This year, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan fell during August. Around the world, fears rose and people speculated what would occur in countries that are currently experiencing turmoil, such as Libya or one of the other countries in which the US has issued travel warnings.

In May 2011, Shannon Stowell, President of the ATTA, traveled to Jordan and Egypt, commenting,”…Jordan is unfortunately lumped into ‘the Middle East’ along with different problems, each destination should be considered completely separately. Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Libya, Tunisia all have very different issues going on and the media does a disservice when misreporting goes on.”

Zikra is an initiative based in Jordan which has a goal of breaking down stereotypes.  Based in Ghor al Mazraa’, Zikra Initiative welcomes visitors from around the world (although currently 65% of visitors are Jordanian) to participate in exchange workshops allowing visitors to learn traditional skills and crafts such as making organic eye-liner , weaving baskets, tassling hatta, and cooking traditional dishes like Gallayet Bandora or Tomato-in-a pan. In exchange visitors pay a nominal fee that is channeled into a microloan in addition to other economic and social development projects, such as university scholarships. People pay JD 25 which will support the ladies of Ghor Al-Mazra’a. “Women don’t usually have work so this creates job opportunities, helping them become more independent,” adds Rabee’.

About 65% of their visitors are actually Jordanians themselves, people from larger, more urban communities such as Amman. Zikra’s founder, Rabee’ Zureikat commented, “We mainly target Jordanians in an effort to connect and shatter stereotypes in both communities. When Zikra was launched it was a charity drive, I had learned about  a ‘dusty community’ discriminated against because of their skin color. They had been taken advantage of by loan sharks and now couldn’t pay the loans back so their land was taken away. After awhile it started feeling awkward – it created a giver/receiver relationship, as if we, the givers, were the heroes. In reality we were learning a lot from this community.”

Rabee’ continues, “Amman is full of influential people, it has become very westernized yet we don’t really know the country. I wanted city dwellers to visit the rural areas without being the heroes and going to ‘save’ the area and community.”

Muslims view Ramadan as a time to reflect while they fast each day in order to practice patience and submissiveness to God. Practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, at which time Muslim communities gather to break fast and celebrate together.

Zikra Initiative has put together a special program with the Ghor al Mazra’a community in Jordan, who hopes to share their heritage as well as allow any foreigners who visit to experience what it looks like to celebrate the breaking of fast during Ramadan.

Although the Ramadan program is now over, Zikra offers many other programs of interest throughout the year. If interested in participating in the Ramadan exchange next year, send them an email to reserve your spot.

Be sure to keep up with Zikra on Twitter and Facebook. Check out their YouTube page to hear one of their community members sing live at a recent TEDxDeadSea event (this was the first time that someone from the community was actually there to represent the Dead Sea community.)

Another organization to keep in mind  as you plan your travels is Voluntour Morocco.  They host a number of programs throughout Morocco that not only allow you to volunteer your time but also foster an atmosphere that encourages cultural exchange. Founder, Nabil, also imports various crafts selling them at various trade shows he attends,  if interested contact Nabil to learn more.

Gregg sits and records data

Five months ago, Gregg Treinish (National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2008) founded Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC), an organization that provides a space for collaboration between the adventure and science worlds to protect and learn about the environment. “We need to stand up and fight for the areas we care about,” says Trenish, who described a selfish feeling, common among adventurers, for not being able to do more for the areas that he loves and explores. He wants to give scientists a viable and inexpensive means to gather data and adventurers an opportunity to do more on their excursions.

The response Gregg has received so far has been pretty tremendous and he feels that the adventure community is fully on board. The citizen scientist movement recognizes that concerned people can make important contributions in science and citizen-scientists are playing a crucial role in the environmental movement. ASC currently has adventurers collecting data on five continents for researchers who are interested in conservation. The data collected in the field is independently verified in labs to ensure the usability of the information being gathered.

Whether the adventurer is capable of hiking the Himalayas or sticks to day hikes, ASC matches scientists who need data collection with the adventurer’s ability. “From Gregg’s experience on expeditions he knows and tries to match up projects that will be attainable for the adventurer and where it will be possible to provide good data without overly impacting the adventure,”says Justin Lichter an adventurer for ASC.

