Volunteering Journeys offers unique pleasure and | European Markets

Enriching life-changing experiences for a new type of traveller – that’s the achievement of tour operator Ridhi Patel whose tailor-made journeys for the growing market of golden hole yr volunteers mix pleasure and function broadening their horizons. “We give our customers the best of both worlds so they have time enjoying a destination’s must-see sights while learning about and giving back to the communities they visit,” says pioneer Patel, the founder and managing director of social enterprise Volunteering Journeys (VJ) www.volunteeringjourneys.com

“Our projects are well suited to those who want to take on a challenge, have a career break or fulfil a lifelong ambition to visit a particular place as well as those whose personal circumstances have changed.” The company additionally works with dental and medical college students who wish to mix journey with assembly office necessities. Suggestions exhibits VJ’s adventurers recognize each the simple construction of their journey and the possibility to make new pals whereas free to journey safely solo if they need. For the group hosts – lodging homestay house owners, transport drivers and native employees – there’s the benefit of a new income stream and recognition of what they contribute.

Journeys value from £750 and could be from one to a few weeks. The bulk of Overlaying 9 places, together with India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand and Costa Rica, the tasks concentrate on expertise training from computing to conservation and help developing a small enterprise.

In VJ’s flagship programme in Kerala, south India, a pc lab has been set up to help ladies’s digital literacy. The power permits them to study independently, grow to be economically resilient and so construct a higher future for themselves. In Cambodia a medical placement works with these with disabilities whereas in Sri Lanka there’s a likelihood to help elephants and in The Maldives a likelihood to improve marine life by way of coral restoration. Prospects come from the UK and are feminine, starting from faculty leavers to 85-year-olds. Progress lately in older travellers and customarily amongst 40 to 59-year-olds eager to vacation responsibly has given rise within the industry to the “golden gap year” moniker. 

VJ, which after a scratch begin actually bought going after the pandemic, is now seeing demand grow 46 per cent and forecasts a £150,000 turnover for 2025/26.

Self-funded to this point Patel, a first-time entrepreneur with financial companies experience, embodies what Worldwide Girls’s Day on March 8 and all year long celebrates. With a staff of six she is now able to increase additional with the perfect associate a business angel with between £250,000 and £500,00 capable of contribute online advertising know-how.

On the client facet “we especially welcome volunteers able to help with teaching English and advising local people about setting up their own venture, for example in tailoring and retail,” says Patel. This yr she plans more development of tasks for households the place there might be a summer season camp full of color and enjoyable and openings for older youngsters to have the possibility to work on construction, for instance colleges.

The advantages final long after journeys too with one VJ buyer impressed “to start a new business helping others back home”, Patel recollects. “It’s wonderful to see how interested children become when they are part of a place from the ground up, the enduring impact of good works is astonishing.” Volunteering Journeys