Vacation volunteers
Travelers who ‘want to give back,’ donate time and money to relief efforts around the world. The writer returns to his native Thailand to clear debris left by the tsunami.

Phuket was hot. At mid-afternoon we were covered in dust and dirt, and it was just getting hotter. That was when we started the fire.

We had spent the morning clearing what had been a restaurant's kitchen before the tsunami. We had hauled away concrete rubble, picked up broken bottles and shattered plates, and tossed into piles all the debris that could be disposed of easily by burning - downed coconut palm fronds, faded receipts and part of a wooden hotel room door, its emergency exit instructions still readable. Our team's task was to prepare the site for rebuilding.

Coordinating our efforts was the Bang Tao Recovery Project, a relief group organized in the wake of the Dec. 26 tsunami to help a beach resort community of about 100 families and 50 businesses get back on its feet. While the number of lives lost in Bang Tao - less than 40 - was comparatively smaller than in other parts of Thailand, the waves destroyed homes, flooded stores and hotels and damaged fishing boats.

About 80 volunteers from around the world enlisted their services with the Bang Tao Recovery Project in the weeks after the tsunami, according to volunteer coordinator Mary Carroll, 28, a child-care worker from Dublin, Ireland. The volunteers had a few things in common, despite our different backgrounds. All of us had put down what we were doing and turned up in Bang Tao with a desire to help. Moreover, we really didn't know what we were doing - most of us had little experience in relief work. But over a few days together, we became veterans while new volunteers wandered in.

A change in plans

My travel partner and I had planned to visit Europe in February, but we changed course for my native Thailand after the tsunami struck. We saw it as an opportunity to do our part, however small, for a worthy cause while seeing a different part of the world (I hadn't been back there in 11 years). That essentially sums up the attractions of a volunteer vacation.

These types of trips, which gained attention after the tsunami, offer travelers a hands-on alternative to passive sightseeing or organized tours. They appeal to people who not only want to see Buddhist temples in Mongolia, but also want to help restore them. Just such a trip is available through the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project, a nonprofit agency based in Pacifica, Calif., and one of several groups that caters to travelers who want to do volunteer work abroad.

Several agencies specialize in volunteer tourism. While prices vary, packages generally include food and lodging. air fare is not included and travelers are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the country they will be visiting. Some trips may be tax-deductible, if arranged through a nonprofit agency. In addition, college students may be receive credit toward certain courses, but they should check with their schools before embarking.

Following is a sampling of the opportunities that are out there:

The Cultural Restoration Tourism Project is a nonprofit organization that focuses on restoring Buddhist temples in Nepal and Mongolia. Prices for six days at a monastery in Mongolia starts at $1,080. Information: www.crtp.net, 415-563-7221.

Nonprofit Globe Aware likens its volunteer vacations in South America, Cuba, Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, and India to mini-stints with the Peace Corps. Information: www.globeaware.org, 877-luv-globe.

Global Crossroad, a for-profit company, offers volunteer health-care programs for medical professionals. For travelers seeking to remain stateside, the company offers a six-week conservation package in Nevada for $399. Information: www.globalcrossroad.com, 225-922-7854.