If you’ve been left with a tinge of guilt after planning your next lavish holiday retreat, complete with five-star resorts and helicopter rides, it is safe to say that you are not alone. The economic downturn has lead heaps of jet-setting vacationers to embrace the phenomenon of volunteer tourism – otherwise known as voluntourism. An industry once marketed primarily towards granola-crunching, environmentally conscious do-gooders, voluntourism has recently found its niche in mainstream America. Take a look at these programs, where you can spend your days lending a hand to global struggles, and your nights enjoying the tropical destinations you’ve been craving.

i-to-i

For traveling clusters of friends and co-workers, i-to-i offers unique team challenge opportunities. Its South Africa Team Challenge will guide you through Cape Town, where you’ll transform the lives of local children. Your team will be responsible for renovating a nursery school from start to finish – including reading to the young students it houses. Outside of decorating and adorning, you’ll find time to embark on an outdoor adventure course, hike to the top of Table Mountain, and unearth a colorful heritage from the township’s natives.

Earthwatch Institute

If the Earth’s ecosystem interests you, Earthwatch’s voyages to Fiji are right up your alley. You’ll be faced with a true challenge amid the lush forestry and coral reefs of Rove Peninsula: archaeological excavation of the Lapita culture. Working alongside Pacific Islander University students, you will be filtering through layers of sediments at Bourewa Beach. In your off time, you can wade in the pristine waters of nearby Natadola Beach, which was rated one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.

Habitat for Humanity

Through its Global Village Program, Habitat for Humanity pioneers the construction of homes for communities in need. Kauai is a rural Hawaiian island suffering from lack of affordable housing, which has lead to an increase of homelessness in many working-class families. Through the Global Village Program, you will help build houses for the inhabitants of Kauai who can no longer afford to provide for their children. After hard days on the job, you’ll be able to explore the gorgeous refuge of Kauai for its whale-watching, scuba diving, surfing, and sailing opportunities.

Cross-Cultural Solutions

Education enthusiasts will love Cross-Cultural Solution’s Costa Rica program in the city of Cartago. You will work with teachers to develop activities aimed especially towards children with special education needs. Preparing lessons and workshops for parents of those with disabilities will keep local inhabitants informed about the possibilities awaiting their children. You’ll also have the chance to take salsa dancing, cooking, and Spanish language lessons to better appreciate the Costa Rican culture.

Ritz-Carlton Give Back Getaways

Providing guests luxurious accommodations on the breathtaking north shore of Jamaica, Ritz Carlton’s Giving Children Hope program offers vacationers the best of both worlds. Barrett Town’s S.O.S. Children’s Village, inaugurated in 1972 by Johnny Cash, grants local orphans a place to call home. You’ll work alongside these children at a nearby river, clearing litter and planting flowers. A tree will also be planted and named in your honor. Because of your efforts, children of the village will find lasting inspiration in the beautified, natural environment.