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Time to Help
Exploring Family Service Vacations
By Nancy Taylor
Think of others. Be a role model. Give back to the
community. Who does not aspire to achieve these things
within our families?
Most of us live in communities where we do not want for
much. While our children do catch the occasional glimpse of
poverty, in general it is rare for them to have any actual
experience with it. No matter how hard we try to impress
upon them that they are truly blessed, few children fully
appreciate their material gifts. Making sure our kids
understand that there are many people in the world with far
less than them is very important.
Without a doubt, we all see value in sharing our time and
talents with those in the community who are less fortunate
than ourselves. As well, love of neighbor is a wonderful
virtue to instill in our children. But how do we go about
it? Most kids are naturally eager to please and are willing
to help when given the opportunity. As parents, we can use
this innate altruism to the advantage of our families and
communities. All it takes is a little planning and
creativity.
We can participate in our communities by helping the elderly
or infirmed, keeping tabs on neighbors and friends and
lending a hand where necessary. We can volunteer in our
churches and synagogues.
But what if we want to do something bigger than that? Many
people like the idea of going outside their communities for
projects that will make a difference for those less
fortunate. Yet, even if you have the inclination to spend
Christmas, spring break or a week or more in the summer on a
worthwhile project that fosters family togetherness, you may
find yourself at a loss as to where to begin.
A family service vacation may be just the thing to fill the
bill. More and more families, particularly those with older
children, are traveling all over the world, combining
service and vacation for mutual benefit, and their efforts
are creating a lasting impression for them and the people
they aid. Children gain valuable, first-hand work experience
and, as an added benefit, are able to learn about different
cultures in ways they would never get in the classroom.
Parents are given an opportunity to watch their children in
action. Seeing their willingness to serve can foster more
family togetherness than any conventional vacation will. And
communities that rely heavily on volunteer humanitarian
efforts benefit in ways that would be impossible for them if
no aid were available.
Families who participate in family service vacations are
happy with the results. Parents report that their children
make friends with local kids, see cultures far different
from their own, and have an opportunity to explore foreign
countries. Teenagers work alongside their parents and
siblings, learning to rely on one another in unique ways.
Those overseeing the trips are equally gratified, since work
accomplished by volunteers would not otherwise get done.
If you think a volunteer vacation is something you would
like to explore, there are several things to think about.
1.) Be sure to take into account the type of service you
would like to provide. Organizations have different types of
service vacation programs, so it is important to discuss
family member expectations and areas of interest. Then
choose your organization and program accordingly.
2.) Think about how long your family would like to
participate. Vacations can range from several days to a
couple of months.
3.) Remember to take into account the ages of your children.
Teenagers may like the idea of building homes and shelters
or working in a farming community, while younger children
may not be ready for such heavy work. Keep in mind that
while kids as young as 8 can participate, not every
organization has of program availability for younger
volunteers. The more time and effort you spend making sure
everyone can fully participate, the better your experience
will be.
4.) Pick a country that is of interest to you. Volunteer
vacations will give every member of the family the unique
opportunity to learn the local culture and do a little
sightseeing. Although after-hours entertainment costs are
not part of most program fees, evenings and weekends are
generally available for families to explore their
surroundings.
5.) Be sure to take cost into account. Programs range from
relatively inexpensive; some Quaker program fees are
nominal, to roughly the cost per person of a week at a
resort. As well, program fees generally do not include
transportation. Although volunteer vacations are tax
deductible, the costs can still add up. You might consider
fund-raising if you are so inclined. Many programs offer
excellent ideas about how to begin.
One of the best places to start looking for a family
vacation volunteer program is online. Surf the web to see
what is available. Some websites to explore include:
www.globalcitizens.org, www.crossculturalsolutions.org,
www.vfp.org, www.amigoslink.org, www.habitat.org,
www.dosomething.org and www.globeaware.org.
Remember, with a little creativity and spirit of adventure,
a volunteer vacation may be the best investment you will
ever make in family togetherness.
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