The Moray Firth in northeastern Scotland is home to the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit (CRRU), an organization that has been working for the welfare of whales and dolphins in the seas around Scotland since 1997. The organization conducts research into the ecosystem and habits of the marine mammals, and provides veterinarian services.
Every year, nine times from May to September, the CRRU opens its research ships for an 11-day voluntarism course. The fee includes food, board and equipment.
Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)
P.O. Box 11307, Banff AB45 3WB, Scotland
011-44 1261 851 696
www.crru.org.uk
Cooking in traditional Peruvian houses is tough. The stove consists of three stones, which means only one pot at a time, and no chimney, so the smoke goes straight into the room. Besides that, the traditional Peruvian fireplace consumes a lot of firewood.
Building modern stoves with chimneys improves the life of women, but the simple material is too expensive for them. So, making a stove saves trees, helps someone have a better life, and provides a view of the Peruvian countryside as well. The materials are locally sourced, and it takes only three days.
The Planeterra Project Peru tour also includes a four-day hike along Inca trails and a visit to Machu Picchu, the spectacular last refuge of Inca kings.
Planeterra
19 Charlotte Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2H5 Canada
416-260-0999
www.planeterra.org
You spend three days working with a non-governmental organization in an Indian village, and four days working and learning with a tribe in the jungle. This is what is offered on the 17-day "village volunteer" tour of eastern India, which also includes Kolkata, the UNESCO world heritage site of Konark, and the beaches of the port city of Visakhapatnam.
Grass Routes
Chakra Tirtha (C.T) Rd Puri
752002 Orissa, India
011-91-943-702 92 98
grassroutesjourneys.com
