Can Volunteering Make A Difference?

In a time when technology is constantly progressing, there are more and more ways to be constantly updated about world events, social hardship and vanishing eco-systems. Unless you’ve got very green fingers or a lot money it can be difficult to imagine affecting such large-scale problems. However, gradual changes are being made and sustainable tourism is becoming the most popular way to see the planet. The key is to focus on making small positive differences and not expect to solve the world’s problems on one volunteer project. Planting a few trees or teaching a child a few words of English may not seem like much on its own, but if everyone does their bit then all those little changes can make a big difference.
Can tourism help?
This may seem like an odd question, after all how can tourism be the answer when it is responsible for much of the damage? If the flow of travellers is a little more measured, it can actually have a very positive effect on a local area. The United Nations has declared tourism an important source of foreign exchange and employment in developing countries. Sounds complicated but what it means is that tourism can actually help bring money into countries where it’s badly needed. What’s more, an income from tourism gives people both the means and the incentive to further protect their area. Too many tourists can threaten the delicate balance though. In Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands for example, growing popularity brings with it a real threat to the eco-system. As long as a place doesn’t get trampled under too many sturdy hiking boots and travellers act responsibly when they’re there, tourism can be a positive thing.

A company to trust
Take time to do your research and there’s no reason why you can’t make a difference when you travel. If you’re going to travel half way round the world you need to be sure that once you get there you will be working on a project that really needs your help. To get the most out of volunteering the most important thing to find out is the relationship between the sending agency and the local organisation. If there isn’t a partnership between the two then you could end up on a project that local people don’t need or want. Make sure the sending agency can tell you about the project you will be visiting and give a basic description of your tasks. A good company should help locate and deliver volunteers to worthwhile projects rather than set up their own to meet demand.

What can be done?
It makes sense that volunteers work that little harder and leave that little bit more satisfied when they choose to dedicate their time to something they really care about. It’s important for volunteers to identify their passion and in what area they really want to make a difference.

• Teaching English
The British Council estimates that by 2010 around one third of the world will be learning English, and it’s not difficult to see why. As an official ‘international language’ English is used important for business but it’s also important for tourism. For people living in developing countries who want to take advantage of new opportunities then the ability to speak English is a key skill. Teaching English while you travel is your chance to directly improve the lives of dozens of people.

• Conservation
Some of the most beautiful parts of the world are also the most fragile and it’s important that their beauty stays famous for the right reasons. Whether you are replanting trees, helping protect marine life or protecting local wildlife, conservation projects can definitely help to stem the tide of environmental damage. Charities like the WSPA are keenly aware of the need to protect animals when travelling and offer a lot of information for travellers. It’s surprising how much difference can be made with nothing more than enthusiasm, local knowledge and a shovel!

• Working with people
The advantage of doing community work is that the difference you’re making can be seen right in front of you. Whether it’s the four walls going up on a building project, the smiles of children on a community project or the accurate shooting of the kids on your sports coaching project, it’s an absolute certainty that a positive difference is being made.

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About the Author

I’m totally passionate about travel, it’s been my life and work for a good few years! My travel adventures haven’t really been about seeing monuments etc but far more about people and getting off the beaten track. Even in a country that has large numbers of tourists you can still find hidden places if you look hard enough, living and working in country gives you such a different perception of it and more of a chance to absorb the local culture. I would like to share my many experiences and offer a little advice if I can to fellow travellers or anyone who is just about to set off on a life changing trip!

Volunteer Abroad Uganda Africa Opportunities Program Kampala www.abroaderview.org

