Today's our last email before the holidays, and in the spirit of holiday giving we want to leave you with a few things you can do to give back to the communities you visit while jetting around the world (we picked them up from Michael Norton, author of 365 Ways to Change the World).
1. Engage in social tourism: In addition to visiting museums and historical sights, drop by a rural development project, an artists' cooperative, or a school. Sitting in a classroom with children is something you'll remember for the rest of your life.
2. Buy local crafts. The best thing you can do is buy a bunch of saris or ceramic bowls directly from the people who produce them. You'll be investing in the local economy as you pick a memento.
3. Adopt a library, school, or village. Though this might sound extreme, you don't have to be Richard Branson to take on such a challenge. Establishing a 1,000 volume library in an existing building is as little as $3,000. To find a local organization that you can get passionate about, look online before you travel (Roomtoread.org lists library projects in developing countries).
Happy holidays! We'll be back on Jan 4.
