There are so may people and places that are in deep need of help and the very basics of life are privileges for them. We take so much for granted and hardly ever think of returning something back.
People who get involved with Volunteer vacations around the world but especially in the desperately needy countries of Africa, deserve so much appreciation.

We've seen a rise in the number of natural disasters as well. I was looking at a report that covered all major natural disasters this year and it was really stirring. If we can help the people we really should. Only in Africa, some 2 million people are homeless because of floods in 22 countries. Thats just a minority though, there were floods and earthquakes in Asia as well.

The gesture behind this kind of vacation is certainly worth appreciation, but I have heard a few stories where people got burned during their trips....lost their belongings and the organizers charged them left, right and center for stuff which had nothing to do with charity or volunteering.

Well i guess its all about personal experiences. A couple in my family has been doing it for the last three years and every time in a different area and they have had great experiences. I guess they found a good agency and that is probably a major factor in getting the help to the right place and in a properly organized way.

you can even volunteer to help animals as well as help preserve environment and natural habitats. I once saw a documentary on such a vacation somewhere in Australia, where they were cleaning up the beaches. There were tons and tons of fishing nets simply thrown in to the ocean, which caught and killed enormous amounts of sea life and then gets washed on to the beach and all that sea life just dies...pointlessly. It occurred to me that we humans are so good at pointless killings that not even the depths of oceans can save anyone from us......sad

I am planning to volunteer and travel too. I figure that we have to start caring and doing something about our only home.