Supporting the local communities of places we visit as tourists and travellers is a great way to give back, show your appreciation, and receive a warm welcome from the locals. After all, we’re visitors in their hometowns, so the least we can do is show respect and offer support in simple yet impactful ways. Wondering how you can give back on your travels and make yourself a better traveller?

Quite possibly, volunteering while traveling is the most rewarding way to experience a destination. It’s an immersion into the local culture with a lasting social impact. For students, it opens their minds and their hearts, introduces them to privilege and empathy, and can ignite a new passion. Hostelling International USA (HI USA) recognizes this potential and doesn’t believe cost should get in the way.