Celebrities like Richard Gere, Ashley Judd, and Angelina Jolie are role models for millions for their cinematic exploits and the styles they espouse. There is, however, something more that their fans and even ardent travelers can take inspiration from. Call it ‘voluntourism’, ‘philanthropic travel’ or vacationing with a purpose.
Adding a whole new dimension to the experience of globetrotting, this is an impeccable combination of voluntary services with the best elements of travel — arts, culture, geography, and history. From students to working professionals, top business executives to retired workers; travelers world over are increasingly choosing India as the destination for a voluntour.
And why not? India has all that a voluntourist might be looking for. It is home to exceedingly interesting and diverse ways of life which is lived by many an impoverished people who need all the help that they can get. Says Kiran Modi, trustee, Udyan Care, a Delhi based NGO, “There is a rise in the number of enquiries from people who want to come here to volunteer for community work because it gives them a fair chance to explore the rich culture and heritage.”
Vacationers, who seek a deeper level of interaction with local culture rather than just visiting museums and monuments, are seeing voluntourism as an appealing option.
“Volunteers who come to us feel that such tour provides more enjoyable experiences along with providing more meaningful connection with local people, and a greater understanding of local culture, social and environmental issues,” adds Siddharth Sanyal, who runs Dakshinayan, a volunteer based organization.
There are several non-profit organizations, tour operators and even volunteering agencies that help arranging a voluntour. Experienz Travels and iVolunteer Services are agencies most actively engaged in getting voluntourists to India. There are travel companies like Monarch International Travel Services, India-e-style Travel that have special volunteer tour packages. Also, Relief Riders International (RRI) has partnered with India’s Ministry of Tourism to contribute towards community development.
Tourists can volunteer for varied services like taking English classes for children; education on medical care and nutrition, physical and mental health; conducting workshops say for making artificial jewellery, etc. Some even volunteer to work on farms and fields.
While almost 65% of the voluntourists are students who come for university projects, 35 % are well established in their career. “Only recently we had a woman from US Army, Monica Colts who stayed for 3 weeks,” quips Saurabh Sabharwal, director Experienz Travels.
Experienz Travels started operations in India three years ago. “In the first year we had just about 70 volunteers. This year the number increased to 300 including students as well as working professionals,” informs director, Saurabh Sabharwal. “We intermediate between the tourists and NGOs like Child Survival India, Vatsalaya Foundation, Salaam Baalak Trust and Udayan Care,” he adds.
The itinerary and cost depends on whether the tourist wants to devote most of the time traveling or working. Most tourists work during the weekdays and visit places around on weekends. “We design a separate programme for volunteers depending on the kind of time they can spare and the kind of skills they have,” says Kiran Modi.
“We charge around $650 for two weeks but that depends on the choice of accommodation, local transportation, and food and also travel insurance,” says Saurabh.
Voluntourism has been criticized on the grounds that tourists opt for such kinds of tours since they are cheaper and do not take volunteering seriously. Mohammad Jamal from iVolunteer Service, however, argues that even if the tourists do not contribute much to community work they do get an insight to village life and the issues people face.
“There are people who come back and work for the community,” he says. For a traveller driven by a sense of purpose, voluntourism is fast becoming a wonderful way to explore another country, meet new people, learn new things and have new adventures.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/As_You_Like_It/People_are_opting_to_go_on_a_philanthropic_trip/articleshow/2808716.cms
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