The Volunteer $19.99 The riveting story of a Canadian who serves as a senior officer in Israel’s legendary Mossad. In 1982 a young Michael Ross joins the legion of Canadian twenty-somethings backpacking in Europe. Through happenstance, he winds up working on a Kibbutz in Israel, where he falls in love with the land and its ancient, multi-layered history. He immerses himself in Israeli culture, converts to Judaism, and adopts his new country’s struggle for survival as his own, joining the Israel Defence Force and eventually Mossad’s most elite and storied covert-operations unit, Caesaria. For seven-and-a-half years, Ross worked as an undercover agent — a classic spy. In The Volunteer, he describes his role in missions to foil attempts by Syria, Libya, and Iran to acquire advanced weapons technology. He tells of his part in the capture of three senior al Qaeda operatives who masterminded the 1998 attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; a joint Mossad-FBI operation that uncovered a senior Hezbollah terrorist based in the United States; and a mission to South Africa in which he intercepted Iranian agents seeking to expand their country’s military arsenal; and two-and-a-half years as Mossad’s Counterterrorism Liaison Officer to the CIA and FBI. Many of the operations Ross describes have never before been revealed to the public. My first face-to-face encounter with the entity the world now knows as al Qaeda began on Friday, August 7, 1998, the day the group detonated truck bombs outside U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing 291 innocents, including 12 U.S. citizens, and injuring over 4,500 African bystanders. On August 7, I was at home in Israel, enjoying a rare day off, but soon after the blasts, my pager went off. It was an urgent request to call the Mossad’s 24/7 communications center. I checked in by phone, then raced to HQ in my tiny Renault, running up the two flights of stairs to the counterterrorism department. There, I found Etti, an analyst in the “World Jihad” branch (known informally as the department of “awful Ahmeds”) and a few others studying the cable traffic from our liaison station in Nairobi. I noticed Etti had a cigarette going — despite the no-smoking policy at HQ, it was the sort of thing a tough old hand like Etti could get away with under these circumstances. She greeted me with her usual flurry of casual obscenities, and handed me a stack of reports that brought me up to speed. — From The Volunteer From the Hardcover edition.

Soul of a Lion: One Woman’s Quest to Rescue Africa’s Wildlife Refugees $21.48 For animal lovers, nature enthusiasts, and the vast readership for gripping true-life stories, this African saga is a must-read adventure. It chronicles the unique Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Namibia, where Marieta van der Merwe and her family, former wealthy cattle farmers, have sold land to buy and care for embattled wildlife. We meet Sam, the "AIDS" lion infected by mistake at a vet clinic. Boerjke, a baboon with epilepsy and Down syndrome. Savanna, the one-eyed lioness. And Marieta van der Merwe herself, the inspiring proprietor of Harnas who shares her home with needy wild animals. Survivor of an early life fraught with personal tragedy in the African Bush, she now devotes herself as care-giver and ambassador for wildlife and wildland. Told with insight, humor, and thrilling immediacy by author and Harnas volunteer Barbara Bennett, this story will captivate readers of all ages.

The Ultimate African Wildlife $16.48 A portfolio of Nigel Dennis’s best work selected from 30,000 images of Africa’s spectacular wildlife, taken over a period of 10 years. The stunning larger than life photographs–over 200 in total–cover most of the larger mammals in Africa, broken down into six main groupings together with separate chapters on birds and reptiles, as well as a chapter on Madagascar.This collection of photographs is thus a tribute to an inspiring naturalist and an extraordinary artist who has sought to capture the very essence of the land and the animals he has grown to love.The photographs are presented with concise text by Brian Johnson Barker and consultant Gus Mills, a well-known authority on wildlife.

The Student Volunteer; Official Organ of the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions $22.48 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1894 Original Publisher: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions Subjects: Missions College students in missionary work Religion / Christian Ministry / Missions Religion / Christian Ministry / General Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: The wicked lives of many commercial and political representatives of Christian nations, in mission lands. The indifference to missions and the worldliness of many American Christians. Suggestions. If possible the topics should be presented without reading prepared papers. They will be much more effective if given as talks. Concrete facts to illustrate each should be given. Five minutes might be allowed for the first topic and seven for each of the others. After the difficulties have been thus presented, five or six instances of the wonderful disappearance of other barriers might well be given by as many students. These should be looked up by the leader and briefly stated in the form to be used. The songs should be expressive of conflict and hope. Either just before the close of the meeting or between the different topics, there should be definite prayer that these special difficulties should be removed, and the missionaries strengthened in faith and hope. Literature on the subject. All the topics are more or less treated in Pierson’s ‘Crisis of Missions," and Dennis’ "Foreign Missions after a Century." Almost every book on India treats of the Caste System. Africa and Rum — See Missionary Review of the World, June and August, 18SS, pages 151 and 292, 1889. Slave Trade — Missionary Review. November, 1888. Persecution in Turkey, Missionary Review, Murch, 1888, and recent numbers of the Mis…

