Volunteer Tourism

　　As you plan a trip on your summer vacation, think about this: more and more young people are no longer taking a few weeks off to tan or to go sightseeing abroad. Instead they’re working in orphanages, building schools and teaching English. 　　It’s called volunteer tourism — working as a volunteer while traveling is one of the fastest growing trends in travel today. The idea is to enrich the traveler’s experience while giving back to the local community. 　　Judith Lopez, who runs a center for orphans outside Antigua, Guatemala, said, “I am grateful for the help that volunteers give. Most of the kids at the centre don’t have parents. There are three volunteers here now. They give the kids what they need most: love and encouragement.” 　　Volunteer tourism has grown rapidly and naturally over the past 20 years. It combines travel with service, allowing travelers to use their time, passions and skills towards volunteer opportunities in education, public health, environmental conservation, agriculture, housing development, scientific research, and other arenas. 　　Mary Coyne, a 17-year-old voluntourist, is glad that she spent her summer vacation at the orphanage instead of at the beach. 　　“Well, I want to come down and learn something and figure out how to help or be a part of something,” said Coyne. “I’m not getting a suntan or not eating ice cream. But it’s something different. It’s like your whole being is satisfied because of experiences like this.”