Volunteer Tourism:Everything You Need to Know 志愿者旅游那些事儿

徐倩瑶 贺莺

Volunteer tourism1 encourages people to travel with a cause. This cause can be an act of social responsibility. It includes analyzing your skills， energy and time to work for any specific environmental or human issues. Helping the poverty-attacked people， nature， animal conservation etc all come in the purview2 of volunteer tourism. There are many types of volunteer tourism for one to pursue.

Exploring volunteer tourism destinations is a new way of travelling which refreshes us while we serve a cause too.

There are different types of volunteer tourism and it can be categorised as follows：

Animal conservation has increasingly become an important practice due to the negative effects of human activities on nature and wildlife. Volunteering with animals is an amazing travel ex-perience while also helping local animals and wildlife in need. Planned by animal lovers and nature conservationists， the act of responsibility behind taking up volunteer tourism is centred on educating people about the endangered animals and protects mother earth from depletion.

Nature Conservation： It is not restrained to fauna and flora conservation but it also encourages social， socio-economic， and ethical issues. Volunteering in biodiversity and other natural resource management programs is very popular amongst the youth living in the hills.

Waste Minimalism is a practice which intends to reduce the amount of waste produced. Generally， people who volunteer for this cause focus on 3Rs3 and educate people to Recycle， Reuse and Reduce. While you travel， you can lead an example by using reusable containers， eco-friendly toiletries， utilizing public transports etc.

Volunteer tourism can be subdivided into more types：

Philanthropy： Promoting the welfare of the people by dispensing funds for humanitarian purposes. It is a selfless notion which is characterized by helping others without wanting any returns.

Service Learning： Studying and analyzing community needs and helping them accordingly. It is an educational approach towards community services.

Community Service： Meeting with the needs of the public in person. This includes providing food and shelter for the homeless and homebound people4. Collecting information about the needs of the public for their interest and welfare. Promoting students for their education or employment， bringing out the talents in them on an appreciable level for global development.

Volunteer tourism is not a synonym to charity but it focuses on eliminating the suffering behind the cause which leads to social and environmental problems.

True service begins as a way of life. There is so much deprivation all around， to do a bit for the society individually and collectively would bring a whole lot of change to those lives which are deprived of basic needs.

If you are planning to volunteer abroad， then there is no shortage of voluntourism destinations which provide an opportunity for the dedicated and enthusiast people willing to work for others’ welfare. Different countries specialize in various volunteer projects. Perhaps if you have certain skills or willingness then that naturally attracts you to a particular location. People and countries have encouraged volunteer tourism since the beginning as this is all about travelling for the people， by the people and towards the betterment of the people.

Volunteer tourism is definitely beneficial for people in two ways：

1. It satisfies the wanderer inside you who looks forward to exploring various destinations.

2. It also serves the society and takes it towards its growth.

Negative impacts of volunteer tourism：

Choosing volunteer tourism or travelling to a volunteer tourism destination can be the toughest challenge faced by a novice or interns in the industry. You should be really careful before taking up any such trip for a cause and ask yourself the following questions.

Do you have sufficient training？ Travelling without proper training can put your life at risk， hence go for sensitive and planned Volunteer Tourism.

Are you aware of the facts regarding the destination？ One should be prepared with geographical info， the challenges which can be posed and the solutions to travel before undertaking a particular journey. Failing this can turn the travel for a cause trip to one where you travel for loss.

The bottom line5 is， volunteer tourism is still unexplored， hence do it with a passion but do apply your brains. Plan your next trip as a volunteer tourist and feel the bliss and harmony which you get by serving people in need on time.

志愿者旅游鼓励人们来一场有理想的旅行。理想就是承担某种社会使命。这要求分析自身的技能、精力和时间，以便服务于某些具体的环境或人类问题。帮助贫困人口、保护自然、保护动物等都属于志愿者旅游的使命范畴。志愿者旅游有多种类型可供选择。

志愿者旅游是一种新型旅游方式，可以一边愉悦身心，一边投身理想。

志愿者旅游有不同的类型，可分为以下几类：

动物保护：由于人類活动对大自然和野生动物造成负面影响，动物保护日益成为一项重要活动。做志愿服务时和动物们在一起是一种奇妙的旅游体验，同时又能对当地需要救助的家养和野生动物施以援手。在动物爱好者和自然保护主义人士的策划下，此类志愿者之旅背后的使命是教育人们保护濒危动物，保护地球母亲的资源不被耗尽。

自然保护：该类活动不限于动植物保护，同时还致力于社会、社会经济及伦理问题。生物多样性保护等自然资源管理方面的志愿项目在山区青年中很受欢迎。

废物最少化：该类活动旨在减少废物的产生量。专注此类目标的志愿者一般聚焦3R，教育人们“可循环”“再利用”“减量化”。在旅行过程中，可通过使用非一次性容器、环保洗漱用品，以及乘坐公共交通工具等行为来以身作则。

志愿者旅游可細分出更多类型：

慈善活动：为人道主义援助提供资金以增进人类福祉。这是一种无私的理念，特点是帮助他人不计回报。

服务型学习：分析、研究社区需求并提供相应的帮助。这是一种面向社区服务的教育手段。

社区服务：亲自参与来满足公众需求，包括为无家可归者及居家无法外出者提供食物和住所;收集有关公众利益和福 祉的需求信息;促进学生接受教育或就业，显著激发其才能，促进全球发展。

志愿者旅游不是慈善的代名词，但致力于消灭困苦，以解决社会和环境问题。

真正的志愿服务是一种生活方式。贫困匮乏的现象随处可见，作为个体或集体为社会略尽绵薄之力，可以给那些基本需求无法得到满足的人带来巨大改变。

如果打算去国外做志愿者，不乏可供选择的旅行目的地，足以给具有奉献精神的热心人士提供机会，为谋求他人福祉而工作。不同国家专注的志愿项目不尽相同。如果具备某些特殊技能或意愿，就会自然而然地被某个地方所吸引。人们和各国政府从一开始就鼓励志愿者旅游项目，因为这是一场利他的旅行，始于个人，以谋求众人福祉为目标。

志愿者旅游在两个方面绝对于人有益：

1. 可以满足内心深处行走四方的愿望。

2. 可以同时服务社会，促进社会发展。

志愿者旅游的负面影响：

对于该领域的新手和实习生而言，选择参加志愿者之旅或旅行至志愿服务目的地，可能是一项最为严峻的挑战。开启任何志愿之旅都应慎之又慎，首先要回答以下问题：

是否接受过充分的培训？没有接受恰当的训练就去旅行，可能会招致生命危险。要选择反应及时、规划严密的志愿者旅游项目。

是否了解目的地情况？在开启某场旅行前，应了解地理信息，预估旅行中可能面对的挑战，制订好解决方案。做不到这点，理想之旅可能演变成为损失之旅。

总而言之，志愿者旅游仍是一个未经充分探索的领域，因此，要胸怀热情，更要开动大脑。下一次旅行尝试志愿者旅游吧，感受为有困难的人及时提供帮助所带来的幸福与和谐。

（译者单位：宁波大学）

Quotes About Volunteerism

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”                                                                            —Gandhi

“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action.  These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.”                                                             —Helen Dyer

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful， committed citizens can change the world; indeed， it’s the only thing that ever has.”

—Margaret Mead

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

—Winston Churchill

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch， a smile， a kind word， a listening ear， an honest compliment， or the smallest act of caring， all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

—Leo Buscaglia