So, I wanted to talk a bit about this whole volunteer tourism thing. Heard about it, sounded kinda nice, you know? Helping out while seeing a new place. Decided to give it a shot a few years back.
Getting Started – The Shiny Brochure Phase
First thing I did was hit the internet. Typed in “volunteer travel” and bam, tons of sites popped up. All glossy photos, happy people painting schools or hugging kids. Looked great on the surface. I spent maybe two weeks just clicking around, comparing programs. It was confusing, honestly. Some wanted a ton of money upfront, others were really vague about what the actual ‘work’ was.
Found one that seemed okay, helping out at an animal sanctuary somewhere in Southeast Asia. The price wasn’t too crazy, though still more than just a regular trip would cost. Filled out the application form, lots of questions about my skills (didn’t have many relevant ones, just enthusiasm I guess), and why I wanted to join.
The Actual Trip – Boots on the Ground
Got accepted, paid the fee, booked my flights. When I landed, things felt a bit… different than the brochure. The place was more basic, which is fine, wasn’t expecting a hotel. Met the other volunteers, mostly younger folks, gap year types.
The ‘work’ started pretty quickly. We were tasked with cleaning enclosures, preparing food for the animals, and some basic maintenance stuff. It was hard graft, especially in the heat. Did that for about 4-5 hours each morning.
- Cleaned out monkey cages. Messy job.
- Chopped a mountain of fruit and vegetables. Every single day.
- Helped patch up a fence one afternoon.
The afternoons were usually free. Some people went exploring the nearby town, others just chilled. The ‘tourism’ part felt a bit tacked on. We had one organised trip per week, like visiting a local temple or market. It felt rushed, like ticking a box.
Thinking Back On It Now
Look, I’m not saying it was all bad. The animals were cool, and I met some nice people. But did I really make a difference? I’m not so sure. Felt like the local staff could probably do the tasks faster and better than us clueless volunteers.
Honestly, it felt more like we were paying for the experience of volunteering, rather than providing genuinely needed help. The money I paid, I often wondered how much actually went to the sanctuary versus the company organizing it all.
After I got back, I did some more digging. Found articles questioning if some of these projects really benefit the communities or if they just create dependency, or worse, are set up just for tourists.
So yeah, that was my one time doing it. Would I do it again? Probably not that specific type. Maybe if I had real skills to offer, like medical training or construction, and went through a proper aid organization, not a travel company. But just paying to chop fruit? Felt a bit weird when I really thought about it.
It wasn’t the life-changing thing the websites promised. It was… an experience. A complicated one. Made me think a lot about good intentions versus actual impact.
