In view of the ever growing demand for vacations which couple fun and meaningful experiences, EcoTrotters decided to find out more about how to make a difference while traveling. On this quest, we met up with Lydia Dean, President and Founder of GoPhilanthropic, a company focusing on travel philanthropy. In this interview, Ms. Dean gives us an interesting perspective on how to combine unforgettable vacations and responsible travel.

How did this project come about?

In general we felt that there was a "hole" in the market for travelers who wanted to give and support programs worldwide yet still wanted to have vacations, their amenities etc.....The voluntourism market was the only one providing access to these great programs and we felt there should be avenues to connect all travelers to philanthropy during their trips. Not everyone wants to volunteer their time yet they still have a desire to do good on their trips. 

What’s the big difference between travel philanthropy and volunteer tourism?

Probably one of the biggest misconceptions about Travel Philanthropy is that it involves volunteering—it does not. Travel philanthropy provides support for and encourages the empowerment of local communities through social, educational, health and environmental initiatives. This is accomplished when travelers learn about, visit and contribute directly to these programs during their trips, or when their travel dollars trickle down to the programs through contributions made by travel suppliers and tour operators used in booking your travel.
Through our Philanthropic travel programs, you can plan in advance to purchase and deliver directly through our partner NGOs tangible items such as:

• Water wells
• Portable Mobile Libraries (boxes containing 250 bilingual books)
• School supplies, furniture, or computers

In addition, in certain locations you can have the opportunity to meet in person:

• Candidates for school scholarship
• Microloan/finance candidates

When you decide to contribute through any of the above, arrangements are made ahead of time with the non-profit managing the project and the contributions go directly to them. These contributions are kept entirely separate from the costs of your trip – we want you to see 100% of your donation going directly to the recipients/programs in these communities. Then during your travel you can spend an afternoon visiting and learning about the program and see first hand the importance of your contribution. It is our philosophy that once you are physically there to experience the full context of the region you are visiting, the challenges it faces, and the efforts being made to face these challenges, you will have a greater respect and understanding for the country, the people and its precious environment.

In many cases, this Philanthropic element, while only lasting a few hours, ends up being the focal point of the trip. And for many it becomes less about what they offered, what they gave, and more about what they received in exchange … one to one meaningful experiences with people around the world and more profound understanding and appreciation for what it means to have an opportunity in life.

Who is your typical traveler?

The baby boomer generation...looking for more authentic and meaningful travel.

Which countries are most popular amongst your travellers?

Right now Vietnam and Cambodia are the most popular with the 45-65 year-old client and Central America more popular for the families (more accessible)..we are now focusing on getting exposure for new programs in India and Uganda which I think will be popular as well.

Do travellers get updates on how the program they choose is going?

We are just beginning this...it  will be a critical element to what we are doing and will encourage ongoing support for our partner non-profit programs.

The philosophy behind GoPhilanthropic is best summed up by their motto: Making Travel a Vehicle for Change. It is through their programs, sustainable practices, and dedicated staff that they can achieve this change, offering travelers meaningful and authentic experiences that leave a positive footprint wherever they go.

 For more information on GoPhilanthropic, please visit their website www.gophilanthropic.com