Type “volunteer vacation” into a search engine and jot down how many hits you get. Now look at the first page of results and note how much those trips cost. Wait – they cost something? You’re willing to give your time and effort to a community project, but you’re expected to pay? And at $1,000 for a week, they’d better give you backrubs and ice cream, because your airfare isn’t even included.
This is what I encountered four years ago as I looked for a summer project. It was confusing and frustrating; these groups assumed volunteers had disposable income.
Ngwenya Glass is a great example of how one can help people in poor countries learn a new skill and contribute to poverty alleviation whilst embedding in them a greater awareness of the environment. I’ve visited many eco community projects around the world but the Ngwenya Glass story is one that I found particularly inspiring, probably because I’m a big fan of projects that stimulate and promote local arts and crafts. I have yet to make the trip to the factory in Swaziland though it remains at the top of my list of things to do on my next trip to South Africa. I can’t wait!
There are many ways to help out this world. We are so fortunate to live in a rich country and to have the opportunity to travel the world. This world brings us a great deal of joy and we feel that the least we can do is to help the communities that enrich our lives so much by giving back to them.
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