Wildlife of South Africa: A Photographic Guide $18.48 A handy, all-in-one photographic field guide to the wildlife of South Africa, this guide covers the region’s mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and trees most likely to be seen, with concise accounts and distribution maps for each species. A brief introduction discusses geology, climate, vegetation zones, wildlife hotspots, and tips on watching wildlife.

Wildlife of East Africa $17.48 Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, "Wildlife of East Africa" takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included–from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes–also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years. Each species is illustrated with a photo and a detailed entry on the facing page; the text is commendably rich for such a compact guide. This information enables the particular animal or plant to be identified by such traits as size, plumage or pelage, color, and shape. An opening section on wildlife photography provides helpful tips on the best type of camera, film, and lenses to use, techniques, and codes of conduct. "Wildlife of East Africa" is a must for anyone considering a first-hand look at, or simply daydreaming of, the elegant, enormous, or exotic wildlife of East Africa. Covers the main parks and reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, plus surrounding countries475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower–from ostriches to elephants, leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloesFull-color photographs and detailed entries describing each speciesWritten and illustrated by wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in East Africa for more than 20 yearsTips on wildlife photography, techniques, and codes of conduct

Wildlife – India, Africa/Africa $6.93 Description Not Available.

Africa & the Middle East $65 This work provides an overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the continent of Africa and the Middle East. It explores the impact global pollution and a burgeoning population are having on landscape and wildlife alike.

South Africa $66.48 From its rugged coastlines to its lush vineyards and windswept deserts, South Africa is one of the most remarkable places on Earth. The stunningly diverse landscapes and rich tapestry of humanity are all captured in this latest work from photographic master Michael Poliza. Settling here for seven years after an epic round-the-world trip, Poliza developed a deep affection for this dramatic land and its captivating peoples. Sharing every aspect of its topography, wildlife, cultures, and landmarks, this adventurous photographer creates a fascinating homage to this compelling country.

Concepts of Nature: A Wildlife Photographer’s Art $7.98 Andy Rouse has gained a reputation for getting in close, really close, to his subjects, which range from lions and elephants in Africa to penguins in Antarctica, taking in a whole host of African, European, and North American wildlife on the way. The first part of his book, "Visions," presents the photographs, many never before published, which he feels were the landmarks in his career and in his development from a "one big shot" specialist to an artist who can capture the whole story of a species and its environment. Next, in "Expression," he discusses and illustrates the ideas and techniques that have enabled him to create a series of themed portfolios devoted to a single species or ecosystem, such as those he made in South Georgia and Antarctica. Finally, in "Inspiration," he turns to the work of other wildlife photographers who have inspired and influenced him. There is also an appendix with technical details of the individual photographs. For aspiring wildlife photographers, this book will be a motivation, showing just what can be achieved with skill, patience, and an extraordinary eye for the telling and dramatic shot, and it will also be treasured by wildlife enthusiasts.

Wildlife Rescue: The Work of Kathleen Ramsay $21.48 The story of Dr. Kathleen Ramsay’s wildlife center in New Mexico.

Africa: A Photographic Safari $24.48 Ever since he was a teenager growing up in Houston, Texas, Carlyle Thompson wanted to visit Africa. In 2006, he got his chance. Thompson shares his incredible journey to one of the world’s most mysterious countries in "Africa: A Photographic Safari." Instead of traveling to Africa as a tourist, Thompson chose to go as a photographer. He explores the red soil of Africa for five days in the bush, and through the lens of his camera he is exposed to a completely different aspect of visiting a foreign country. From wildlife safaris to coming face-to-face with the Laikipia Masai and Samburu people, Thompson experiences Africa at its most intimate. Thompson’s stunning pictures and vivid descriptions create a sobering portrait of Africa’s poverty. In a place so rich in mystical beauty, minerals, and wildlife, Africa’s poor present a marked contrast to their environment. Yet Thompson shows the warmth and strength of these people who love life despite having to do without. A truly remarkable work, "Africa: A Photographic Safari" takes you into the very heart of Africa and reveals the triumphant nature of the human spirit.

