What exactly do voluntourism projects provide?
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your travel experience. You’d be right if you think you shouldn’t and the truth is you actually don’t! Your placement is free; it’s the benefits around it that you pay for. It’s important to note that Adventurevietnam is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects and travel destinations across the country, preparing you for the volunteering experience and traveling and supporting you whilst you’re there.
Project sourcing and assessment:
We work with many locally run partner projects around the country and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we’ll send travelers there.
Expert help-desk:
Almost everyone who works at Adventura Travel has traveled extensively. This means we’re a goldmine of information; we’re always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Thorough project briefing materials:
Once you book on to a voluntourism project for community development you’ll receive general information about volunteering activities and the destinations on your chosen trip and how to have fun and stay safe. We’ll also give you advice on visas.
Airport pickup:
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time – especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your trip start date, there’ll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Arrival orientation:
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information for your trip. You’ll also get some tips about sightseeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation and meals:
Accommodation is included with all voluntourism projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally owned and operated accommodation so that part of your trip fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard.
Local in-country team:
The local in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and know the area well as tney are locals. The in-country team won’t be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need us.
24/7 emergency support:
Aside from the local support from your in-country team, you’ll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you’re working at your project or on your trip.
Ongoing training:
The safety and security of our volunteers/travelers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the country.
Supporting our projects:
We don’t fund our projects directly from the trip fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects through our Adventura Foundation initiative to provide resources to those projects that really need it.
Recruiting people like you
We make no secret of the fact that part of your trip fee is reinvested in recruiting people just like you! Many of our voluntourism projects rely on assistance from international volunteers/travelers, so it’s necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
The intangible benefits
Voluntourism projects for community development through a company like Adventurevietnam have a lot of intangible benefits for developing local communities, for the individual projects that we work with as well as the volunteers.
Benefits for volunteers:
Life skills
Whether you’re looking to build on your educational portfolio through a voluntourism project or want to climb the career ladder with voluntary work experience abroad, you’ll gain skills for life through a volunteer travel experience.
Time off after your studies
Our volunteer trips are a great starting point for taking time out, either before or after university, giving you a taste of independent travel in a safe and organized environment. The skills gained on your travel experience will give you much needed confidence for when you continue onto university or into the world of work.
Work experience
Gaining vital work experience doesn’t have to mean working for free in the office of some faceless multinational corporation. There is another way… We have a range of excellent travel experience opportunities across Vietnam as well as a range of trips that allow you to have some fun while you improve your CV.
Cultural immersion
Travelling with Adventurevietnam allows you to really get under the skin of a community and integrate yourself into their culture. You are not passing through as a tourist, you are becoming part of their community, working with them to achieve their goals and improve the overall quality of life.
Benefits for the project:
Volunteer support
Voluntourism projects clearly benefit from the contribution and enthusiasm of our volunteers/travelers. As a volunteer you will help greatly in achieving the project’s goals and their mission to continue to develop the local community.
Experience of Western culture
Local communities tell us in no uncertain terms that they benefit enormously from the support of our volunteers/travelers, as well as the social interaction between the volunteers and local people. This helps to break down preconceived perceptions of Western travelers and forms a deep-rooted and meaningful union between different cultures.