What are Work Exchange Programs and how they work?
Work exchange is the perfect option for any kind of traveler who is seeking to travel on flexibility. Here’s everything you need to know to have an amazing work exchange experience on your next trip to Vaatalya Community Retreat
What is a work exchange?
A work exchange, also known as work travel or voluntourism, is where you exchange your time and abilities for accommodation. Here, at Vaatalya, you can lend us a hand for certain things for a limited number of hours per day. In exchange, we provide you with a place to stay or a discount with other benefits.
Why sign up for a work exchange?
The various reason to try a work exchange when you plan to visit us at Vaatalya include:
-It's the most affordable way to travel
Are you travelling on a budget? Work exchanges are the cheapest way to travel. Your accommodation and meals account for around 60% of total expenses when you plan a visit to Vaatalya with flights and other transportation making up the remaining 40%.
When you travel on a Work Exchange Program, you can spend as much as 70% less than they normally would and stay here for a longer time at Vaatalya.
-Perfect for those who prefer Slow Travel
Slow Travel is the practice of staying longer at each destination instead of hopping around constantly from place-to-place. Aside from simply having more time to explore, you can experience the locals' daily lives because you're living among them.
You'll be able to spend time at our favourite spots in and around the retreat, learn the local customs and the cheapest ways to live there and have a much more real immersion in that culture.
-Live with the locals
Apart from us, you'll meet many other local community members and people who live in the area. You'll be living, working, and spending your free time with them.
Get to know the unique places where only the locals go, have them show you how to get around without spending too much, take advantage of the chance to learn some of the local languages, even if it's just the basics. Become a part of a community.
-Live with people from around the world
If you are on a work exchange program at Vaatalya, it's very common to live with people from various parts of the country and world, as you pass through other travellers and volunteers.
This is one of the best ways for you to make friends from all over the world and to learn about other cultures through their stories.
-Break out of your comfort zone
If you want to do a work exchange, you will be challenged in many ways. It could include doing a task that you don't have much experience with, making friends wherever you are or dealing with the difficult situations that always arise.
You'll encounter situations that make you think in different ways, question your beliefs, connect with people from very different cultures, and see the world differently.
-Travel with a purpose
This is the most unique way to get to know us and to be a part of our community. You're not just visiting us and staying with us, but also helping others and, in the case of social projects, making an impact on local communities.
What makes this kind of exchange possible, fair, and rewarding is the spirit of collaboration between both parties.
-Develop new skills
Because you'll be helping us, you'll, of course, be improving some of your skills and hopefully develop new ones as well. We will learn from you too.
