Long-time readers of Wandering Educators know that we are committed to helping others. I love to share organizations that do a great job of giving back - and I've got the epitome of this to share with you today. We recently sat down to talk with Linda Chew, the managing editor of Travelanthropist, an online destination for travelers who want to make a difference in their travel. Travelanthropist is an extraordinary resource  - it shares everything you need to get started on volunteering overseas, from a getting started questionnaire (including many questions I hadn't thought of yet) to criteria for selecting a program; from a directory of global organizations to trip ideas. It truly is the penultimate resource for figuring out how and where to help abroad. When we talked with Linda, we touched on challenges and rewards of voluntourism, trends in travel philanthropy, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your site, Travelanthropist...

LC: We are an online destination for travelers who want their travels to make a difference. We offer news, inspiring and thought provoking content, destination spotlights and resources in travel philanthropy, responsible tourism and voluntourism.

WE: What was the genesis of your site?

LC: We recognized the need for a website specifically for travelers that is independent, informative, and inspirational. We have no special interest other than to see people become aware of traveling in a meaningful way. Most websites on philanthropic travel or voluntourism are either written for the industry or are websites of travel companies.

WE: What are your top resources on your site?

LC: Our biggest asset is our content. We cover a host of topics from destinations, providers to industry issues, trends, and travel ideas. We also have a growing Travel Providers Directory that list both full service and grass root companies. This directory is a great tool for all sorts of travelers, from those who are willing to pay for full-service, hassle-free travel to the budget-minded travelers who want to organize their own travels. We also have a section on Essentials, which shows you how to get started, pick the right travel provider, etc.

WE: What are some challenges (and rewards) of voluntourism?

LC: The rewards are many. They include experiencing a destination or culture at a very grass root level; seeing the world from a different perspective; finding satisfaction from helping another community or people through your talents or resources; and character-building -- stretching yourself, going outside your comfort zone.

There are downsides. Like any fast-growing industry, voluntourism attracts some bad apples. They are looking to take advantage of the industry’s growing popularity because they sense an opportunity to profit. Regulation and accountability of providers are difficult. They are complicated by the geographical and cultural expanse, by the number of smaller players and the low barrier of entry. Currently, the industry is essentially self-regulated by reputation. Also, people in this field are very passionate and have certain ideals, which is good. The danger is if people are not willing to adapt and evolve with the changing environment, then it can paralyze the industry from moving forward.

WE: What are some current trends in travel philanthropy?

LC: Volunteering abroad is nothing new. The experience is more accessible then ever, though. The momentum for doing good abroad is getting stronger as more opportunities are available for just about anyone. There is a key shift from thinking about us to helping people in other continents. You can find some compelling reasons for this mindset shift in an article we did.

We are seeing more adopters of travel philanthropy, especially those coming from the for profit enterprises. More and more hotels are offering voluntourism packages for their guests. Some are offering discounts on hotel stays for volunteers. We are seeing more travel companies offering a voluntourism option. We are also seeing an increase in donor trips as more charities hope that when donors see first hand what their funds are doing, they will be inspired to do more.

WE: How can people best prepare for travel philanthropy?

LC: Research, research, research. To ensure you have the best possible experience, choosing the right placement is key.  It is important to do a personal assessment, then look into various companies and check them out, talk to past participants.

Our website has a wealth of resources for travelers to do just that. Questions to ask yourself, questions to ask travel providers, responsible travel tips, directory of travel providers and articles to help you think through various travel philanthropy related issues.  We did an article a little while back on Keys to a Successful Volunteer Vacation that outlines some important steps in this preparation process.

WE: How do you suggest families give back, while traveling, if not specifically doing voluntourism?

LC: There are so many ways families can give back while traveling – some can simply be incorporated in regular travel. For starters, think local. How can you support the local community and people through your travel activities? You can support local businesses – staying at local-run hotels, buy from local vendors, eat local, be considerate to the people by treating them with respect and dignity, find value in their culture especially in the differences, be mindful of preserving the local environment and encourage sustainability practices even if it means you may be paying a little more…

WE: How can travelers best learn about other cultures?

LC: Spend time getting to know the local people, chatting with the people. Instead of dashing from tourist sites, slow down and take in the local vibe – try the local food which often speak volumes to their culture, learn about their history, learn about what issues are of concern to them today. Often through conversations, we discover people’s perspective, biases, values -- who they are and you may be surprised at what you’ll discovered!

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

LC: Today, we can do so much with our travel.  Travel is so powerful because it is transformative. Travel creates connections that transform the traveler, and the community, people, and place traveled!

WE: Thanks so much, Linda! We highly recommend Travelanthropist to our Wandering Educators.

For more information, please see:
http://travelanthropist.com

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/travelanthrpist
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Travelanthropist/63880793324

Feature photo  by hdptcar;  African kids photo by kevinzim; Cusco, Peru photo by minamie. Used by Creative Commons license, Flickr.