What are you doing this summer? Why not travel abroad with one of our summer leadership camps? At ILI Travel, our summer camps give you the opportunity to volunteer abroad, whether it’s in Haiti or the Dominican Republic, and assist with a community with the support they need. Don’t forget to reward yourself for the experience. Check out our video to see what you can do when traveling abroad with ILI Travel.

With our Haiti and Dominican Republic volunteer opportunities, you can leave a positive footprint while changing your view of the world in front of you. So, what are you waiting for? Gain a new perspective by contacting us at 866-881-1249 today!

Martin Luther King Jr. is an inspiration to us all, whether you’re currently a high school student, college student, working, or in retirement. His quote, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve,” can inspire anyone to get out of their comfort zone and make a difference in places that need it most. Fortunately, you can make a difference! At ILI Travel, we offer college student volunteer programs for people in Montgomery County, PA, as well as the surrounding areas, who want to travel and help others simultaneously.

Along with service trips abroad for college students, we also offer trips for high school students, community organizations, non-religious mission trips, women’s weekend trips, summer leadership camps, and more! Contact us today at 866-881-1249 or download our eBook for more information.

Are you seeking a volunteer opportunity abroad for you and your family? More and more travelers are deciding to volunteer abroad as a way of experiencing a new culture while giving back to a community. At ILI Travel, we are proud to offer affordable family volunteer trips for those looking to travel with a purpose and community service abroad for teens located near Essex County, NJ. Continue reading →

To ethically build a service learning program in another country, working directly with local communities, schools, or organizations is critical. Although students around the US frequently travel abroad for enrichment, service learning trips give young people the opportunity to both serve as well as become more intimately acquainted with the local culture. Continue reading →

You don’t have to choose between work and travel

Traveling for work and for vacation don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Learn how we can help you combine the best of both!

Did you know that school in the Dominican Republic is only a half-day long? Currently, there are local efforts to move to full-day school and better support to children who wish to pursue their education. These efforts strive to reduce the high drop-out rate at Dominican schools.

This spring, ILI Travel is hosting a Women’s Weekend Trip where you can work side-by-side with Dominican locals to offer tutoring, run sports programs, and help with beautification efforts. This international volunteer opportunity for women near Union County, NJ, will allow you and your friends to make a lasting impact on the community you visit. This retreat will run from March 28 – 31, 2019.

Register now or explore our website to learn more about our volunteer opportunities overseas for women in Essex County, NJ!

Today, many organizations are moving away from community service while embracing the concept of service learning. This seemingly subtle shift can have a powerful impact on the communities we serve and the values that volunteers learn during their experience.

Community Service

Community service is a voluntary act that strives to benefit others. Learning may happen during a community service experience, but it does not occur in a formalized manner. Often, volunteers leave with only a surface-level understanding of the problems that they worked to alleviate.

If a group of volunteers works together to participate in a neighborhood clean-up, then that would be an example of community service.

Service Learning

Service learning is a type of experiential education that aims to work closely with a community to meet that community’s real needs. Volunteers will learn about the context that surrounds community concerns while reflecting on their own experiences. Both the volunteering and education will reinforce each other to provide greater value for the group. In service learning, the world is a classroom, and every person that a volunteer meets will teach them something new.

If a volunteer group took a course on waste collection and recycling and later completed several local clean-up projects to learn about sustainable waste management in nearby neighborhoods, then that would be an example of service learning.

The Impact of Service Learning

Service learning experiences strive to make a lasting impact on volunteers, influencing them long after they return home. These experiences will help volunteers develop:

• Civic Responsibility
• Greater Compassion
• Intellectual Inquiry
• Personal Integrity
• And Much More…

Types of Service Learning Experiences

Service learning can occur in your local community or abroad. For example, if you live near Essex County, NJ, and would like to pursue volunteer opportunities overseas, then you should contact a reputable organization like ILI Travel.

At ILI Travel, we organize voluntary services overseas for groups in Burlington County, NJ, and nearby areas. Our primary focus is on supporting economic, educational, and environmental sustainability in the areas that we serve. We offer several programs with different educational and community-based concentrations, such a language immersion and social justice tours.

To start planning your service learning trip, contact us today!

Do you want to grow with a once-in-a-lifetime experience while also making a difference? When you volunteer abroad with a group of like-minded people, you can achieve incredible things and build lasting friendships.

Organizing a service learning trip is endlessly rewarding, but it can be daunting. Fortunately, at ILI Travel, we have visited almost 40 countries and territories, and our team has worked with numerous groups to build successful service learning trips. Let us guide you through planning your trip.

The Initial Planning

First, ask yourself these questions:

• • Where will your group volunteer? At ILI Travel, we currently organize trips to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
  • When are you planning to travel?
  • Who might be interested in this trip?
  • How large would you like your group to be? We require a minimum of 12 people for our trips, but we also offer the opportunity to combine groups.
  • What deadlines do you need to meet to make this trip happen?

We will work closely with you throughout this process. Contact us at any time, and will help you to successfully overcome any challenges that you might face.

Find the Right Volunteer Abroad Organization

Next, research different volunteer abroad organizations to determine if they are truly helping the communities that they serve. After all, you don’t want to end up like the volunteer group who built a school in the Dominican Republic only for it to sit empty!

At ILI Travel, we work with local nonprofits to ensure that we are always meeting local needs. Our trips are designed around the concept of economic, educational, and environmental sustainability. We create local jobs in the countries we serve and pay Fair Trade wages. We aim to make a lasting impact on struggling communities.

Start Fundraising

Some groups do no fundraising at all, while others keep the responsibility on the individuals. If you want to fundraise for your group, here are some great ideas for your group:

• • Talk to friends, family, and coworkers
  • Host a fundraising party or sale
  • Use a crowdfunding website
  • Ask for funds in lieu of birthday and holiday gifts
  • Remember! It’s for a good cause!

Get Ready to Travel

At this stage, the trip is definitely happening, so you need to get ready. First, make sure that your passport and vaccines are up-to-date. Do some research on the country you’re visiting so that you know what to expect. Start packing, and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Are you excited to start organizing a service learning trip for your school, place of worship, or other group? Give us a call today at 866-881-1249.

At ILI Travel, our goal is to make a long-term positive impact on developing countries’ educational, economic, and environmental sustainability. Our programs strengthen the communities we serve and offer volunteers the chance to give back to the world. To learn more about our service learning programs, watch our new video!

Would you like to organize a service abroad trip to the Dominican Republic or Haiti with ILI Travel? Our team will support you during every step of the way, from the initial planning to your unforgettable service experience.  Contact us today to find out more!