Advantages of a Volunteer Vacation
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Traveling as a short-term volunteer departs from conventional adventure travel and cultural immersion tours in one very important way. The purpose of a "volunteer vacation" is foremost to serve, and thereby, to learn first-hand about the host community and its people. It's not simply an alternative to a standard vacation, but an opportunity to for travelers to use their skills and interests in an unconventional setting to benefit others in a host community.
 Global Volunteers pioneered short-term international volunteer opportunities in 1984, and has since built a foundation on direct people-to-people service. "Vacation volunteers" are brought into this network and enjoy these opportunities:
- To experience daily life in a fascinating destination
- To "give back" to communities they've visited before
- To learn from resourceful and resilient local people
- To travel and work with like-minded teammates
- To contribute to international understanding
- To wage peace through genuine service
This type of travel has been coined "voluntourism" in recent years. While descriptive, this term may unintentionally mislead travelers to assume the main goal is standard tourism...with a little volunteer work on the side. Global Volunteers' service programs are true development efforts. And, those who participate can witness how their efforts are integrated into the long-term goals of the community, as they join a legacy of service worldwide.
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