Justin Lichter and his hiking partner Shawn Forrey hiked from the eastern most peak of the Himalayas to the western most peak. During their hike they were way pointing places where they saw or heard pikas and took pictures of their nests. Pikas are an important indicator species for climate change and the loss of the pika would affect many species that depend on it. On the same expedition but for a different research project, Lichter surveyed local people and way pointed bar headed geese for comparative psychologist, Jessica Meir.  These sightings will help researchers understand which altitudes they prefer to fly at and more about environmental pressures the geese come across as they migrate across the Himalayas.

Gregg hopes to recruit citizen-scientists to help in the Yellowstone park area to collect data about the absence and presence of grizzly bears in areas adjacent to white bark pine trees.

ASC primarily depends on private donations for support. Sign up to be a member on their website today.

Making the coral garden with cookies and 'coral 'flowers'.

Community Support Network (CSN) is Fiji’s newest non-profit voluntourism organisation offering a two-week volunteer and island discovery tour program on Fiji’s untouched Northern Islands. This off-the-beaten-track experience prides itself on being an authentic, Fijian, cultural immersion program investing in communities to fund school equipment; solar energy; new business start-up; training; fish wardens and e local community monitoring programs.

CSN brings volunteers who are interested in conservation and understand the importance of immersion in village life. In order for volunteers to properly respect the rules and values of Fijian island life, CSN prioritizes awareness about the differences between western behavior and traditional island lifestyles.

Completing a fishhouse

Why is sustainable volunteering necessary in Fiji?

In March 2010 Cyclone Tomas devastated the two smaller northern islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu. Measured at category four, winds reached 170 kmph and waves reached 7.2 metres high – it was the most intense tropical cyclone to hit Fiji since Cyclone Bebe in 1972. Cyclone Tomas severely damaged the foreshore reef along most of the north West of Taveuni and Vanua Levu, and tragically, re-growth of the destroyed reef is minimal. Loss appears to be about 70%-90%.

In the wake of cyclone Tomas and after years of experience working with local communities in a variety of roles (including strategy and management), the team at CSN recognized areas on their home island in need of conservation assistance. Volunteers will play a major role in the coral replanting process, which will accelerate the reef recovery process. Coral reef provides food for costal communities who have depended on its sustenance for generations. The reefs bring visitors and their businesses, provide a natural barrier against storms, and are home to more species than any other ecosystem in the world. Volunteers will help spur the re-growth of this valuable ecosystem.

The island forests of Taveuni and Vanua Levu were badly affected by the winds. Volunteers will plant indigenous tree saplings to encourage re-growth in felled areas.

About the program

CSN is a non-profit run by experienced Fijians who work alongside their own rural, island communities to achieve sustainable development through marine and forestry conservation projects.

During week one, volunteers will be working on the coral reefs and in the nearby forest while living in a small village with a host family. Volunteers will be introduced to all aspects of traditional island life including the food, dance, song, volleyball and kava!

Week two offers an island experience like no other. Volunteers will discover an untouched Jurassic Park-like National Park by foot and kayak; dive one of the top five soft coral reefs in the world; hike to, and stay in, a rainforest lodge to watch the endemic birds while the sun rises over distant islands; swim under huge waterfalls; snorkel a black pearl farm; surf empty reef breaks; visit three fabulous islands; and of course, relax on quiet, soft, white, sandy beaches.

Groups of ten depart every two weeks. Space is limited and advanced registration is recommended. FJ$3300 (approx US$1800) per person.

For more information visit their website (where you can also find a great deal they’re currently offering):  http://www.communitysupportnetwork.yolasite.com/

For stories from other travelers, team members, and bloggers visit http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/CommunitySupportNetwork/

Or contact Annie to learn more about this opportunity - a.madden@live.com

Founder, Kate Humble, visiting the SOS Village in Nairobi in December 2010

Some like to travel simply, others to simply travel, and still others travel to provide simple items for organizations in developing countries around the world who can’t afford to provide them otherwise.  Often times, travel is for the self, but Stuff Your Rucksack (SYR) is trying to change that little by little.

It starts with a small story with big inspiration. Kate Humble, a UK broadcaster and journalist, traveled through a remote village in Mali, and realized as she explained her journey to school kids that they had no access to a map. A simple map.

