Become A Change Ambassador
By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large
September 2006
Do you ever find yourself reflecting on how much you wish you could somehow make a difference? Many people face the problem of a busy routine crammed with work and family obligations. If this routine gets in the way of doing something to impact the world, then join the club. Many Americans feel the increased pressure to juggle various responsibilities and are choosing to do something about it by merging their leisure time with the opportunity to make a difference.
As a travel editor, I keep an eye on industry trends and a big one for 2007 and beyond is voluntourism, a new kind of vacation that combines volunteer work with leisure travel.. My 2006 travel forecast poll showed that 15 percent of travelers intend to take some kind of volunteer, religious or educational trip this year. Six percent of travelers plan to take a volunteer trip, and it looks like that number is growing. At Travelocity, we're really inspired by the idea of voluntourism and have come up with a name for this kind of traveler. We call them change ambassadors.
Change ambassadors quite literally travel for good. To make it easier for all travelers to become change ambassadors, Travelocity developed the Travel for Good program, which spotlights volunteer opportunities around the world. Did you know that you and your travel companions can volunteer during your entire vacation or even just for a day? The wide range of volunteer activities open to travelers may be surprising. Consider cleaning up a National Park; planting a garden; working with endangered species; teaching English; or building schools. These opportunities are just a sampling of the options available through volunteer organization around the world. Interested volunteers can plan by destination or activity. Want to see a new side of Thailand, Africa, Ecuador or Mississippi? For inspiring voluntourism ideas, visit www.travelocity.com/travelforgood.
I believe it's important to cultivate a culture of giving back. Each of us can do this with one hour, one dollar or one small act at a time. You don't have to be Warren Buffet or Bill Gates to make a difference. You, too, can become a change ambassador. Imagine how different America would be if all 300 million of us donated a single day a year to volunteering.
At Travelocity, we're inviting our employees and millions of members to give their time on Sept. 30 in conjunction with National Public Lands Day or on Oct. 28 for National Make a Difference Day – because you have to start change somewhere. For more information, visit www.travelocity.com/travelforgood.
By becoming a change ambassador, you can help build bridges to a world of tomorrow. And, who knows? You may find that a volunteer vacation may be just the antidote you need for your chaotic life.
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