Tips, resources, and information relevant to domestic and international volunteering. This section of the site highlights the areas of voluntourism that are often hard to navigate and gives links, advice, and guidance.
This is one of my favorite times of the year. It sounds cliché, but it’s usually the only time when I am at home for more than a few days, so I really look forward to …
For such a small country, Iceland bursts with adventures. Known as the Land of Fire and Ice, Iceland is full of just that — from volcanoes to glaciers, hot springs to snowy waterfalls, it’s a land …
Planning a trip is exciting. I love thinking about all the adventures—or the relaxation!—and scoping out the possibilities. Traveling creates a blank slate. You’re unburdened by the familiar and comfortable, you are free to do whatever you …
Some of the best harmonies between technology and sustainability occur when everyday people are given the tools to make small changes in their daily lives. When combined, the impact of those two things has enormous …
I can’t quite put my finger on what makes Barcelona my favorite city. The cobblestone streets winding between architecturally stunning buildings along the Mediterranean. The looming Pyrénées forever in the background, looking over every movement. Or perhaps the …
Nicaragua was the first country where I really lived abroad, and it holds a special place in my heart. I gush about it to anyone who will listen, even today, years later. As I write this …
There’s a lot of information out there about how to volunteer, where to volunteer, and why we should volunteer. Something that doesn’t get talked about enough is when not to volunteer. I’ve volunteered for a long …
The dizzying number of options within the volunteering landscape is enough to stall any travel plans, but there is value in slogging through the research and finding a good-match organization for your time and skills. Though …
The idea that responsible travelers can and should support social enterprises on the road is a fundamental notion to this entire site, and to the book I published, The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook. But for those …
One of the most important parts of volunteering abroad in developing communities and countries is having a firm understanding of the ethics of development work and precisely what it is your “service” is doing for …