Traveling with Purpose: Exploring the World and Making a Difference like Dr. Andy Mencia
- Corinne Galoway
- 22 sept 2023
- 3 Min. de lectura
Actualizado: 12 oct 2023
By Corinne Galoway
The other day, talking to a great friend, Dr. Andy Mencia, I thought about what a purposeful trip would be. Mencia has already visited dozens of countries and practically all of her destinations have been “travels with purpose”. We agree that traveling is one of the most enriching and transformative experiences anyone can experience. The excitement of exploring new places, immersing ourselves in diverse cultures, trying local cuisine and participating in unique activities broadens our view of the world. We also agree that we can, indeed, experience all of these experiences and still make a positive impact on the world.
Making the difference
The concept of traveling with a purpose involves using travel as a tool to leave a positive impact on the world. There are several approaches to making a difference, ranging from volunteering to actively engaging with local communities. How about exploring these possibilities and reflecting on new practices for your next adventures?
Volunteering: Contributing to Meaningful Causes
If you have an affinity with children, know that there is a non-governmental organization (NGO) waiting for you somewhere in the world. If you have musical talent, you will certainly find a place rich in musicality awaiting your arrival. And, if you are skilled with languages, there is a group of children or even adults eager to learn a new language, you just have to make yourself available.
Volunteering is one of the best-known ways to make a positive impact when traveling. Organizations around the world offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that can be extremely rewarding, giving you the chance to contribute in a meaningful way to a cause you value.
Responsible Tourism: Minimizing Negative Impact
I understand that volunteering can require a significant commitment of time and energy and this may not be viable for you, so we have yet another purposeful travel option which is Responsible Tourism.
There are several ways to practice responsible tourism during your travels. One of them is to support local businesses, such as restaurants and stores, instead of large international chains. This helps direct your money to the local economy, contributing to the preservation of the community's culture and identity. This idea seeks to minimize the negative effects of tourism on the environment and local communities, while maximizing the benefits for the people and places visited.
Community Engagement: Building Cultural Bridges
Community engagement is a third way to use your travels to make a positive impact on the world. It involves working in partnership with the local community to understand their needs and challenges, being able to participate, for example, in educational or environmental projects.
Remember my friend Andy Mencia that I mentioned at the beginning? Well, not only did he serve as inspiration for this article, but he also has vast experience in traveling with purpose. Mencia has already explored dozens of countries taking the teachings of Taekwondo with him, being a beautiful example of Community Engagement. He has lost count of the countless lives that have been positively impacted simply because he chose to get involved.
Andy didn't just share fine art, he changed the destinies of hundreds of children and adults. It brought culture, philosophy of life and dreams; took hope. However, the most valuable thing was the return from these trips, bringing with them not only good memories, but also new languages, new cultures and, above all, a new perspective on the world. He understood that his truth was not absolute, that the world holds much more than we imagine or believe to exist.
Community engagement is as close to being “local” as you can get on a trip. It is certainly a deeply enriching experience and can help build bridges between different cultures and communities.
Traveling with Purpose: An Important Balance
Traveling with purpose is a beautiful way to make a positive impact on the world. By volunteering, practicing responsible tourism or getting involved in your local community, you can make a meaningful contribution to causes you believe in.
To finish, I leave here a reflection from my friend Andy Mencia when he says:
“You don’t have to sacrifice your trip when you’re willing to travel with purpose. It's about finding a balance and understanding who you are in the world and the difference you can make in it, it's being aware that you are part and whole, it's respecting the natives and their culture, it's understanding that your truth is not absolute and that everyone Every day we learn something. Think about it and have a good trip!”
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