International volunteer sending organizations are resuming international operations and sending volunteers.. If you are interested in a volunteer assignment abroad, I strongly suggest you first choose the type of assignment you would like and the part of the world in which you would like to serve. You can do this by visiting Volunteer Programs on our website. When you find the programs that interest you, contact the individual sending organizations by clicking on the organization’s link. Ask them about their current programs and safety precautions – both overall and in the Covid environment. There are links at the end of this newsletter that will give you ideas of further questions to ask. When your questions have been answered you will be able to make an informed decision about your international assignment.
For information about individual country travel requirements and restrictions visit. Kayak. For information about U.S. requirements for international travelers visit CDC.
We have an article by a volunteer with Earthwatch Institute who served in a Brazilian rain forest. He describes his experiences and the positive side of voluntourism. There is an article about a former Peace Corps Volunteer who has worked in many countries on the Farmer to Farmer program. You can also read how the Covid pandemic has affected international hostels, how to volunteer while traveling with your kids, the detrimental impact of social media on travel and the effects of the costs of sustainable travel on traveler decisions.
In Brazil – Discussing the positive side of voluntourism
Writer Eric Weiner went on an Earthwatch volunteer trip to work in the rain forests in Brazil. He had some misgivings about “voluntourism” prior to the trip. In this article in AFAR, Weiner describes his experience and discusses the good that a well-chosen volunteer trip can achieve. Read In Brazil.
Hostels, Havens for the Thrifty, Fight to Survive the Pandemic
International hostels, have been hurt by the effects of the Covid pandemic. In this New York Times article, writer Alexandra E. Petri, discusses how “hostels, the backbone of affordable travel, barely survived.” Read Hostels.
How to Volunteer While Traveling With Your Kids
In Travel + Leisure, author Ken Budd, discusses the options a family has to volunteer and travel the world together. Budd is author of the book, The Voluntourist. Read Family Volunteering.
Getting his Hands Dirty With Farmers in Developing Countries
William Zimmerman was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua in the 1970s. He went on to earn a PhD in Soil Fertility and has worked on Farmer to Farmer projects in many countries. Writer Maureen Smith Martindale, interviews Zimmerman in the Peace Corps Environmental Action Newsletter. Read Interview.
Travelers care deeply about sustainability – until it inconveniences them
Karen Gilchrist, in CNBC Travel, writes about the costs of sustainable travel and the consequent effects on traveler decisions. Read Decisions.
Images courtesy of Unsplash.com and Pexels.com
