Printable Dispatch from AnitaRoddick.com

During one of my recent entrepreneurial clinics at The British Library, I met the founder, Christopher Hill, of an inspiring travel company called Hands Up Holidays – who offer trips that blend sightseeing with authentic, meaningful interactions with local communities through ‘tasters’ of volunteering.

Christopher is so incredibly passionate about making a positive difference in the world through Hands Up Holidays, and ensuring that guests have incredible experiences that are as life changing for guests as they were for him, which is why he was inspired to start Hands Up Holidays over 4 years ago.

Most trips are about 14 days in length, with 4 days of volunteering, although they offer ‘short break’ 4 day trips to Morocco, Serbia and Romania where 2 full days are spent volunteering. Volunteer options range from environmental conservation to repairing an orphanage to being a reading partner. All projects have been selected in consultation with the local community.

You can choose from trips such as:

* 4 days in Morocco, exploring the delights of Marrakech, with 2 days helping build new rooms at a primary school in remote Talamenzou.
* 12 days in Brazil, soaking up the sights of Salvador and her beaches, take a capoiera class, enjoy the Atlantic rainforest, waterfalls and the incredible rock formations in Lençois, and also work alongside subsistence farmers and Jacaranda tree planters and help restore land that has been badly degraded by misuse and mismanagement,
* 14 days in Uganda (or 15 days in Rwanda), encounter Gorillas, track chimpanzees, and help build a house for a needy family in delightful Bushara Island Camp.
* 12 days in India, explore Delhi, Taj Mahal, go tiger spotting in Ranthambore Park, and enjoy Jaipur in Rajasthan, and also spend 4 days teaching under-privileged children in Delhi.
* 14 days in Australia, explore Far North Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, ancient Aboriginal rock art sites, stunning Lakefield National Park, and spend 4 days volunteering alongside Aboriginal rangers in conserving endangered sea turtles.

Hands Up Holidays offers these amazing trips in 32 countries. The minimum size on almost all the trips is just two people, and they will happily tailor-make a trip for you. The maximum group size is 12 – excellent for group dynamics! Most trips are around the 4* mark, so they are pretty comfortable. Prices start at £650 for two weeks, with average price around £1,600, excluding flights, for an opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with another community, whose lives will touch, challenge, and inspire you. They only use local guides, so you will gain their perspective and insights, and what’s more, all your flights are Carbon Neutral - Hands Up Holidays pays for your carbon offsetting. Many trips are suitable for families - especially those involving teaching, or repair and renovation work, as children can play with the local children and get immersed in the culture. I am told the most popular trips for families are Morocco, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Morocco will probably be the first one for me and my family! For more information, check out the Hands Up Holidays website.

For an adventure that counts I recommend Hands Up Holidays!