Help Improve the Lives of Locals Through Travel

David Krier, MD, MSPH, Founder and President of Volunteer Voyages LLC, helps others travel to interesting places to help improve the lives of the people living there.

David is a part of our Travel Massive Portland chapter and is working hard to maintain the business mission, “Enriching lives through humanitarian service adventures.”  

We asked David a few questions about his purposeful ventures and how they’re helping to change the lives of the people taking part. His answers are well worth the read!

What inspired you to create this initiative?

What tour can you find that allows you to work, elbow to elbow, with members of a tribe on the banks of the Amazon River? Are there very many programs where you can teach people in remote regions of the world to build water filters for their families so that they will have clean, safe water to drink?

Who gets to do these things?  We do.

Is there a unique story of how it came to be?

After traveling and working on a large number of “medical missions” in several countries over the last 30 years, I have come to understand that when we help others we are the ones who really benefit the most. Admittedly, it sounds selfish, except for the fact that the people we go to help, benefit as well.  In 2007 I decided that one of the most important things that I could do would be to form a company that allows others to share in the benefits that I was receiving.

Our projects are designed around the needs of first-time volunteers.  People who are thinking about volunteering, but are concerned with the “hardships” commonly thought of as synonymous with volunteering, are pleasantly surprised to find that we can still travel well, while helping others.

We develop new projects by visiting the village or community that would like to work with us and sitting down with the leaders.

What has been your biggest success or accomplishment?

I’ve always been amazed at how far-reaching the effects of this program are.  Some of my favorite – and frequent – occurrences are when I find that a previous volunteer is requesting to join us on another project.  I hear from volunteers at times that they have gone back to the same (or a different) location, either on their own or with another group, to volunteer again.  Sometimes our in-country contact will share with me that a volunteer has returned with their family, to work again, or simply to visit.  Several years ago a volunteer returned home after our project and then went on to start his own non-profit and takes groups to Asia to do similar work.  These events tell me that we are on the right track.  

What has been your biggest challenge?

Not surprisingly, our biggest challenge is marketing.  One can have the greatest program in the world, and if no one hears about it, it will fail.  Because our overall budget is small, we are unable to spend vast quantities of money on marketing.  Social media is usually affordable but it is also minimally productive.  Our most effective marketing is done by our returned volunteers – they are highly effective because they are connected to like-minded people – and it’s also a great testimonial.  

Can you share an inspiring story when you felt your project was most fulfilling?

My life is enriched daily from this work and from every person I work with.  

One volunteer complained to me on the first day of a project that I should have just asked him to write a check as a donation to the poor people instead of having him spend all of the money he did on air fare, hotels, meals, etc.  I told him that I’d think about that option.  On the last day of that trip he reiterated his plan to write a check for next year’s project – and then confided that he planned to bring it to the community personally.  

We once incorporated psychological research into our projects.  Our researcher administered the “Maslow’s Burnout Inventory” psychological test to our volunteers before each of the projects began, after returning home, and six months later.  After five years only 19 volunteers had completed all three stages of the testing, but their results were statistically significant: we were burned out before we went, better when we returned, and even better still after an additional six months had elapsed!  That realization was rewarding – so was the fact that we were able to publish it in a medical journal.

What do you hope your initiative will accomplish in the next 2-5 years?

I hope to increase the number of volunteers, and the number of projects. I’d like to work in more countries than our present list: Peru, Chile, Guatemala, India and Thailand.  My hope is to include places like Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Outer Mongolia.  I would like to expand the variety of projects that we do, too.  Clean water is an enormous concern worldwide, and I am keenly interested in helping communities everywhere gain access to a reliable and sufficient source.

We are planning projects that specifically create opportunities for people with disabilities (including PTSD) to travel to volunteer and reap the benefits of this work.  

Do you have any tips for aspiring do-gooders who want to give back or start their own social project?

First, follow your passion.  If you’re passionate about something, chances are good that someone else is, too.  Find others that feel the same way as you do and work together to find a creative solution.  

Second, call me.  I’d be glad collaborate with you to help you get started.  I often have more ideas about projects or parts of projects than I can use and I’ll share them with you.  

How can someone help or get involved?

The easiest way to get involved is to call me (503-703-4745) and tell me which of our projects you want to join.  You can also go to our website and look over the upcoming project opportunities and then call me.  

Another way to be involved is to refer friends, colleagues, and clients to us to join our projects.  

Why do you attend Travel Massive events? 

I attend Travel Massive events to meet and connect with amazing people that are somehow connected with the travel industry.  As a result of attending these events I have discovered new opportunities, developed new ideas, and met many new friends and colleagues.  All of these things are proving to be essential elements for the growth of my company.  

Purposeful Traveler is a series that profiles inspiring people or projects making a purposeful change to the way we travel. You can connect with David and Volunteer Voyages on Travel Massive, Facebook and Twitter.