Give Back
The idea of “giving back” while you travel can have many meanings; both positive and negative. Walking into a community with the mindset that you have something to give without understanding what the needs are is an incredible misconception on how you can help. At Purposeful Nomad we really try and reconstruct the standard idea of giving back, volunteering, service- whatever you choose to call it. We have found the most impactful way to “give” is to actually “receive.”
Be Open to Receive
Being open as travelers to receiving information, stories, history and cultural education is one of the best things we can do to give back in an authentic and honest way. The “give back” part of this is creating a mutual understanding and respect between cultures which organically leads to supporting and helping the non-profits, organizations and individuals we choose to work with during our trips. The term that feels more authentic to Purposeful Nomad is “community engagement” and you can find this sprinkled throughout all out trips.
Interview
Abbie Synan recently shared her experiences and thoughts on the community engagement on two Purposeful Nomad trips she took in 2019. Read on to learn about what she learned:
(11/2020 interview with Abbie Synan)
PN: What trip did you go on and in what year?
AB: I've been on 2 PN trips to date, The Rest & Renew trip to the Dominican Republic in 2018 and the Divine Female trip to India in 2019.
PN: What was your favorite part of the trip to India?
Abbie at the sunset in Jaisalmer
AB: How to pick just one! The whole trip was one magical experience after the next. If I had to choose just one part, I'd say having sunset tea at the Palace in Jaisalmer was pretty unexpected and the days we spent with Sambhali Trust were truly special.
PN: How were you able to give back in India?
AB: Giving back in India wasn't in the conventional way you'd think. The cultural exchange we had with Sambhali Trust was a shining example of a way you can interact with a nonprofit while traveling. We spent most of our trip with the two founders of the organization and then had the opportunity to spend a few days with some of the women that work within the program. It gave us a better idea about how people are pulling together within their own local communities to lift each other up and ways, as visitors, that we could facilitate that.
PN: What was your favorite part of the trip to the Dominican Republic?
AB: The Dominican Republic trip was a last-minute decision to attend and I am so thankful I made the leap to join the group. I didn't realize how much I need a trip to recharge! The added bonus of spending time with mindful, smart, fun-loving women was what made the trip so transformative for me.
Abbie marching alongside Sambhali Trust during International Women’s Day
PN: How were you able to give back in the Dominican Republic?
Abbie working on a permaculture farm in the Dominican Republic
AB: Giving back in the Dominican Republic also didn't look like your traditional contributions but was equally as important and impressive as in India. Again, I really appreciate the way our group had the opportunity to interact and gain knowledge about an organization that is working on the ground level within their own community to spark change. They are self-sufficient and their track record shows that supporting local organizations can be so beneficial when looking to pay it forward in a place you are visiting. It was so powerful to see how one after school program for girls flourished. The phrase "educate a girl, change the world" really struck a chord with me in the Dominican Republic.
PN: What importance do you see in giving back to the countries that you visit?
AB: For myself, as a writer, I think the best way I can give back when traveling to new countries is sharing stories, educating travelers like myself, and shining a light on the positive programs that locals are doing for their own communities. Amplifying existing stories and acting as an ally as opposed to coming in and taking over the narrative is one thing I've found can make the biggest difference as a visitor trying to be a better global citizen. Giving back isn't always about donations, it is about actionable ways to be helpful within the greater cause. Allyship is a really important factor for me when deciding what organizations, causes, or people to support.
PN: What tips do you have for travelers to find opportunities to give back?
AB: My piece of advice about "giving back" while traveling is look a little outside of the box. Traditionally, I think as tourists we envision voluntourism as a way to help while we travel, but I'd challenge you to move outside of that narrative, especially when a majority of travelers only have time for short term trips.
Staying at a locally run accommodation, purchasing fair trade or buying directly from the artisan instead of buying a mass-produced souvenir are all easy ways to be a more mindful traveler. Avoid perpetuating the same repetitive negative stereotypes in a region, culture or country and look for a more realistic and true view of the place you are visiting. These are all ways that you are contributing to the greater good of the location without volunteering. Your positive impact within the local economy can often be far more powerful and have a wider reach.