By Christina Murchison

“My soul hit the jackpot,” said Carole Morehouse, a successful professional from New York.  After volunteering in Salvador, Brazil, Morehouse came back a different person, more fulfilled and feeling better about herself.

The 39-year-old participated in an organized volunteer vacation program through a travel service, a trend growing more popular after devastating events such as tsunamis, earthquakes and famine make headlines more often.

She promises the volunteer vacation program “changes your whole life forever.”
General Tours introduces Make A Difference vacations program, new to the travel marketplace.

Because this is a new program “it will take a while to get out there,” said Marilyn Ward, southeast regional manager of General Tours.

This program is a result of a partnership with Cross-Culture Solutions, an international nonprofit organization with no political or religious affiliation.
“As our world becomes more interconnected, many people are choosing to take a trip that can change their view of the world, put them in closer contact with another culture and help make a difference in someone else’s life," Ward said. 
Make A Difference gives compassionate travelers an opportunity to learn about Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Russia or Peru, the countries toured during this year round program. Volunteer travelers are placed, based upon community needs and personal preference, by a Cross- Culture Solutions’ in-country director.

Volunteers work side by side with residents to complete projects such as sprucing up orphanages and elderly homes by painting and planting gardens.
Another possible task is “affection therapy,” which includes holding abandoned babies, helping in health clinics and spending time with elderly people who are neglected and do not get enough contact. 

The weeklong Make A Difference vacation also offers cultural emersion, which lets vacationers experience concerts and foods from the native culture and learn about the religious environment, politics, language and day-to-day life.

There are about 45 departures to take advantage of now through spring 2007. Because the cost of travel is to support Cross-Cultural Solutions’ continuing in-country operations, up to 100 percent of your volunteer vacation may be tax deductible. 

“General Tours and AAA,” Ward said, “do our part to make this an easy, totally comfortable, all-inclusive and rewarding experience that you’ll never forget or regret.”