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Following Mindy and Hans Madsen's family's return from a heartwarming trip to the Dominican Republic, we found ourselves engaged in a conversation with our dear friends Brit and Kelsey Peterson. Their family had recently returned from a soul-stirring volunteer trip in Peru, a venture dedicated to distributing wheelchairs to those desperately in need throughout the country.
As we shared stories of our respective experiences, a common theme emerged: the desire to bless lives in the communities we had encountered during our travels. Recognizing the positive impact that travelers could have on the lives of less fortunate individuals, we brainstormed the idea of starting an organization dedicated to giving back to the people and communities of the various places we have traveled to.
Fueled by a shared passion for making a difference, we envisioned a platform where fellow travelers could contribute their time, skills, or financial resources to support the unique needs of communities in the places they visit. Our hearts collectively settled on the Dominican Republic as the initial destination for our new organization, www.voluntour.net.
Brit and Kelsey embarked on a journey to the Dominican Republic with the intention of finding volunteer opportunities aligned with our new humanitarian venture. Intrigued by the idea of assisting those in urgent need, we discovered an organization specializing in building emergency housing for families affected by natural disasters or trapped in poverty-stricken conditions. We were drawn to the construction of homes from prefabricated wood, recognizing the potential benefits for traveling individuals to assist in swift and efficient construction.
Enthusiastically, we have joined forces with the organization, where we work side by side with other like-minded locals and fellow travelers to assemble these sturdy and quick-to-build homes. We have also partnered with many other organizations in an effort to support and strengthen them in their worthwhile efforts, rather than reinventing the wheel. We believe that supporting organizations that are involved in these areas 100% of the time will be most efficient to further efforts to make a difference, and will help create local jobs as well.
We set out to make our vision a reality as a result of these experiences, establishing the framework for an organization that would connect tourists with worthwhile opportunities to give back and inspire positive change all over the world!