Travel with Purpose

April 1, 2019

Expedition News blogger and author (Get Sponsored) Blumenfeld credits well-known travel writer Alison Gardner with coining the term voluntourism. Such intentional activities allow people to mix travel with purpose. Blumenfeld places the rise of volunteerism into context, offers tips for choosing worthy projects and insights into adapting and tolerating suboptimal living conditions, safety advice, and examples of various voluntourist trips taken by himself, friends, and acquaintances. The author does not shy away from some of the less-savory aspects of voluntourism, such as narcissistic motivations, economic privilege, and criminal intent. The final chapter gives useful information about funding volunteer projects, including the use of social media and crowdsourcing; securing corporate sponsors; and expressing gratitude before, during, and after the trip. Appendixes include an annotated list of useful links, Smartphone apps, travel books, and videos. VERDICT Altruistic travelers will appreciate the information provided here.--Elizabeth Connor, Daniel Lib., The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Charleston

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2019
Well-traveled expert Blumenfeld (You Want to Go Where?, 2009) shares many ways to combine the spirit of volunteerism with a vacation. As he tells stories of his own good deeds abroad?being part of a medical mission in Nepal, chaperoning a high-school expedition to Antarctica?he also expounds on this booming subindustry, its growth, how to select the right project, and the good and not-so-great sides of volunteering outside of the U.S. He writes well, with a good eye for memorable details, and provides a wealth of dos and don'ts for starting to help readers learn new skills, lower expectations about what the work will be, avoid some of the darker issues (such as lack of sustainability and, unfortunately, human trafficking), and fund the project. Among his stories and advice are tales of a just-married couple who raised funds to enjoy a volun-honeymoon, and a young woman who fundraised through a unique combination of creative food-related events. Blumenfeld leaves almost nothing to the imagination, with appendixes on volunteerism resources, best travel applications, favorite travel books, and volunteerism videos, along with notes and a bibliography. Who wouldn't agree with Albert Schweitzer? Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)