Skip navigation and go to content
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!
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)
The excitement of winning Travelocity's Travel for Good grant was slightly dampened when I was told the trip I had selected, a coastal development research project in the tropical Bahamas, was full. Coming from Hawaii, I was hoping to learn how they were dealing with development pressures and tourism, and eager to check out their beaches. I spent the following days reading project descriptions, fi...
Kim K. (Honolulu, Hawaii, United States)
We are a family of four and made the decision to contribute to our vacation destinations ten years ago. We went on our first Earthwatch expedition in 2002 to assist in excavating a roman fort in South Shields, England. In 2006, my daughter and I embarked on a cultural and environmental adventure by assisting a field reseracher studing the effects of tourism on marine tucuxi dolphins. We not onl...
Denise N. (San Marino, United States)
My trip was amazing. Our team helped record information from Samburu (Maasai) elders about the medicinal plants they use for all of their health problems, from diarhea to Malaria. We found out how they prepare the plants and also helped collect samples. Then, graduate students involved in the project are evaluating the chemical characteristics of the plants to determine their efficacy and try t...
Mindy B. (West Lafayette, Indiana, United States)
When I applied for the Travelocity Change Ambassador Grant, it never seemed truly possible that I would win since it would mean I get to take my dream trip - two weeks in Africa! In this case, I was lucky enough to spend that time studying Grevy's Zebras and carnivores in the Samburu region of Kenya through Earthwatch. And while the wildlife and the landscape we saw on a daily basis was incredible...
Emily (United States)