It can be hard nowadays to make a difference in the world. Many people simply feel that they are living paycheck to paycheck, or not reaching their potential. A number of people also wish to travel the world, which is a common goal. However, people don’t always get the chance to travel due to a lack of funds or inability to make time to do so.
The Workaway program attempts to alleviate the stress surrounding both these impulses.
Workaway was started in 2002 and has been the answer for many people who dream to travel. It has brought people from various countries across the world into 170 different countries at a significantly reduced cost.
The way that this has been made possible is fairly unique. Workaway takes applications from families or groups that require help, most of the time with some sort of physical labor. It then provides these workers from their long list of members, who go over to the country and work.
This is roughly comparable to that of a host student. The student, in this case the worker, will most likely connect with their temporarily adopted family first, and then transfer there for a period of time.
While the member, hereby referred to as workawayer, is there they will participate in the agreed upon activity. This means that the hosts are not to be treated as a personal staff in a hotel, but more as a temporary family.
The workawayer will work a couple hours or more a day on this chosen activity. Once this is completed they are provided a place to stay, food, and time off to enjoy the community place or even their host.
This activity can be any number of things, though is usually something that does not require a degree. Workawayers can be tasked to work on farms, help work with animals, or build things such as schools or orphanages.
Workaway can even be achieved as a family or group. While it is harder to find an opening so large, it is entirely possible to take a group on a Workaway trip.
One of the more notable accomplishments that Workaway has been able to achieve is funding a school program in Southern Vietnam.
With the help of workawayers, they have been able to rent a building, buy new tables and chairs and have provided occasional teachers for English in the form of workawayers.
Another notable accomplishment currently being worked on is the development of an orphanage in Nepal. With workawayer help, the program is attempting to build a better home, provide safe cookware, blankets and a hot water heater for the orphans.
An additional benefit for workawayers is the chance to practice a new language. By going to a different country where the dominant language is one previously studied, it has helped many strengthen their skills adding another qualification to a resume.
Workaway was founded in April 2002 by David Milward. It started after Milward took a trip to Hawaii in the early 1990’s, and got involved helping his friends with a project. This increased his one week visit into a two month stay.
After leaving this idea of getting involved with the community stuck with him, and with the advent of accessible internet he founded what was then a small organization, Workaway.
Workaway provides people the ability to travel the world and potentially make a difference in someone’s life.
From teaching them a valuable new skill, to meeting someone they never would have gotten too otherwise, Workaway has given many people the opportunity to see the world in a different way from a different place.
Jacob Conger
Reporter