vacationing with a cause - laura lundahl baga
Have you ever felt less than pleased with yourself on vacation? Felt that you were there for the wrong reason? You're sitting by the beach but watching suffering, just barely in your peripheral. But you see it and it's too late. Have you ever realized you're a contributor to the suffering, by being there and having the ability to take action, doing nothing?
Like me, many visitors from first-world countries have had this sinking feeling while on vacation. I've looked forward to the adventure for a long time, researched the environment and culture of the place we've chosen to visit, pack accordingly, and arrived to be reminded the suffering of the location cannot be ignored.
Airports don't tend to be located in neighborhoods that stand out as touristic locations. Leaving the airport and headed towards whatever accommodations we have planned is usually the first sight of the actual environment. Right out of the gate, I'm not seeing white sandy beaches or impressive historical architecture. Instead, we drive by crippling poverty, policy problems represented in obvious permitting issues (half built buildings being used as storefronts, crumbling apartments with a brand new skyscraper built literally on the same lot) starving animals roaming the street, garbage washing up on the beaches as the resort staff quickly rake it up while the tide rolls more trash in.
While I am contributing to a better economy for the area by being there, I'm not actually contributing to the solutions the community needs.
It's happened more than once, and I decided to see what I could do about making my next visit meaningful to the community I'm visiting. I’m compelled to be a part of the solution, rather than a consumer in this high-needs environment.
The New York Times has a good article on how to incorporate what you personally care about into your vacation. This is a good place to start, and the article suggests ways of taking your typical vacation and combining that experience with a cause close to your heart.
For the more advanced traveler, Mike Howard and Anne Collins Howard, friends I met in New York prior to their departing on what is now known as HoneyTreck, the longest honeymoon on history, have incorporated giving back into much of their travel. They've also figured out ways to reduce environmental impact while they travel. Mike recommends LifeStraw, for instance, which he says has allowed them to never purchase bottled water during their honeymoon, which they've been on since 2012.
Before you dive in with any organization and get excited about their cause, based on my years in the nonprofit world, I insist you check the organization on Charity Navigator. This website creates total transparency for charities located in the United States. Look up the org by name and discover how far a dollar contributed to them will go.
According to the NYT, it’s best to start by taking a look at the following organizations, which have great reputations for offering or partnering with volunteer-oriented vacation opportunities:
Love, peace and happy travels - Laura
Comments
Post a Comment