When you volunteer as part of your vacation, your trip takes on a whole new meaning. Voluntourism is a unique opportunity to contribute to the place you’re visiting while learning about and creating an individual connection with its inhabitants and environment – that’s why we call voluntourists "Change Ambassadors." This page is a chance for all Change Ambassadors to write about your experience and tell fellow travelers about the kind of impact voluntourism can have and what you learned along the way. Thank you for taking the time to share your story!
40 high school juniors throughout Massachusetts and 14 alumni volunteers of the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation (MYLF), an all volunteer, 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization seeking to recognize, teach, and empower leadership in high school sophomores across the state, convened at Boston University on October 25, 2008 for Make A Difference Day. The students and volunteers collecte...
Stephanie N.
Dressed as ghouls, rock stars, and Disney Princesses, volunteers traversed the streets in Walla Walla, trick-or-treating for supplies benefiting the area's homeless shelter. The event, sponsored by the Walla Walla AmeriCorps Team, has become an annual event involving the community. Fifty participating businesses contributed to the supplies that have served over 200 homeless individuals in the mont...
Kristen S. (Walla Walla , Washington, United States)
It often seems that there are two Indias. One is on the streets, right up front - the beggars, the pavement dwellers, the street children who pick through the litter for recyclables when they should be laughing on a playground. It’s noisy, in your face, assaulting you. The other India is cocooned behind all this, tucked away from it; a land of quiet, air conditioning, service and amenities. Mostly...
Shelley S. (Seattle, Washington, United States)
I never expected to be in India. And without a doubt, I never thought once I had been I would return, again and again. It wasn’t the exotic beauty that drew me back. It wasn’t the warmth of the people or their open hospitality. It wasn’t the storied, ancient history of the country or its rich culture. It was not the colors or the spices or the sounds or the spirituality of the place. India is a...
Shelley S. (Seattle, Washington, United States)
Local Daisy troop 900 (Hudson, NH) participated in USA Weekend Make A Difference Day on October 25th. These girls are in Kindergarten and First Grade. They wanted to help someone in need. After many discussions, they decided to help with a yard cleanup. They gathered together on Saturday and cleaned the yard of a local elderly couple. "We have an amazing group of young girls. They took thier...
Jane H. (Hudson, New Hampshire, United States)
Like many, I've always wanted to visit Machu Picchu, Peru. When I learned UNESCO was considering placing Machu Picchu on its list of Endangered World Heritage sites because of excessive visitation and uncontrolled development, I wanted to do more than just be a visitor. I wanted to do something to protect Machu Picchu. Then I learned about a special two-week voluntourism program to Machu Picch...
Gene Z. (Yucaipa, California, United States)