Volunteering and tourism, when they are joined it becomes voluntourism and this is a common form of international travel that allows u to contribute to sustainable development while exploring a new country and culture. It is similar to volunteer travel or volunteer vacation and many people find that doing volunteer work while also participating in tourism is great way to get the best of both worlds.
Volunteering and tourism offers a chance to volunteers to explore new country and its unique side, learn about the culture first hand and play a vital role in the community.
Since most of the volunteers live with local host families, so in the addition to the worthwhile work, they do at their projects, they also experience the depth of cultural immersion and exchange which is impossible for typical tourists, because the host families will welcome the volunteers into their homes and help the volunteers become part of the community by sharing their daily lives and customs with them and some volunteers have even found themselves celebrating birthdays and weddings with their host families.
The time the volunteer decides to take a step to join volunteering and tourism program, they are joining a global network of volunteers who live and work with diverse cultures on projects that have positive impact. Volunteering in Uganda receives volunteers all over the world and this will help them to share their passion for giving back and the desire to broaden their horizons.
Volunteering and tourism has supported the community people in various ways;
When volunteers promote to a well-run and sustainable volunteer project, they be helping to implement long term development. Volunteers use skills, time and energy to make a difference that will last long after they have returned home. Volunteers still help the local teacher improve their English and classroom skills via a teaching project and in this case volunteers indirectly impact the children they teach. And when a volunteer helps a struggling entrepreneur get their business off the ground at a microfinance project, the volunteer is helping support an entire family for years to come. So voluntourism is good.
Volunteering and tourism participates play a great role to the development of local economy because in the volunteer’s free time, they take an advantage of the opportunity to go sightseeing, like game drive, island tours and many others. We all know that Uganda rely heavily on the income from tourism and voluntourism companies and volunteers support local business.
The volunteering and tourism companies give employment to the communities’ manpower and in most cases workers have the opportunity to receive further training and education.
However voluntourism is increasingly common but it is extremely important to carefully research about the organization you are considering to travel with. Sustainability, experience and financial responsibility are essential to the running programs that truly benefit the population.