It starts with knowledge, which is where Stuff Your Rucksack provides plenty. On their website you can choose the country you will be visiting and check out the organizations they are working with in the area that you will be near. SYR gives you a nice synopsis of each organization as well as a way a point of contact – which is the best way to understand what they really need, not what you think they need.

Take the Vista Project for example, based in Eastern Tibet, China, their goal is to help provide alternative livelihoods to the people of Sershul County, Khampas,  who have been displaced into urban settings from their nomadic way of life. Ways they aim to to this is by improving literacy rates through education, skills training and enterprise development (one project is a Motorbike Mechanic Apprenticeship), and training programs to enable cultural revitalization of traditional Tibetan crafts. An established organization, such as The Vista Project, understands the problems and needs of their community, knowing what they need ahead of time is an efficient way to help in a small way.

There are still many countries un- or underrepresented, so if you know of any, contact them and have them get listed.  Next time you book a trip make sure you take a look at Stuff Your Rucksack to have an idea of items to take with you. A more sustainable option would be to buy them once you arrive to help local shopkeepers, who will more than likely have some of those items for sale.

Before Sebastien and Melanie purchased the land, it had been used as a gold mining site – although now abandoned, it was in disrepair. Sebastien comments, “We wished to use this very particular area because of the opportunity it represented for us: a chance to fix what had been destroyed in the past, turn something foreign and ugly into a place where nature could regain its rights and display all the wonders it has to offer.”

“When we arrived, the site was almost bare, with only a few trees surviving on this now hostile soil. Although that might deter most people from seeing the potential of the land, we saw it as an advantage – we did not have to cut any trees to make space for the lodge.  We only cleared the opportunist plants that prevented a healthy regeneration of the ground, and start planting endemic plants to restart a productive cycle by naturally enriching the soil with nitrogen. Twice we planted these species of plants and burned them until the soil was ready to receive a wider variety of plants, flowers and small trees.”

This is the essence of the Hamadryade – not only to protect nature, but working to develop its health and beauty. “We were able to seal the lingering effects and memories of its mining past under a luxurious garden, hosting a large variety of local flowers, and plants attracting once again a numerous species of birds, butterflies and small animals.”

Sebastien and Melanie have created a wonder within another wonder (the Amazon of course), check out their gallery for a dose of what you will be surrounded by or take a virtual tour. Also be sure to explore their website and get an idea of the range of activities that are available throughout your stay.

Visit their website, blog, or Facebook page for more information or send an email to lodge@hamadryade-lodge.com

From Manila the entire journey to the island takes less than three hours – including flight and transfers.  While the private beach provides access to fantastic snorkeling, mangrove forests, and natural hot springs, the real draw to Sangat Island Reserve is its close proximity to the Japanese wrecks; most accessible by boat in under ten minutes. With most visitors to the region staying forty minutes away in touristy Coron Town, guests on Sangat have a chance to be the first divers out in the morning and the last to explore the ships in the afternoon. With nearly a dozen dive sites, Coron Bay offers options for divers of all levels ranging from the Lusan Gunboat at ten meters, the Olympia Maru at twenty-five, and the amazingly well preserved Irako Maru resting forty meters below the surface.

For more information, visit their website:http://www.sangat.com.ph/ or contact Andy directly at info@sangat.com.ph

Within a few years, back on the East Coast, he moved to New York City to settle down and work. This time,however, the city did not discourage the pedestrian. Since all his friends seemed to live on the lower East side or the East Village, and he was up on the Upper West Side (opposite of those friends); he decided to literally run to see them. Bill began to feel something special about being on foot. “Every five to ten blocks I would see the neighborhoods changing. Even talking to my friends I saw there were neighborhoods and attitudes: many of them refused to ʻgo above 14th Street.ʼ I even met a man who hadnʼt been above 14th Street in 50 years. More than that it wasnʼt cool, it wasnʼt necessary! Like having islands on an island. So, on both sides of that line, I was sure, people had preconceptions of what other areas of town were like but had never actually been there. As I ran, I saw that there were real differences in outlook and culture.”

These experiences formed the beginnings of The Street Teacher. Bill saw history come alive in New York City, how people made things happen, and how a personʼs life can be a deliberate imaginative creation – a fiction, so to speak. To each his or her own neighborhood.

“I got into it by running and walking, I made the city my own, I used services – the streets and sidewalks – that were already in place and easily got to where I needed to be, I learned so much in the process.”

