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Win a volunteer vacation to South Africa from Keen
The trip, which is valued at $4000, includes airfare to South Africa, and accommodations in the volunteer hostel at the TEARS animal rescue shelter, where the winner will have the opportunity to help educate locals on care of their pets, provide veterinary care, and distribute food parcels for pets of underprivileged families. TEARS also works with children, teaching them the responsibilities of pet ownership and instilling a nurturing attitude.
Voluntourism has been a growing trend in travel over the past few years and i-to-i has been on the forefront of that trend. Since its founding in 1996, the company has sent more than 20,000 people on volunteer vacations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. It seems only natural that they would team up with Keen, who has also been very forward thinking in their approach to sustainable gear and environmentally friendly practices.
This is certainly an interesting contest. I'm not sure I've seen anyone give away a volunteer vacation before. But it is an interesting way to explore South Africa, especially Cape Town, and give a little something back while you are there.
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Africa, South Africa
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joyce Major Jul 22nd 2009 4:56PM
I've been taking voluntourism vacations for the lasts 5 years including one solid year of world travel as a volunteer. Now I even teach classes on global volunteering. i do wonder if i-to-i has improved their program as there were many problems in South Africa: food, projects, organization and very little of the money for these costly vacations was actually used to help the projects. I dont' think anyone of the 10 volunteers who went with them would ever use them again. It would be great to have some publicity for all of the grassroots sanctuaries and projects that are not expensive and yet provide opportunities to volunteer.
Matthew Falk Jul 23rd 2009 10:23PM
Joyce do you have any recommendations for finding volunteer opportunities in South-East Asia, specifically Cambodia and Laos? I've been looking for something I can do for a week or so as it want to work it into a larger trip. My preference is working with kids but anything worthwhile would work. I can't find anything that I don't have to pay an absurd amount of money for. I don't think I should have to pay for the opportunity to volunteer. Of course I don't expect room and board either.
Dan Jul 23rd 2009 3:10PM
Nice idea, would be even better if it was open to people outside the USA and Canada though. I thought it might have been since its a UK company thats involved.
Joyce Major Jul 24th 2009 12:45PM
Here are some things that I have but I don't have much in Laos or Cambodia. One volunteer just returned from there and said she found lots of opportunities in orphanages just by being int he towns. Perhaps try googleing the towns that you will visit for either an expat newspaper or volunteer ........(the name of the city) I know a lot of the places don't have anyone to set up a website and they will only expect you to pay room and board.
http://www.pepyride.org/the_pepy_ride.html - riding bikes through Cambodia doing good deeds along the way, not sure of cost
Volunteers in Asia – www.viaprograms.org - summer or more
www.ciee.org/teach - Spain, China and Thailand – I’m not sure about the fee but the site is interesting
www.kidswithnoborders.com - two concepts. One way is to take a 2 week trip to Vietnam and brings LOTS of supplies. Part of your trip will be to the schools and orphanages and hospitals to see how your supplies are being used. OR contact them if you want to volunteer. The first is expensive. Based in Sammamish, WA - Perhaps contact them to see if they can give you the locations of the orphanages so that you can go on your own.
Volunteer International Projects - Volunteer or Inter in South Asia (Sri Lanka, India & the maldive Islands) For more details visit our site -
www.mirrorartgroup.org –volunteer in Thailand in Chiang Rai with the hill tribes, looks cool
Rejoice Urban Development Project –help HIV victim families -look in www.Chiangmainews.com for more information and other projects there in Thailand
www.Infothai.com/disabled – arrange accommodation info for volunteers (office work)
www.Depdc.org/eng/volunteer/volunteer.html - $6/day in Mae SAi near Burma – help prevent child prostitution and trafficking – 6 months min
http://www.andamandiscoveries.com/ - a nice 5 day jump into volunteering, not expensive but will give you a look at some different possibilities
I hope these help. I'm sure you can find places!! Joyce (let me know if you do find some sites and I'll add them to my list!)