Anyone interested in volunteering should consider booking their trip through ‘Fly For Good’. Dedicated to creating opportunities for non-profit organisations they provide discounts on flights and other professional services to make it easier for volunteers to make a difference.
As an…
Discounted airfare. Perfect for a summer volunteer getaway!
Volunteers Can Have Their Fruit… and Eat It, Too
Working on a farm during the summer does not attract every volunteer - smelly animals, manual labor, hot weather and throwing your back out while picking produce. However, Denver Post writer Sean O’Driscoll saw the appeal in “working for your keep” on an organic farm in Williamsburg, NY, when he saw an ad on Craigslist.
This particular farm was located near local Long Island wineries and beaches. Not a bad start. Also, transportation from New York City, accommodations and a bicycle to get around were provided. Some of the tasks were a bit more trying than others, and included mowing, feeding chickens and picking tomatoes. While Sean was tired at the end of the day, he got to enjoy the beach, shooting stars and free organic farm meals. By the end of the week-long trip, O’Driscoll only spent money when he went out to dinner one night.
A volunteer vacation to an organic farm with no costs would definitely be a perfect summer activity. With the fresh crops, farm animals, warm beach weather and a free place to stay - it would be hard to say no. By the end of they day, you would really enjoy your hard-earned meal. The experience is very unique and something to cross off your bucket list. How many of your friends can say they’ve lived and worked on an organic farm?
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a world wide network to link volunteers with organic farmers.
There are also some opportunities in Riverhead and Long Island in New York at Garden of Eve and Palmer Vineyard.
Tour the Wonders of Japan & Help Out Simultaneously
With 15,281 deaths, 5,363 injuries and 8,492 missing persons, the March 2011 disaster in Japan took a huge toll on the country and effected everyone around the world.
While there are many ways people have been able to help, whether it is spreading awareness through Twitter or donating money via iTunes or Facebook applications, there are a few unique ways as well. A Japanese travel site, H.I.S. International Tours/Destination Japan, offers a tour that will help those still suffering from the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. The two-day tour departs from Tokyo and is $278 per person. It allows people to go to the site of wreckage and experience first-hand what Japan’s residents are going through. The tour emphasizes that volunteer work will be “serious and challenging” - requiring heavy-duty work clothes, goggles, surgical masks, and volunteers who are completely committed and “heartfelt.”
Visiting Japan: A Personal Reflection
“I wanted to provide something that would give people a meaningful and hands-on chance to help Japan and at the same time educate people that the destroyed area is limited and much of Japan was unaffected by the events of March 11,” said Jim Kelly, VP of US Market Development in Los Angeles.
This brings up a good point that if we, as tourists, want to visit Japan in the near future, we need to help rebuild it. MyImpact’s intern, Thien-Y, was fortunate enough to go to Tokyo and Kyoto on her way back from Vietnam in 2008. Both cities were very different, with Tokyo being very fast-paced and trendy, while Kyoto is traditional with an air of tranquility. She said both cities were equally as amazing - emphasizing the importance in getting these cities back to their original state.
Tokyo at night
Sushi, made fresh to order
How To Help Japan
While some of us may not have the time or money to visit Japan and physically assist those in need, it reminds us we can still help. However, there are a variety of organizations and networks we can connect with to do our part. We can donate to the Red Cross by text messaging REDCROSS to 90999, which will donate $10 to their humanitarian efforts for each text. On Mercy Corps, a donation of your choice can easily be entered to provide supplies for those in need, as well as help fund a program for children’s emotional recovery from the disaster.
The Tōhoku earthquake was the largest to ever hit Japan and ranked as the one of the five most powerful since 1900. As a result, the earthquake triggered an extremely destructive tsunami, with waves reaching as high as 128 feet, as well as multiple nuclear accidents. Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, said it was the most difficult financial crisis since the end of World War II. Help came from donations from organizations such as the Red Cross, as well as search and rescue teams.