To be a part of this experience (and to get a little exercise), we recommend taking part in one of Bill’s new tours – A Walk to Tenafly. Tenafly is a small town in New Jersey, where he grew up, and one which has a past that both parallels the growth of New York City, and represents a progression of imaginative and actual adjustments to the geographic, political, and historical realities of the Hudson Valley.

This comprehensive walk takes you from the Bus Terminal in Washington Heights across the George Washington Bridge and onto the majestic Palisades to two of the historic suburbs of New Jersey. From there the walk can take a variety of routes through wooded trails and into the neighborhoods. Bill provides a bit of teaser in his blog (see his November 8, 12, and 16, 2010 posts).

Off the Radar is delighted to know that someone is taking the time to educate themselves and others on the historical significance of people and places that most of us take for granted. This type of education is not one you come across often but is pivotal in the way we define adventure travel and what adventure travel is meant to impact – such as the preservation of significant sites and the culture (or mingling of cultures).

Offering walking tours throughout New York City and the surrounding regions has allowed Bill to continue to get a deeper look into the culture, history and evolution of the people, the city, and their lifestyles. “The walk is the most adventurous part; you could look at a map, get in a car and be there in twenty minutes, whereas walking will take close to three hours. In doing so though you miss the most significant part, you miss everything that connects people, much of which we ignore because we stay stuck in our routine and in our cars.”

For more information visit, The Street Teacher online, or send an email to Bill@TheStreetTeacher.com or call 1.917.921.9273

The home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in Tenafly

By Miranda Siu

Vang Vieng has gained a reputation as the adventure sports capital of Laos. There is no end in sight to its high-intensity fun and games, including 10-metre jumps from swings into the Nam Song River, cycling, kayaking, rafting and much more. My two greatest experiences here have been hot-air ballooning and rock climbing.

The Travel with Your Eyes operators fill a balloon with hot air in preparation for a flight over Vang VIeng, Laos. Photo courtesy of Miranda Siu

Up, Up and Away

All around town, posters entice visitors to ‘Balloon over Vang Vieng’. Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection in Vang Vieng, recommends Travel with Your Eyes, a Chinese-run company that operates balloon tours with precision.

On my trip with them, a small crew deftly inflated the balloon in a matter of minutes while my group of seven stood nearby watching in awe of its growing size. When we were bundled into the basket, the crew was crowded around its perimeter, weighing it down until take off. We felt the ferocious heat of the gas being blown into the balloon on an already warm afternoon and then suddenly, smoothly, we were airborne. There’s a certain thrill you feel from the sudden weightlessness. Even the six rugby-player-sized men in the basket with me were cooing with excitement.

As we drifted through the air, the majestic Nam Song River valley revealed itself to us, the karst limestone peaks overhanging the valley like kings sitting happily on their thrones. Due to wind speed, there were occasions when I thought we would touch the ground. But then our ingenious conductor always saved the day and we’d drift up once again. We did have a brush with a tree, though; we were momentarily stuck in the clinging branches, but with a poof of gas we were free.

The shadow of a hot-air balloon adds a whimsical touch to the Nam Song River valley landscape near Vang Vieng, Laos. Photo courtesy of Miranda Siu

For the duration of the trip, there were moments during which I’d look down and just wonder how we were suspended there in the air. Then, with a sudden rush of adrenaline, a child-like joy would wash over me and I was just happy to be there and enjoy the view.

We peacefully floated wherever the wind took us, although secretly the conductor must have known where we were going since we landed exactly where the crew was waiting. As we neared the landing site, the conductor threw a rope down to the crew and they grabbed on and held tight. The conductor had advised us to brace against the bars of the basket rim and bend our knees. On impact, we gently toppled over each other in the basket. We landed gracefully on a patch of grasslands.

One by one, we toddled off, each of us replaced by a crew member to keep the weight down until they could properly deflate the balloon. We all grinned and shook our heads incredulously at the landing as we headed to our van back into town, high on the experience.

The guides of the Vang Vieng rock climbing trip make it look so easy. Photo courtesy of Miranda Siu

Rock On

‘Rock on’ is climbing terminology for a particular climbing move, and a clever play on words. There is a plethora of jargon to learn when you start climbing, and I found myself learning while stranded halfway up a climb about eight metres from the ground. The group below shouted various instructions like ‘side pull on left’, ‘pincher on right’ and ‘try a rock on!’. My arms were pumped. My legs were shaking. Hearing these bewildering instructions induced panic. Where is that hold that they are talking about, what the heck is a ‘rock on’ and how do I do it?

