Here in Cusco Peru, volunteer-tourism is a large contributor to the overall tourism economy. We were luck to meet an American college student who was concerned about all the different aspects of this form of tourism and is writing her senior thesis on the subject.

Early last year, we had the great honor to connect with Sal Lavallo, a young global citizen for our podcast Episode #20 Passport to Global Citizenship. So, we decided to check back in with him a year later to see how life was treating him. We weren’t  surprised to learn he had launched a new project, in  support of preserving  cultural identities while promoting community sustainability. We decided to ask him a few questions about his project Trail of Seeds here.
Trail of Seeds
A Sustainable Project in Venezuela & Tanzania
Could you tell me about the inspiration behind the …

There is no denying, traveling as a family is a bonding experience. Slow travel is another way to experience the world, allowing each family member to immerse themselves into a new culture. But volunteering as a family together adds a whole other dimension to that experience, with countless rewards and growth opportunities.

On our travels, Miro and I have volunteered with numerous organizations and the experiences have enriched our travels ten-fold. Some of the volunteer experiences we’ve had together include: volunteering at an animal shelter in Belize, a dog and cat hospital in Nicaragua, contributed to a sustainable community in Guatemala and volunteered at a organization for family nutrition, a performance arts school for street children in Nicaragua, and at a children’s library in Ecuador.

Monkey Rescue Center – Paseo Los Monos
Puyo, Ecuador
While volunteering at the children’s foundation in Ecuador, the group organized a field trip for 30 children and all of the volunteers on a Sunday to visit the nearby Centro Rescate de Los Monos, also called Paseo Los Monos. This is a rescue located an hour and a half from Banos in a small town called Puyo. This is a sanctuary that houses about 65 monkeys of 5 different species, as well as a host of other animals including coatis, agoutis, tortoises, and …

The Spirit of Children – An Opening of the Heart
“Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers.” – Richard Bach
Miro and I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with children in Baños, Ecuador for a two month period.  The biggest gift we received from our volunteering experience was forming a wonderful relationship with all the amazing children the foundation served. This post is Part 2 of a photo essay …

The Spirit of Children – An Opening of the Heart
“We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.”
~Malcom Gladwell
Miro and I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with children in Baños, Ecuador for a two month period.  The biggest gift we received from our volunteering experience was forming wonderful relationships with all the amazing children the foundation served. This post is Part 1 of a photo essay featuring the beautiful smiles faces of the children that have touched our lives.

Two girls participating …