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21 July 2008
Volunteer Vacations on the Rise
Podcast explores factors driving movement
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For an increasing number of Americans, vacations are taking on a whole new meaning. Activities that are not usually associated with leisure time are becoming more and more popular.
Many Americans are spending their vacations building improved adobe stoves in Peru, repairing elementary schools in Cambodia or caring for poor children in Brazil. These are volunteer vacations and currently involve only a small proportion of American vacationers, but their numbers are growing.
Travel experts say that two natural disasters -- the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 flooding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina -- compelled many Americans to volunteer services. Many people have an emotional experience when they take volunteer vacations. By connecting with people in the local culture, they feel they are making a difference in the lives of others.
America has a strong legacy of volunteer service. Perhaps the best known American volunteer organization is the United States Peace Corps, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Since the first group of Peace Corps volunteers went to West Africa, citizen interest in the federal government agency has grown. President Bush committed to doubling the size of the Peace Corps in 2002, reflecting its importance.
Volunteer vacations can be seen as an extension of the American spirit of service that defines the Peace Corps. And many private organizations are rising to fill the demand from American vacationers. For example, Earthwatch offers vacations where one can monitor changes in the Arctic tundra, restore a medieval castle in the Tuscany region of Italy or excavate fossils of extinct megafauna in northern Mexico.
Even schools are recognizing the value of volunteer service, particularly where different cultures interact. More schools are requiring students to perform community service before they graduate from secondary school. Organizations such as Break Away work with universities to recruit students for community-service projects.
Of all the vacation options, volunteer family vacations are the single fastest-growing area. Families with children -- typically from ages 8 to 16 -- and sometimes including grandparents, are helping others.
Even though the vacations only last a few weeks, volunteers have said they feel very connected to the local community -- watching the kids grow and sharing the experience as a family. The experiences promote both sustainability and cultural awareness for all participants.
This podcast is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other Internet sites or opinions expressed should not be considered an endorsement of other content and views.
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