Rock climbing is very much a mental sport. When I felt my fingers losing grip and my legs giving way, the blood was pumping hard. Then the adrenaline kicked in. I managed to pull up and not let go, somehow finding that sweet foothold, then a handhold. I kept on climbing with this renewed energy. I was able to keep moving up the rock, one pull after the next. I finally reached the top, elated.

The rugged scenery of the limestone karst peaks in Vang Vieng, Laos, already makes a rock climbing trip worthwhile. Photo courtesy of Miranda Siu

Earlier, standing at the base of the karst peaks along the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng – the same ones we had seen from the air – was as rewarding an experience as it is for climbers at every experience level. We had reached our climb after a short walk through the scenic countryside. Fortunately, the guides were as familiar with the trails through the brush as those up the cliff faces, for even when they were on the ground and I was 10 metres up, they could direct me to the best handholds. Many of these guides can even boulder (climb up to two metres without rope) wearing just their flip-flops! They are constantly on the lookout for safety, even while pushing people’s limits just to make sure that everyone gets the adrenaline rush and the elation that is sure to follow.

Some adventure travellers like to distinguish between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ experiences. Hard adventure tours are a little more extreme and often involve a heightened sense of risk and danger, with adrenaline as a necessary and obviously exciting part of the ride. Travellers beware – adrenaline is known to be highly addictive!

As the hard-adventure sector has grown, our whl.travel local partners have climbed to the summit of the trend. Their local expertise brings to you some of the wildest and most thrilling tours out there. Here is our pick of five tours guaranteed to give you your adrenaline fix.

The jagged Himalaya mountains of Nepal provide the perfect backdrop for paragliding in the Pokhara Valley. Photo courtesy of Sunrise

Paragliding over the Peaks of Pokhara, Nepal

Nepal is quickly becoming a paragliding hotspot and the legendary Pokhara Valley offers ideal conditions for the sport.

The valley’s terrain is the kind of blend of mountains and flats that pros dream about. Its enclosed microclimate keeps atmospheric variables stable and mild, a perfect combination for a sport that counts on pilots being able to maintain flight by controlling the pressure of the air passing through the glider. Of course, the views of local villages, Buddhist monasteries and the jungle of Royal Chitwan National Park are unmatched.

For the intrepid, Outdoor Himalayan Treks, the whl.travel local connection in Nepal, organises tandem paragliding tours. He recommends tandem flights for beginners because “lots of adventurers come to Nepal (especially Pokhara) to dare solo. Some of those who get overambitious and try midair acrobatics and other risky tricks/stunts have met with fatalities. On the contrary, tandem flight has got a very promising safety/success record.”

The Outdoor Himalayan Treks team also offer rafting and trekking for anyone not quite ready to soar.

An advanced kite surfer catches some waves on the coast of Florianópolis, Brazil. Photo courtesy of Renata Asprino

Kite Surfing in Florianópolis, Brazil

While not yet as well known for kite surfing as some places in the north of the country, the island of Florianópolis actually has some of the best sites in Brazil, promising excellent kiting conditions and a mix of surf for both beginners and the advanced. Even better, Florianópolis has topnotch kiting schools and all the right infrastructure in place.

The best kite-surfing conditions in Florianópolis occur in September, October and November (Brazil’s spring season); however, given the island’s unique topography and exposure to the Atlantic trade winds, good weather can continue all the way until March and suitable kiting conditions can be found year-round, especially starting in the mid-afternoon. Practitioners put the count of ‘kiteable’ days at an average of 250-plus per year.

Kite surfing sweet spots include the beautiful Lagoa da Conceiçao, a large saltwater lagoon that is fantastic for everyone, including anyone looking for wave-riding lessons, and Praia Mole beach.

