To volunteer is becoming an increasingly popular way of not only seeing the world, but physically taking part in building a better and brighter tomorrow. And there is no better way to find cheap travel that still will take you to parts of the world that you would only dream about being able to visit.

Volunteer travel by Visions Service Adventures

A cheap travel does not have to correspond to having a cheap experience. Quite the contrary is true regarding volunteer work. There are so many areas were your help would be appreciated, such as lending a hand in the building of a school in the village of a developing country.

Or why not help these children to learn how to read and write, an effort that will prepare these children for an increasingly globalized future, making them more adapt to correspond to the demands of their future. This is a win-win situation if ever there was one. A cheap way to travel, but the feeling of accomplishment you will take away from the trip will be a source of joy and fulfilment for the rest of your life.

So you are just a cheap travel away from changing the lives of so many children and their parents. People that have been left in the backwater, struggling with poverty, everyday is a constant battle of doing their best in order to simply stay alive. You can work with building projects, in health care or education. Just take your pick and make a difference.

Volunteer work also involves a lot of environmental issues, and efforts to protect endangered species of animals.

It is the cheapest way to travel, especially considering that food and accommodation is included in the amount you pay to the volunteer company organizing the trip. Testimonials given by previous volunteers are all ranting and raving about this unique opportunity of seeing the world and at the same time changing it. One brick at a time. One English lesson at a time. One flu-shot at a time.

The inspiration that you will get from the people there will be as beneficial to your own personal progress as your help will be beneficial to their community. Here you are not only crossing a country, going from one place to another in a restless hunt for new adventures. This is your chance to truly gain some insight in to what the true nature of life really means for people in developing countries.

So if you are looking for that ultimate combination of a cheap travel that is rich in experience, there is hardly a better way to do it than signing up for a volunteer program. To live with a host family is unbeatable if you truly want to get under the skin of a different culture, if you want to learn about its weaknesses, its strengths, and its idiosyncrasies.

Author Bio: Carlita Morandi is experienced traveller. She like to write about the different tourist places she has been. Her favourite destination is the Caribbean (as the Danes say Caribien).

The post Volunteer- A Cheap Travel, Rich In Spirit appeared first on Europe Explored.

volunteers at work by US Army Corps of Engineers

Motivation

By no means is this intended to discourage you from going to volunteer abroad, but it is important not to expect too much from your weeks away from home. You may make a difference on the day, but the biggest change will come from what you bring back home with you; the volunteering experience itself could be the start of a career in the third sector, or a kick start to your interest in political or social activism. The organisers too will be aware of the trip’s import: at its heart your trip is a very focused and purposeful vacation, which is obviously a pretty great way to spend your free time, but if the sole purpose of their organisation was to build a school or teach English, they would be better off training local people or using local resources. Avoid disappointment! Be pragmatic. Remember that your trip is more about challenging yourself than changing the world.

With all that in mind, volunteering gives you a great chance to see the world and have a substantial experience at the same time. Plus, if you’re careful with your time you can still do a good day’s work and do some exploring on the side, and see how other places in the world operate differently to how you are accustomed.

Requirements

Your trip will be fun and hopefully expand your conception of what it is to be alive in the 21st century, but there’s a chance there will be low moments too. Being prepared is the best way to deal with anything negative that comes your way, and then to push through it.

Depending on where you’re travelling to, you may be a long way from a lot of the things you take for granted, like reliable plumbing, or even hot water and electricity. Most international volunteering schemes go to developing nations, and you may have to put up with uncomfortable lodging, tough working conditions, bad food, and most importantly seeing a part of the world suffering from real poverty. Some things you see might make you see the world in a different way forever, and might be difficult to cope with. This is a time to talk to people you can trust: being a long way from home without support mechanisms can be very tough.

The flip side of the same issue is that this can be a great time to learn about yourself and to grow emotionally. The opportunity to push yourself far beyond your comfort zone is a rare one, particularly when you return to a country where life is relatively easy. You might get the chance to organise your own itinerary, learn new skills, make friends and contacts that last a lifetime. Make your own adventures.

And if you are lucky enough to go somewhere with a decent internet infrastructure, be sure to make the most of the international calls you can make online. Your family and friends may be just as eager to hear about your adventures as you are to have them!

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Skype.com.

The post Tips on How to Volunteer Abroad appeared first on Europe Explored.

Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by rjime31

The Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is a beautiful and biodiverse ecosystem. There are more than 30 different species of birdlife that make their way to the lagoon every single year to breed. There are also countless priceless species of fauna that can be found only in the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. And of course while all these make visiting the lagoon a popular choice, it is the hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos that has attracted so many visitors over the years.

Today, thousands of newborn chicks see their first sunrise over the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. Thanks to help of more than 300 volunteers who monitor the flamingos as well as make sure that they are all healthy as possible. And while the pink flamingo can be seen throughout the year especially in the months between February and August, it is only during the middle of July that their eggs hatch.

It is important to point out, that the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is not freshwater; but rather it is brackish. As a result, due to the amount of evaporation in the area, there is always a thin layer of salt crystals floating on the surface of the lagoon. As a result, some of the best photo picking opportunities imaginable will occur as assigned begins to set and its reflection can be seen across the surface of the lagoon as if there were a large perfectly smooth mirror.

Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by Tyk

It is simply amazing how far the pink flamingos travel here just to reach the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. However it is not uncommon for the birds to travel more than 1000 kilometres every single year. And what is more, is that for centuries, the pink flamingo has chosen to breed in the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon over any other location in the world.

After breeding, a pair of flamingos will share the responsibility of rearing their chick. The female will lay only a single egg per year and for 29 days will painstakingly monitor and incubate the eggs until it hatches. It is simply amazing to not only watch the courtship dance between flamingos, but also the loving and nurturing that the two, mother and father flamingos, show to the newborn chick as they bring into the world and raise it to maturity.

When you choose to visit the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, you are choosing to take part in one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders that the world has ever known.

The post Laguna de Fuente de Piedra – one of the largest colonies of pink flamingos in Europe | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.