Travel with Purpose: Volunteer Vacations That Make a Real Difference

Times like these remind us of how important it is to band together as a community (locally and globally) and make the world a little more hospitable for one another. Fathom contributors have a few ideas on how to make your next trip count. 

Starting with a simple web search of "volunteer + vacation," architect Steven Lerner found an opportunity to try something new, to look beyond his own world, and volunteer his time in Peru — where he worked with other designers to build a greenhouse for schoolchildren.
Read It: From Drafting Table to Mud Bricks 

Amy Schoenberger heads to Morocco with some of the board members of Nest, a non-profit that gives loans to women artisans in developing countries and provides education, business training, and access to the Western market. 
Read It: Building a Nest in Morocco 

The Pachamama Alliance is a non-profit dedicated to protecting rain forests and the indigenous people who live within them, primarily in South America. Proceeds from their group trips benefit indigenous populations and specifically help rain forest communities in Ecuador protect their land from invading oil companies. Alisa Gould-Simon reports on her experience.
Read It: Giving Back – The Pachamama Alliance 

HOW TO HELP AT HOME

- Give monetary relief to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or American Humane Society via text
- Make an emergency gift to Fund for Trees at The New York Botanical Garden
- Check out Google's NYC Shelter Map and drop by an emergency shelter to lend a hand 

This post is sponsored by HomeAway. HomeAway offers the world's largest selection of vacation home rentals that provide travelers with memorable vacation experiences and benefits, including more room to relax and added privacy, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations. Make memories where you stay, not just where you go. HomeAway.com - let's stay together.