Travelling the world can open up our eyes to many things - seeing how other cultures live; taking in the wildly diverse sights and sounds; and just soaking up exotic atmospheres can make travelling to far-flung destinations among the most rewarding experiences we will ever have.
But while travelling opens our eyes to many wonders, it also reveals the problems faced by parts of the world less advantaged than our own. Second and Third World countries often face enormous gaps between rich and poor, and while the rich elite enjoy a First World luxury lifestyle, the poor struggle to find enough to eat and a roof over their head.
Petty crime is a problem that blights many a trip to Second World countries such as Costa Rica, Brazil and Mexico, but how many travellers think to question the social problems that lead to children growing up on the streets, often addicted to drugs and pushed into crime through lack of opportunities?
If travelling the world has given you pause for thought about social injustice, taking on a volunteer placement is a way to make a real, positive difference.
Guatemala, for example, is a stunningly beautiful country whose diverse landscape and cultures are very much part of its charm. But social inequality means that many people face a daily struggle for survival in big cities, while those in rural locations may be isolated from education and health care.
A volunteer in Guatemala will have an opportunity to really make a positive impact - working with non-governmental, non-profit making organisations (NGOs) to bring positive change to individuals and communities. Projects may include teaching English to children in disadvantaged communities; helping out in orphanages; or working to build new homes or improve sanitation in existing housing.
A volunteer in Costa Rica, meanwhile, may be able to indulge a passion for wildlife with a placement on an eco-project or nature reserve, helping to preserve the rich flora and fauna that make this country such an enticing place to visit. Whatever your passion and whatever your personal skills, a volunteer placement in Latin America is sure to change not only the lives of those you are helping, but your own life too.
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