A new form of voluntourism experience real laos culture while making a hands-on personal contribution via sharing, discovering and participating in daily laos life.

 

Project Voluntourism:

 

Voluntourism seems to be the fastest growth segment in the tourist industry since tourists are searching for more meaningful ways spending their vacations. It is no longer enough for some people to amuse themselves or “come and see” but they are increasingly looking for “come and experience”.

Interestingly enough there is a parallel with the museum world in the west. Museums have become a destination to experience and live art, away from just consuming it.

 

This type of destination experience allows people to gain insight, learn, and understand what is behind ways of living rather than just consuming it like a TV program. The souvenirs of such a stay are the living experiences engraved into your heart rather than just objects picked up on the way. One participates in people’s activities and gets to share some of their lives. The tourists offer some of their time meaningfully participating in a specific activity. In return they receive the experience of discovering and understanding. This is beyond give and take but it is respectfully offering and generously receiving.

 

Project intention:

 

Preserve, keep local wisdom, heritage rooted in generations of traditions for future generations or in other words preventing this immaterial richness from disappearing. This could be summarized as save our heritage.

Looking for things we saw when we were young we found some places where few individuals kept up authentic ways of living inherited from their ancestors. These traditions, this heritage is at the risk of getting lost since youngsters are trading their country life to factory life for making a living.

While there are government efforts to finance community centers to maintain this human/cultural heritage a lack of continuity and follow up lets these projects evaporate.

 

Why is it worthwhile maintaining some of the key traditions/heritage? Upfront it is key for upholding and understanding the identity of groups of people. It represents historic human capital and values in a materialistic consumption driven society where all things are considered disposable as in buy, use, and throw. Keeping in touch with our heritage is a valuable learning ground for respecting on a human level to live in harmony with nature and as such could make an educational contribution towards a better understanding towards efforts to more respectfully treat mother earth.

 

Volunteer opportunities in Luang Prabang include teaching English, Chinese, Japanese and French in the rural and public schools, working with children in local orphanages, or even wildlife conservation. Our clients tell us that including a volunteering project in their lao travels turns them from sightseers and tourists to active participants to discover laos culture via insight experience in a beautiful and ancient culture.

 

Voluntourism Laos will find you bargain travel rates and the best volunteer opportunities available. We are a one-stop package and can manage all your travel needs. Your travel can include a single volunteer experience of a few days, or be devoted entirely to voluntourism.

 

Be our guest.

 

"Apply now" for free if you are interested in our projects