You are right – people who volunteer with JWOC, or other organizations will have such deeper memories than those just touring through, not to mention a positive impact on a needy community. Hopefully the volunteer/tour trend is one that will catch on!

A very powerful story. The notion of leaving a bit of yourself behind every time you travel has likely occurred to every tourist and only a handful have had the courage to act on it in a meaningful way. It is easy to be positively affected by the dramatic changes in lifestyles whenever we immerse ourselves in a new culture and even easier to feel magnanimous. So, the fact that JournesWithin has found a way to create a fair, balanced way to give back to the community without falling into ill-fated donations is outstanding.

Makes you wonder why there are not more tour operators with an acute knowledge of their people and region and the knowledge to create first-class experiences that can transform lives for both locals and visitors alike.

This is all that travel should be.