VolunTourism Review For Week 16, 2009
This week saw some media cross-over between volunteering, voluntouring, and Earth Day as Canada and the U.S. celebrated National Volunteer Week, and the world celebrated Earth Day. CNN took a look at “mature” volunteers and voluntourists, while Seattle-based, Hands On Network affiliate, Seattle Works, showcased their new partnership with the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Probably the biggest announcement, however, was the signing of the Serve America Act into law on 21 April 2009, by President Barack Obama. But first, we’ll touch on the 10th Anniversary of Biosphere Expeditions.
Biosphere Expeditions Turns “10″
Kathy Wilden and Erin McCloskey of Biosphere Expeditions joined me on 21 April 2009 to discuss the first ten years of operations for this voluntourism programme headquartered in the UK. There were a number of points that these ladies made during the conversation; what struck me most, however, were the stories they were able to share via their own experiences and those of former voluntourists.
President Barack Obama Signs The Serve America Act Into Law
As with almost everything that has to do with politics, this Law represents a mixture of opportunities and challenges for the voluntourism industry overall. On the plus side, the monies being set aside through this Law could provide needed support for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and nonprofit organizations serving U.S. destinations. Through collaboration, DMOs and nonprofits may be able to tap into funds for capacity building among other things. (To read a complete list of possibilities, click here.) I have already touched on the potential challenges posed by funding from the law that is earmarked for international volunteering. We will make every effort to minimize these challenges in the weeks and months ahead.
A Co-Celebration: National Volunteer Week & Earth Day
The media enjoyed a week of celebrating volunteerism and, in some cases, voluntourism, with a mixed helping of Earth Day coverage. CNN posted a piece by Stephanie Chen entitled “More Older Americans Signing On To Volunteer Abroad.” MSNBC.com offered a piece in concert with Travel & Leisure entitled “Best Save-The-Earth-Trips.” Marieke van der Velden inked a piece for Matador entitled “From Elephant Tourism To Elephant Voluntourism,” certainly appropriate for the Earth Day spirit. And Seattle Works posted a short piece on their blog regarding their alliance with the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Social Innovation Fund, L3C Designation, And B-Corporations
The debate as to whether social entrepreneurism must reside in either the nonprofit or the for-profit sector experienced another blurring of the lines over the last couple of weeks. With Sonal Shah, former Google.org global development director, being named the new head of the Social Innovation Fund as part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP), we could see a real boost in the chances of for-profit structures to benefit from tax breaks and funding streams traditionally granted solely to the nonprofit sector. The introduction of L3C’s and a strong push by B-Lab to create tax breaks for B-Corporations could mean very good things for for-profits in the voluntourism sector. Read More>>>
The Week Ahead
- Journeys Within Our Community’s Founder, Andrea Ross, will join me along with two of her current voluntourists and one of her past voluntourists to discuss this program.
- The May issue of Business Traveller Magazine should hit the newstands with a piece on voluntourism
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