I have just returned from three weeks in The Gambia…to catch up on the adult education and business projects we support and to learn more about the new women’s empowerment programme we are working with – No Woman Left Behind. I’m not going to write about how tough it’s been in the past couple of years in The Gambia – that’s true for most of us and certainly everywhere we work. Nor am I going to write much about the…
There has been much criticism of volunteer travel – and “voluntourism” recently. (Where and how the two differ and the confusion caused by the subjective use of the two terms is fodder for a whole other post – I must do that one day soon!) We at people and places are leading much of that criticism – I like to think that we campaign by demonstrating good practise and highlighting bad practise…. but I am concerned that we may be…
Some musings by Sallie as published by Volunteer Forever -( a great site for info and fundraising for your volunteer trip. and how clever is the graphic!) This is my take on the most common mistakes made BEFORE, DURING and AFTER volunteering. I want to precurse by stating clearly that I believe the vast majority of people who volunteer are doing so with the best of intentions. Our work at people and places brings us into contact with some pretty blooming marvelous people – some…
There is much debate about the ethics of volunteering in orphanages – we at people and places are leading a fair bit of it! Yesterday on twitter @pandpvolunteer I “met ” Mandy who for some of her childhood lived in a children’s home – below is her story – it is a powerful voice for the children and carries invaluable advice for volunteers. Thanks so much Mandy If you’d like to learn more about the Better Child Protection click here and…
Many of you will have heard of Tribes Travel – they are award winners. A small, personalised tour operator run by husband and wife team Amanda and Guy, Tribes specialise in personal service – for the traveller and for the communities they visit. “… we believe that the very best tailor made holidays are the ones which not only make you feel special and help you engage with the places you visit, but which, at no extra cost to you, also allow…