Voluntourism ... did you know?

Voluntourism...a whole new word to be added to the dictionary. I never knew it existed until recently. The whole concept is based on Paying It Forward or giving back. The neat thing about it is these Voluntouism trips are already set up for you! 

Have you ever wanted to give back and just never knew what to do about it? 
Have you ever wanted to help but didn't know where to start?
Have you wanted to make an impact on the world but felt like you didn't know where to begin?
Have you ever wanted to bring water to an area without it or with dirty water?
Or how about education and schools to areas without either one?

Well...here is how you can do all of those things! These Voluntourism trips are already mapped out. Their itineraries are already done. All you have to do is pick which project you want to participate in and put it on your calendar! It has never been this easy to get with a group of your friends, family, neighbors, church members, etc...and go participate in a project that changes the very lives it touches and the program that we can thank for this is the Manifest Foundation, Hug it Forward and the WorldVentures DreamTrips Program. 

Voluntourism Trips LINK

ManifestFoundation.org

Here is an example of one of these trips: Guatemala Bottle School Project 

For years Guatemala has been a contrast of natural beauty and socioeconomic disparity. Its diverse population has a long history of rich culture, but poverty is prevalent in all regions of the county.  Since 2012, the Manifest Foundation has aligned with Hug It Forward to make a difference in Guatemala and improve the quality of life for the children and families in need. 

By working with communities to build schools out of discarded plastic bottles, an endeavor that costs just $10,000 per two-classroom school, the Manifest Foundation and its incredible volunteers have helped to create environments for children to receive an education. This is your opportunity to take a Volunteer and help build a Bottle School for children in San Martin Jilotepque, located in the department of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. You'll meet new friends, get to know the community  visit Mayan ruins and experience Guatemala culture firsthand. Take a trip to make a difference. You'll cherish every minute!

The Manifest VISION: " We see the world where our children are respected as the planet's greatest asset for its future and are nurtured into confident, empowered, balanced world citizens. We see that by engaging in community-cooperative partnerships to provide essentials like food, clean water, shelter, education and mentorship, we create a ripple effect of positive change that reaches across borders and touches generations."

The MISSION: "Our mission is to manifest global socioeconomic change by empowering the world's most precious resource...our children. The Manifest Foundation supports the empowerment of millions of children globally by providing sustainable funding for humanitarian programs that enrich the lives and financial opportunities of children and families in impoverished or underdeveloped locations and that champion a balanced, global environment for future generations! 

When you view every piece of trash as an opportunity to create something wonderful amazing things can happen! 

Phoenix Sagen
Vacation Specialist, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

Aix en Provence ~ Toulon France

Our day began with a lovely drive through the Provence area from Toulon to Aix. A tiny little town surrounded by a circular wall and street nestled in the hillside. We stopped at the north end of the city and walked our way down through the winding narrow streets.

The street or walkway at our feet slopped from both sides to the middle where there was a drainage type system. Back many years ago this was where everyone tossed out their trash and sewage.        An interesting tidbit that I learned was why did some homes have court yards and others didn’t. It turns out that the courtyards were a way for the upper class to avoid being close to the smell of the street. The further away from the smells of the narrow streets and the more ornate the decorations were on the front side of the home…the more you were believed to be worth. You see the upper class actually lived on the opposite side of the home…. near the garden, very far from the smells of daily life for much of the areas people.

Passing high buildings and courts yards along the way we continue down to the local market. Its Sunday in France and the market is busy with friends, families, neighbors, church-goers, visitors and the like…all shopping for their daily or weekly produce, meats, cooking oils, bath salts, lotions and herbs. The coffee bars and café’s are busy with people and the sounds of music in the background sooth the soul.

After a little shopping we continue on to the main street in the little town where we meet our guide for lunch. Upon arrival we are greeted with a plate of local cheeses, tomatoes, olives, breads, balsamic and oil as well as a variety of wine. We savor the flavors as we laugh and talk about our adventures thus far. The second course consists of lamb, mash potatoes and savory gravy.  Delicious!!! Followed by dessert, chocolate melting cake and home made whipped cream…oh my how full and relaxed we all are.

