Have you heard of any volunteer activities like planting trees, cleaning up the community and looking after the old people? But do you know what is volunteer travel? It is a new and popular volunteer activity among young people.
The main purpose of volunteer travel is to take part in service activities to help others. During the trip, volunteer travelers often provide services like teaching, cooking, animal caring.and cultural activities. The volunteers may get free or cheaper accommodation (住处), and meals because of their help.
It seems that these long journeys could only be made possible in recent years by modern transport. However, volunteer travel started in the 1960s, when Alee Dickson and his wife Mora from the UK founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), an international volunteer organization.
Traditionally, the volunteer activities take place in a foreign country. But so far, more volunteer trips have taken place in the volunteers’ own countries. Volunteer projects in the countryside are now attracting more visitors living in the cities.
By doing voluntary work while traveling, travelers may make a real and positive influence on the world. The services volunteers provide can reduce the costs for the communities they serve. Another advantage of volunteer travel is that it helps people living in cities experience the life in the countryside. For those who are tired of city life but can’t move to the countryside, volunteer travel can be a way. In this way, travelers have a chance to relax themselves from their busy lives.
【小题1】What is volunteer travel?【小题2】Why do people have volunteer travel?
【小题3】Where do the volunteer activities take place traditionally?
【小题4】How do the travelers make influence on the world?
【小题5】Do travelers enjoy themselves from their busy lives?
