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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!
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)
Our volunteer project consisted of various direct-service projects at Birney Elementary in SE Washington D.C. This photo captures the spirit and the joy of volunteering perfectly. Our impact on the elementary school during our day of service was definitely significant, but the impact that service has on the individual volunteering is just, if not more, significant. These types of service projects ...
Christetta S. (Washington DC, United States)
My volunteer activity was painting a mural at James G. Birney Elementary in the Barry Farms neighborhood of Southeast Washington D.C. This photo shows both the actual project, and, perhaps more importantly, what I think the long-term impact of a mural like this will be. I hope that every child that walks through Birney’s doors will be inspired by Dr. King’s image and take Ghandi’s quote to heart e...
William Y. (Washington DC, United States)
I just moved to the island of Kauai in Hawaii and want to get involved with the community. I brought my 3 year old son and husband to help with the event at the playground, while I volunteered with my talent- photography. I love photography and I think that a good photographer can inspire people to smile, goof around and have a great time while they work, I hope I brought some of that to the peopl...
Ulrika "Kicka" W.
My wife & I, along with 8 other volunteers, spent 12 days in a remote part of Nepal working with local craftspeople and workers helping to restore a historic Buddhist gompa or monastery that had thrived for centuries but had fallen into disrepair. Located near the medieval village of Marpha in the Mustang region, the Chiarro gompa had been neglected for the last 50 years as the local community la...
Donald T. (Oakland, California, United States)