 

Finishing up our wine and conversation we head out to do a little local shopping before we continue our drive to Marseille. The history of the Provence area is amazing. The region was founded in 600 BC by the Phoenicians but with the arrival of the Celts in the 4^th and 5^th centuries BC, it became a mixed and blended society. The Greek culture slowly infiltrated the area and by the 2^nd century BC the nearby port of Massalia ~ known today as Marseilles, became a powerful commercial city with a number of trading posts. 

Marseille is a bustling city. We pass lots of construction, new buildings and old mixed together along the coastal front. We wind our way up to the highest point in the city Notre Dame de la Garde Basillica…a beautifully done basilica with green and white stone on the outside and red and white stone on the inside. There is a drawbridge that leads to the main entrance where people are busy lighting candles and saying prayers for their loved ones. The view from this high point spreads along the coast and expands along the countryside in all directions. We finish our day with a relaxing ride back to the ship through the vineyards of local wineries. What an amazing day!!  

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We started in Barcelona....

Twelve and a half hours across the Atlantic Ocean and we, my husband and I, finally reach Barcelona…A city rich in history best known for its architecture: gothic style churches, fashion, food and home to the famous Antoni Gaudi’s historic artwork. His beautiful mosaics are found throughout the city…from Park Guell, to the historic Sagrada Familia to the beautiful Casa Batllo.  Just walking along the streets...you are taking a step back into history.

We started our days adventure on the other side of town. Being it was our first time in Europe it was a little tricky figuring out the public transportation system….but with a little help from a kind women who knew no English…and the little bit of Spanish I know, we got from the bus to the metro and ended up at the front steps of the Sagrada Familia.

It was too early to get in so we walked a block to the coffee bar on the corner and watched at the sun continued to crest the buildings along the street. Barcelona was just waking up and I was ready …coffee in one hand...camera in the other to capture forever the memories of the day.

It’s time now so we head back to Sagrada Familia. The scope of this place is unbelievable from a distance and even more so up close. The details of various scenes from the Bible are spread across the entrance and upon entering the high ceilings reveal a multitude of colors from stained glass windows that cover all sides of the cathedral to the famous arches that hold the building together. It’s breath taking! 

The main area is teeming with people from all over the world. I hear people talking in many different languages, listening on headsets to a recording telling them the history of the cathedral. How it all began, so many years ago, where its stands now and what the future holds…a reminder that history is a common thing that brings people together.

We bought tickets that included the lift ride and so we head to the spire that takes us to the top most corner. Looking down on Barcelona from the tops of the cathedral we see the world below. There are parks on either side, the city below with the trees that line La Rambla Street where people are walking along enjoying the sunshine on this beautiful late summer day. I feel so small in the space I stand looking through the small window that lines the spire staircase wall. With just enough space for one person to walk down I take off my shoes and walk barefoot down the spiral staircase. Wanting to get a feel for what it must have been like to live in a time when bare feet on stone was a common thing and imagining what may or may not have been waiting for me once I reach the bottom over a hundred years ago. 

Our tour of Sagrada Famila has come to an end so we head out in search of lunch.  We decide to walk to La Rambla for a bit to eat, along the way we pass another of Gaudi’s work Casa Mila, the rounded balconies and multi colored tiled roof…it truly is a work of art. We continue along the beautiful streets of Barcelona. The weather at this time of year is perfect, not too hot with a slight breeze that bring the sweet Mediterranean air through the city.  Eventually we make it to La Rambla Street, and pick Moka, a local restaurant as our destination. From where we sit on the patio we have a great view to people watch while we enjoy our lunch: Caesar Salad, Fresh Squid, and an assortment of Tapas. Mmmm…the flavors of Spain are amazing…and we are just getting started! 

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More on Barcelona to come!
Ciao
Phoenix