Raising a compassionate child starts with parents leading by example. However, acts of kindness do not have to be an individual effort. Working as a family on a community service project is not only a great way to help others, but also a way to bond as a family. I know that many of us work on community service projects as a family, doing things like working in soup kitchens, visiting nursing homes, beautification projects and more. But have you considered taking those efforts on the road? There are many ways to incorporate volunteerism or giving back into your family travels.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give back, or any money in some instances. Often times, the only cost is your time – the most valuable commodity of all.
Have you heard the term voluntourism before? It is defined by the act of giving back to the places you travel. More and more people are looking for ways to combine volunteering efforts with scheduled holiday trips. Giving back to the community while traveling is guaranteed to enhance your itinerary and manifest lasting memories. Have you or a family member vacationed with the sole intention to give back to the community?
We’re having a great conversation about giving back to the community over in the Family Travel Talk Forum by Residence Inn on Facebook. I hope you’ll stop by and join the conversation. If you’re not already a member of the forum, just ask for an invite and we’ll get you added right away.
In what ways does your family give back to the community while traveling or at home?
This post is brought to you through by our partnership with Residence Inn.
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Sounds like a great conversation. Usually people are concerned with making new memories for themselves that they forget ‘need’ doesn’t take a vacation. I’ll have to pop by the forum!
What a neat concept and sounds fun too!
There are some ecological trips which I feel would tie into this voluntourism really well. I’m seriously considering some of the animal related trips.
I enjoyed your article on Volunteering in the Community (while traveling). I had never heard of “voluntourism” until now. The concept is great and I’m sure it will help many people.
I love the idea of traveling and giving back to others in the process. I know when I visited Jamaica I wanted to stay and help every wonderful person I met.
I’d never thought about it before, that’s a great idea!
We don’t do much traveling, but we do a lot of things to give back locally. You’re right it is important to lead by example. 🙂
I love the idea of volunteer work traveling. I have visited 46 countries and was a Peace Corps volunteer during my travels. I loved volunteering at orphanages along the way.
This is such a great idea, volunteering is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. You should always be prepared to give back to the community wherever you go. Thank you for sharing this post.
This is a wonderful idea!