[DAY 51] NATJA - the North American Travel Journalists’ Association - is asking for stories about the #poweroftravel this week.
••
One of the trips that made me realize a lot about the power we hold as travelers was my visit to San Miguel de Allende in #Mexico, to see how the volunteer organization Centro Infantil de los Angeles works. Why? Because it’s one of the rare NGOs doing things right!
••
There are so many voluntourism organizations out there that end up hurting communities. Travelers may go with the best of intentions to help, and don’t realize the inadvertent harm they are causing instead.
••
Centro Infantil is a great example of how travel and money from abroad can be used to help communities. It was started by an American woman who now calls San Miguel home. Instead of using her money to give the community what she thought was best, she actually ASKED the community what they needed most, and how her resources could be put to good use. The answer? Many single mothers needed a safe, educational day care center where they could leave their children while they work to support their families.
••
The few foreign volunteers are fluent in Spanish, and there for the long-term. The organization is mostly run, organized, and staffed by local community members, and the mothers themselves help each other out.
••
Moving forward, keeping in mind the power of travel and how it can be best used or abused to impact the communities we visit will be one of the most important things we do.
.
.
.
.
.
Share this Post
