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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!
I held my first Bone Marrow Drive in Connecticut at the Annual charity event I do at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT this summer. The Drive was such a huge success thanks in part to teaming up with the Rhode Island Blood Center in Providence, RI that I decided to host another one for Make A Difference Day for all residents in Connecticut. With my charity experience and me spearheading th...
michael M. (Trumbull , Connecticut, United States)
Our trip to Peru was one was the most amazing experiences of my life and I feel like in the space of one week, I learned so much. I went to change one small corner of the world, and it changed me instead. I applied for a $5,000 grant through Travelocity’s Travel for Good program to take a volunteer vacation with a small group. Miraculously, we won and spent a week in Cusco, Peru working in an a...
Alison P.
As an educator at an inner-city elementary school, I am constantly seeking opportunities that will enhance my students' educational experiences beyond the four walls of our classroom. When I was informed that I was awarded Travelocity's Change Ambassador Grant, I was truly ecstatic. I was filled with excitement about the adventure I was about to embark upon, and thrilled to consider the learning...
Courtney R. (Decatur, Georgia, United States)
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)