Chinese college students volunteer to teach at a kindergarten in the old town of Galle, Sri Lanka, organized by Ciweishixi. (Photo provided to China Daily)
This past summer, when most Chinese college students were dazzled by choices of holiday plans, Wang Chaodi jumped into one of the hottest travel trends, "voluntourism" for an unconventional holiday.
The Yunnan University junior spent three weeks immersed in African culture while participating in community service in Nairobi, Kenya.
"I want to go to the farthest end of the Earth to help people who are most in need," says the 22-year-old law student.
On weekdays, he taught elementary courses at an impoverished inner-city orphanage－a 300-square-meter space packed with houses, a feedlot and a ragged teaching shed－where "skinny students", as Wang puts it, have only a single outdated textbook to study from.
During weekends, Wang went on a safari to tourist sites including Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli Park, where he could observe exotic animals.
"Voluntourism", also known as volunteer tourism, combines volunteer work with travel. A global phenomenon, it is gaining momentum among young Chinese, especially college students.
Last year, when Ciweishixi, a Shenzhen-based company for internship hunters, launched its new South Asia "voluntourism" programs, it attracted more than 250,000 applications, according to its founder, Li Yaping. Around 3,000 young people were admitted and took the trips.
"Young people today want a richer experience," Li says. "Instead of taking regular approaches such as interning at big companies, an increasing number of them desire to take unusual approaches to connect with the world."
The effects of the ever-present internet also contributes to this trend.
"The internet connects people by their fingertips, but degrades the interpersonal relationship in daily life," Li explains. "Voluntourism allows participants to engage with local communities and do things together."
Studies have shown that engaging in community service provides mental rewards. Volunteer work fulfills people's desire to give back, helps them reduce stress and fosters empathy.
For the young, the benefit of international volunteering goes way beyond that.
Su Yinle, a 20-year-old sophomore at George Washington University, never expected that her international volunteer experience would have such a huge impact on her college application and her academic choices.
Before entering the college, Su took five trips to Siem Reap, Cambodia, to help local schools build facilities, through WoW Education, a Beijing-based organization providing students with learning opportunities through international service.
