ANAK ALAM Kintamani, Bali. An NGO that assists children in the smaller, neglected villages of Bali by providing textbooks, uniforms and scholarships. Consider stashing some books, magazines, art supplies, or gently used clothing in your suitcase and donating them to the school, Rumah Baca Anak Alam. They also have volunteer opportunities for those who have more time on the island.
HEART TO HEART INTERNATIONAL Lenexa, Kansas. A relief and development organization that specializes in volunteer action and worldwide humanitarian assistance to alleviate human suffering. Their focus is improving global health through humanitarian initiatives that connect people and resources to a world in need by engaging strategic partners, volunteers and donors in efforts to build healthcare capacity, increase access to health, respond to people in crisis, and strengthen communities in the United States and in more than 60 countries around the world every year. Heart to Heart has done exemplary work in Haiti and Nepal following devastating earthquakes that struck those regions in January 2010 and April/May 2015.
POTCAKE PLACE Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. A non-profit dog rescue run by volunteers with a mission to reduce the number of homeless “potcakes” on the island. Unable to adopt? Consider volunteering to take a puppy to his or her forever home in the U.S. or Canada on your return flight out of Providenciales (PLS).
WAIMEA TOWN MARKET Waimea, Hawaii. Featured in the Top Five Food Markets to See Before You Die, the market is run by un-paid volunteers for the benefit of Parker School in Waimea and has raised over $150,000 since its inception in September 2008.
LOCAL OCEAN TRUST: WATAMU TURTLE WATCH Watamu, Kenya. A private, non-profit organization committed to the protection of Kenya’s marine environment. The organization has several programs dedicated to sea turtle preservation, including nest monitoring and protection; untangling, tagging and releasing turtles inadvertently caught by local fisherman; and operating a rehabilitation center for injured turtles.