The gift of volunteering: Plan a meaningful holiday this Children’s Day

Happy Children's Day 2019: Global warming and offsetting our carbon footprint a regular conversation at the dinner table? Does your little one come up with interesting tidbits that can help us live more sustainably, then these trips will excite them the most.

Children’s Day 2019: Let this day be about the experiences that you give your child and values that come with it. Volunteering as a family is a great way to teach your kids about empathy and sharing, as well as being a meaningful and fun experience for the whole family. It will also be a perfect opportunity for the entire family to plan to spend some quality time together serving as a good break from the routine.

Here is a list of volunteering ideas that you can choose from to treat your kids with an unforgettable memory.

Sustaining remote communities in India

If you’re a part of 80 per cent of Indian travellers who are seeking authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture and want your children to experience the same, NotOnMap is the perfect holiday for you to book and ‘live like a local’. NotOnMap helps travellers experience the culture, local food and real hospitality of India. They ensure that the experiences are more inclusive where travellers engage with the local community and conduct predefined activities and workshops for children, parents and the entire family. Take this opportunity to connect with the locals and help preserve India’s unique culture and heritage while also supporting marginalised and vulnerable rural communities.

Baby-sitting animals in Africa

Channels like National Geographic, and Discovery a regular in your household? You have your kids jumping up and down at the thought of visiting a zoo? There is a perfect holiday for you and your family. GoEco runs volunteer programmes at the African Wildlife Orphanage, one of Africa’s largest and most successful wildlife rehabilitation and release centres. Here, you and your children, can care for animals including leopards, lions, monkeys and goats among others. All of these have been rescued after having been orphaned, abandoned, injured, born in captivity or confiscated from illegal wildlife traffickers. The project accepts families with children as young as 12 years old and volunteering terms vary in length from two weeks to a maximum of 12 weeks.

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Cleaning the oceans in Indonesia

Global warming and offsetting our carbon footprint a regular conversation at the dinner table? Does your little one come up with interesting tidbits that can help us live more sustainably, then this trip will excite them the most. International Volunteer HQ offers family-friendly programmes that are focused on island conservation and community development in Indonesia. During your stay, day-to-day tasks will include recycling any rubbish or plastic that’s been washed ashore, performing reef surveys with not-for-profit CoralWatch or teaching English to local children. On your days off, take advantage of the tropical climate and ride the curling blue surf breaks as a family.

Tea-picking in Japan

For families interested in environmental sustainability, high-quality tea and tradition, volunteering in Okazaki City, Japan, could be an unforgettable and rewarding experience. Volunteers are asked to assist at a local tea plantation, where tasks range from cultivating tea leaves, harvesting and packaging, to learning the art of the traditional tea-making process. You can also opt to volunteer at a local artisan’s workshop to make drums, sweets and handicrafts.

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Organic farms around the world

Is gardening your kid’s favourite pastime? Does he love taking his little tools out every weekend while he gets his hands dirty to mix a perfect compose? Well then, this trip is sure to get him packing. WWOOFing a common way to volunteer among the backpacking community but it can also be a rewarding experience for families. The idea is that farmers cover your accommodation and food expenses in return for help or labour on their land. As a family, WWOOFing is a great way to help organic farmers while teaching kids about sustainability and food production. Most farms in Germany, Portugal, the UK and Italy accept younger people, as long as there is supervision by a parent.

(Inputs: Booking.com)

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