Wave to the camera! The free fall starts now. Skydiving in Fiji is a bird's eye view of the tropical island. Photo courtesy of Raumati Wikaire

Skydiving in Fiji

Skydiving is possible all over the world, so why take the leap in Fiji? Raumati Wikaire, General Manager of GlobalBedBank Fiji, the whl.travel local connection on the island, was thrilled to skydive in Fiji for the very first time:

“The beauty of skydiving in Fiji is that it’s so relaxed and laid back, just like the Fiji life,” she explains. “We arrived to a tiny little building on the tropical island. Having completed the paperwork, we were bundled into the plane and took off. The Tandem Masters were calm and joking around so although the adrenaline was pumping, I relaxed and had faith we’d make it out alive.

An added bonus was the scenic flight on our way up. Seeing the islands and reefs of gorgeous Fiji was a great distraction to calm the nerves. Before I know it, we’re rolling out the door and falling through the air. My skin is rippling and I don’t know whether to keep my mouth open or closed. But after a few seconds I get used to the sensation and enjoy the feeling of flying. I feel powerful.”

The grade-5 rapids of the Nile River in Jinja, Uganda, make for a roller coaster ride on rafts. Photo courtesy of Nicola Swann

Whitewater Rafting in Jinja, Uganda

The Far Horizons, the whl.travel local connection in Uganda, is a team of dedicated travel professionals and adrenaline seekers committed to the fun found in and around Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa. Only they could have come up with a heart-stopping trip called The Threesome; as if one dose of adrenaline isn’t enough, this thrill-tour combines the best of whitewater rafting, free-falling and jet speeds on the Nile.

The tour begins with a rafting plunge down the roaring grade-5 rapids of the Nile River, where the truly daring paddle with all their might through huge walls of white water. Then, once on dry land, adventurers climb to a point from which there is no choice but to jump! Options are to bungee the traditional way, try a tandem leap or hop in a kayak for a splash in style. The day ends by exploding up the river in the Wild Nile Jet, a custom-built jet boat that can perform 360-degree turns in walls of spray at 90 kilometres per hour.

Abseilers pause before setting off down the ZASM route in the Mpumalanga Highlands of South Africa to enjoy the view of the Elands River waterfall. Photo courtesy of wanderson

Abseiling Down a Waterfall in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The Elands River waterfall in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a hotspot for abseiling. The whl.travel local connection on site offers two variations of a dramatic descent down the canyon wall – one for beginners and one for the more experienced (or whoever “promises not to chicken out”).

The easier route is the ZASM Abseil, a spectacular 35-metre descent. The fully backed-up ropes system is safe, secure and foolproof. Half adrenaline and half relaxation, the ZASM route has unmatched views of the waterfall and, from the bottom, a pleasant hike back up the gully.

For the harder adventurer, the Waterfall Abseil is a total rush. This drop is a breathtaking 60 metres right into the mists of the raging waterfall. Abseilers enjoy a swim in the river at the bottom, then a challenging climb back to the top that is known to pique interest in rock climbing too. Addictive, isn’t it?

This is my golden time to learn more knowledge and to become a useful person. This is my second step to become an educated person.”

These are the words of 23 year old Samo from Wayan Rho village in Tibet. He is now a student at Educational Support Tibet (ES-Tibet) in Northern India. He’s one of many: every year, more than 4000 young Tibetan people aged between 18 and 30 make the arduous trek over the Himalayas from Tibet to India. Their destination is Dharamsala – the Indian town where the Dalai Lama has established the Tibetan Exile Government.

Here there are several organizations that seek to support the refugees. One of them is ES-Tibet, which was created to complement the existing educational opportunities by the Tibetan Transit School (TTS). ES –Tibet provides further education for students who excel at TTS. At ES-Tibet the students are taught the skills they will need to succeed in business back in their native homeland: English, Computer Skills and Chinese. The teachers are volunteer native-English speakers. Their vision is to provide young Tibetan refugees with the skills to live their lives independent from the refugee centers so they can find their place in society.

When the ES-Tibet wrote to us and told us that getting English speaking volunteers was one of their biggest obstacles, we knew of some of our readers would be interested in this opportunity.

The volunteers are provided with accommodation and meals, and enjoy the experience of learning firsthand about the complex Tibetan situation, and how it affects young people. ES-Tibet prefers that volunteers stay at least 3 months and be at least 25 years old.

If you’re interested in learning more about their mission, volunteering in Northern India or donating to the cause, please contact: Lugyal Gerster. ES-Tibet is also listed on StepUp Travel, visit their listing to learn more about their services and how you can help Tibetan refugees.