Volunteer Vacation - Stories? Advice? Anecdotes?

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So I'm thinking about taking a volunteer vacation. I'm 30 and would prefer to do one outside of the United States. Right now, I'm thinking South America but I'm totally open. Preferably I'd find one that handled room and board while I was there so all I had to worry about was travel expenses. Maybe I'd like to work with kids? I'd prefer to work in a secular environment rather than a religious one. Please share any thoughts/advice/experiences/warnings that you have about doing something like this... Thanks!

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Where are all the good samaritans???

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I do (sort of) one every year.. I take High School kids on one - been doing it for the last 10 years - although we're always within the US. I can tell ya, it's some of the most meaningful memories I have as an adult - although I'm also getting a little tired of it. (That's what happens when you get on the planning end of it..)

It's been "religous based" - although there's almost no religion involved except for people saying "bless you" a lot, and a few songs in the evening.

Working with HS kids is cool too - it's always the other adults that I'm sick of at the end of the week.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for the response, Dave. Can you point me towards any resources that you may have found helpful in the planning of such an adventure?

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't usually plan the location - except to help choose from a list from someone else's research, I just plan the group organization (budget, transportation, work duties), but I'll try. Here are a few I found:

http://www.nationalmeditation.org/page3.htm
http://www.vfp.org/
http://www.sci-ivs.org/

If you search "Volunteer Work Camp" you may find more/better sites. I'm finding (hearing) that almost every place is charging now - it's difficult to find a place where you can volunteer without paying a fee.

I'll be happy to help more if I can...

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks much. Those links are all new to me even after doing some googling so I really appreciate it! I'll check them out and I'll be in touch if I think of any other questions...

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

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