On Earth Day we celebrate the theme and call to actions for 2025: “Our Power, our Planet.” Travelers should be aware of the following: certain steps we can each take to ensure we are making a positive impact On the communities and environment we visit. One sure way to give back on your travels—while also making heart-warming memories—is to book a trip centered around volunteering.
Voluntourism When done correctly, it should be about making the world better while connecting at the deepest levels. Hands-on holidays that are helpful can bring new perspectives and broaden our worldviews. This could be through unexpected openings or exchanges with grassroots NGOs.
Can I get a quick visual on your dream vacation scenario? A sun lounger and a swim up bar are what I think of when I’m tired. If you ask me to remember my most rewarding and far-flung experiences, it is a very different story.
I think of my time at a special school for children who have disabilities. I was tagged along by the engineering department of a luxury resort. Sri Lanka. While they were doing odd jobs and fixing things, the students also practiced English with me. It was a reminder of how stigmatized disability is in many communities. I learned of programs that teach young women deaf how to be highly skilled pedicurists. And women who are blind are also excellent massage therapists.
The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us Costa RicaInstead of spending a day at the beach with Aguas Claras maintenance team, I hopped on the back of the pick-up. We bounced up rocky tracks inland to an Indigenous Village. While we were rebuilding the roof of the home of a Bribri women, she shared her experiences of being a single parent. This was an excellent example of how investing in social outreach by accommodation providers can make a real difference to people’s lives. There are many ways to make travel meaningful, even if you can’t fit into the hotel’s activities.
If you are in the area, please consider visiting South AfricaIn addition to reviewing boutique hideaways in London, I spent a full day at the Sustainability Institute. Lexi Cinema, a London-based film company, funds this institute. They invited me share social media lessons with hospitality students. I was shocked to learn that many children in the adjacent daycare facility in Stellenbosch were suffering from fetal-alcohol syndrome. The uncomfortable legacy of winemakers who paid wages in alcohol made me more determined to only choose ethical producers when I buy, drink or give. My daughter, who at the time was only a toddler, will remember her time in the kitchen with the team of loving people in a basic, busy environment. She will never forget that experience. In an age of curated, rose-colored lifestyles I feel incredibly grateful to have taken a small step into the shoes of people from different walks of life.