Destination Wildlife $16.99 1,001 animals to see before they die. From the world’s only multi-species primate sanctuary in South Africa, to the wild ponies of Assateague Island, to the Blue-Footed Boobies of the Galapagos Islands, Destination Wildlife provides all the information the intrepid traveler looking for the best wildlife experiences could need-and rarely finds in other travel guides. Written from a visitor’s perspective-and informed by the National Wildlife Federation and other naturalists- each site in Destination Wildlife has been evaluated by real eco-travelers who have provided insider tips and suggestions that give the what, when, where, how and- most important-the why of every site to maximize each wildlife experience.

Politicians and Poachers: The Political Economy of Wildlife Policy in Africa $53.98 This book explores the politics of wildlife conservation policy in Africa, specifically Zambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The book addresses a general question: Why don’t wildlife policies seem to be working? Rather than use standard explanations such as "bureaucratic inefficiency" or "corrupt dictators," the book demonstrates how politicians at all levels use wildlife policy for their own political ends, which may or may not include conservation. The book uses electoral and archival data, as well as interviews with individuals ranging from presidents to poachers to address this issue.

Africa $4.48 Scientific evidence affirms that the first humans emerged on the continent of Africa. Despite this primal connection, Africa remains unknown to most people; too often it is a place associated with famine, frightening diseases, and incomprehensible tribalism — or it is envisioned as a giant safari park. And for millions of African Americans, Africa is little more than a distant idea, placed beyond the bounds of memory by the breach of slavery. In Africa, acclaimed author John Reader and renowned photographer Michael Lewis render a remarkable portrait of the continent, capturing in exquisite photographs and text the complex, diverse life story of Africa’s many peoples, myriad landscapes, and teeming wildlife. To be released in conjunction with PBS and National Geographic’s highly anticipated eight-hour television series, Reader’s book is organized into eight sections, each focused on a distinct region, and presents, for the first time, a consolidated image of contemporary Africa within the context of its geography. From the searing North African Sahara to the great Southern Veld, from the snow-capped majesty of Kilimanjaro to the mighty Niger River, this volume is an altogether captivating revelation of a massive, mysterious land.

Lonely Planet Watching Wildlife East Africa $17.48 Get up close and personal with East Africa’s incredible wildlife with this all-in-one safari guide The hoofbeats of 500,000 wildebeests echo across the Serengeti Plains; a group of mountain gorillas lounge in shady undergrowth; a pink haze of flamingos wade in the shallows. Whether you’re on a top-shelf luxury safari or going it alone in a rented minivan, prepare for the wildlife experience of your life. In This Guide: What do you want to see? Highlights and customized itineraries give you the top wildlife experiences Plan your safai with practical advice from Lonely Planet’s Africa experts Discover what’s where and how to find it – indepth coverage of the major parks and reserves Be first to name-check a Kirk’s dik-dik with our essential wildlife-spotting guide

Lonely Planet Watching Wildlife Southern Africa $14.98 Get up close and personal with Southern Africa’s amazing wildlife with this all-in-one safari guide Cheetah and springbok race in a 100km/hour sprint to the death in the Kalahari; a vast grey mass of elephants surround you on their way to the riverbanks; a million flamingos lay a pink planket over the mudflats. Whether you’re on a top-shelf luxury safari or going it alone in a rented minivan, prepare for the wildlife experience of your life. In This Guide: What do you want to see? Highlights and customized itineraries give you the top wildlife experiences Plan your safai with practical advice from Lonely Planet’s Africa experts Discover what’s where and how to find it – indepth coverage of the major parks and reserves Be first to name-check a samango moneky with our essential wildlife-spotting guide

The Patriotic Volunteer $12.48 This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts – the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Volunteer Memories $17.98 This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

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