
their country’s wildlife and care for their immediate surroundings.
One
example is the leatherback sea turtles, the population of which has decreased
by around 90 percent since 1980. The females dig holes and lay their eggs
in the sandy beaches as they always have, but the locals, hungry and short
on cash, then dig up the eggs to sell them and make a living. Unless this
practice is stopped, these amazing turtles, found mainly in Costa Rica,
will soon become extinct.
As
part of the many projects available in Costa Rica, volunteers can live
in the wild coastal regions of Costa Rica and not only educate the locals
about the importance of preserving the turtle eggs, but also actively get
involved in protecting both the adult and baby turtles themselves. |
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Africa
is, of course, one of the other major regions of the world that constantly
needs help in the way of volunteers. For example, lovely Tanzania, while
again a popular tourist destination, still sees a lot of poverty among
its people. The same can be said of destinations like Kenya and Botswana.
There
is much to be done in the hospitals, medical clinic and childcare sphere
as well as schools to help educate the locals in any of the poorer African
countries.
It
is also a life-changing experience, as while spending time in the country,
the volunteer lives just like the locals do in an African village, becoming
totally immersed in the daily life of the country.
It
should be noted that volunteering can also be a whole load of fun, mixing
with fellow volunteers and making friends among the locals themselves.
There’s also time off, giving the opportunity to enjoy the social life
or head out on a safari. |
| Photo:
School children CC BY 2.0 Moving
Mountains Trust |
|
There
is so much opportunity in the volunteering field all over world, offering
the volunteers themselves great experience and fulfilling enjoyment, which
often leads to making career choices in medicine, teaching or related professions.
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