The Daily Tell

When faced with the study abroad choice of educating youth in Uganda about HIV and AIDS or surfing in Australia, an increasing number of students are choosing the former.

"Voluntourism" is the latest trend in youth-focused philanthropy, as many organizations search for ways to engage younger generations of citizens that are low on cash but high in ideals and optimism.

One organization, Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW), has earned accolades from UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the World Bank as an example of best practices for youth-led activist organizations.

SPW, an international development charity, recruits and trains youth volunteers between the ages of 18 and 28 for full-time living and volunteering in rural communities across eight countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The volunteers – referred to as Volunteer Peer Educators (VPEs) – live in these communities for six to 12 months, leading programs in health, environmental and education initiatives.

SPW’s programs – which reach more than 400,000 young people every week – are largely focused on programs that educate local youth on health and environmental issues important to their lives, such as HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, sanitation, and organic farming techniques.

All programs are volunteer-led and education-focused, so VPEs have a chance to connect with their peers in the country on a personal level. The techniques are often creative and interactive, with some involving music, drama and dance to engage children and youth.

By being so involved at a grassroots level, volunteers become fully immersed in the host country’s culture and struggles.

One VPE, Robyn Munford, said of his experience in Nepal, "I’ll never forget living in the mountains among people that were so friendly, happy and welcoming. They made us feel we were really part of the village."

This "voluntourism" trend is increasingly popular, said a recent survey by the University of California San Diego Extension, which found that two-thirds of high school students and half of college students have discussed participating in volunteer vacations in the past year.