If you’re a traveler looking for a new and different way to see the world while also giving back, you’re not alone. Today, voluntourism (volunteer and humanitarian-based vacations) has become a popular trend amongst contemporary travelers, with trip types that fit any budget, skill-set, or interest!

So, why opt for a volunteer vacation? For starters, it offers travelers the opportunity to engage with a local community or setting directly, giving perspective and insight into the food, culture, sites, and people of their travel destinations without the rose-colored tourist lenses to taint their view. Not to mention that traveling for a noble cause can be tremendously rewarding (and exciting)! But where to start?

If you’re new to volunteer-based travel and need some help finding the right program for you, look no further! Whether you want to help restore an ecosystem, teach children in a local school, or provide medical care for the underprivileged, here’s a look at some of the voluntourism options for travelers of every kind. Check it out!

Go Green

Environmental-based programs cover a wide range of options. Is conservation or construction your thing? Find cheap flights in May to Latin America and Europe or the Middle East and Africa to work with Habitat for Humanity. There, you’ll have the opportunity to aid impactful projects like rebuilding homes after natural disasters occur and practicing sustainable development protocols. Plus, you get to do all of this while learning, traveling, and eating your way through a new destination and culture.

Have a green thumb? Try organic farming or reforestation. Organizations like WWOOF allow you to work on a local farm to both lend a helping hand and teach farmers how to better their agricultural practices. Or, create cloud forest trails and cultivate medicinal plants to restore Costa Rica’s ecosystem with United Planet. These organizations are sure to provide insight on how to make communities more environmentally sustainable.

Work with Animals

If you’re an animal lover, volunteer vacations in wildlife conservatories, national parks, animal sanctuaries, and research centers might just be the best experience you can ask for. Websites like BiosphereExpeditions.org and goeco.org offer a plethora of options for you to interact with and help care for endangered animals ranging anywhere from furry friends (lions, tigers, and giant pandas– oh my!), to baby elephants and butterflies, all the way down to marine and coral reef dwellers.

Empower Women

In many global communities, women and girls still lack access to education, employment, and proper healthcare. ME to WE — a social enterprise, and Global Vision International — a family-run volunteer abroad organization, provide a vast number of opportunities that focus specifically on women’s empowerment. You can volunteer for incredible gender-equality initiatives, or teach English and computer skills to women of all ages. If you want to use your entrepreneurial spirit to help women create small businesses with a global reach, employ your skills and help the women and girls of these communities empower themselves and others around them. No matter which organization you choose to help, there’s an opportunity that’s right for everyone.

You may also like: Myths & Facts About Voluntourism: The Real Deal About Your Next Volunteer Trip

Provide Medical Care

Help distribute proper medication and care to HIV/AIDS patients in Kenya. Or, work with local institutions in Costa Rica to promote healthy habits and proper hygiene practices. Want real field clinic experience? Help treat remote populations in Haiti. WHO (World Health Organization), FIMRC (Foundation for International Relief for Children), and IVHQ (International Volunteer Headquarters) are just three of many organizations that offer participants a chance to make a difference in the field of healthcare in local communities.

Teach

Whether it’s English or how to sew a button, you can find organizations across the globe that offer opportunities to teach in underprivileged communities. You can share your skills and knowledge with many different demographics from young children to senior citizens, all while exploring an amazing locale. Organizations like WorldTeach and African Impact have built-in training and travel excursions. That way, you won’t have to worry about creating an itinerary as part of your search of cheap flights in May or practicing teaching skills and methods all on your own!

Have you done any goodwill globetrotting? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!