Shortly after the earthquake in Haiti, a friend’s Facebook status captured what many people were feeling when she wrote she “wishes she could do more for Haiti than just throw money at it.”

It’s not just recent events that tug at the heart strings. It’s hard to be inundated with images and videos of hardship and disaster around the world and not want to help in a meaningful way. To an increasing number of people, that means doing more than simply opening their wallets: it means packing their bags.

Volunteer tourism — or voluntourism, for short — is one travel trend that shows no signs of waning. It’s more than a way to immerse oneself in the local culture and experience the daily life of a place; it’s an opportunity to give back. For instance, travellers on a volunteer vacation might find themselves building homes for victims of natural disasters, providing education and medical assistance to children in an impoverished area or helping farmers in a Third World country upgrade their techniques.

Volunteer vacations aren’t just for students on a gap year getaway. There are hundreds of short- and long-term opportunities for people of all ages, including families, solo travellers and Zoomers. There’s room for a wide range of skills and abilities too, like health care, construction, environmental conservation and teaching. Some organizations such as Habitat for Humanity specialize in one particular type of volunteer work (like constructing new homes), while others like Global Volunteers offer a range of opportunities like teaching business skills to entrepreneurs in developing countries or working for women’s empowerment.

If you’re thinking about a volunteer vacation, here are some tips to help you plan:

Access your strengths. There’s no shortage of activities to choose from, but you’ll be able to contribute more to an organization or project where your skills are a good fit. For instance, if you enjoy working with your hands, consider helping to build a school or dig wells. If your strengths lean more towards reading and writing, volunteer to teach English instead.

Consider locations. There are a lot of choices as to where you can employ your skills, and it’s okay to consider your own interests as well. Are there other activities and sights nearby you’d like to see? Is there a culture you’d like to learn more about, or a cause in which you strongly believe? Can you speak the local language?

If your budget is tight, you don’t have to fly half way around the world to volunteer. Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean have programs as well.

Dig into the details. Part of the point is to get outside of your usual comfort zone, so expect to “rough it” a little. Are you comfortable staying in a local’s home, or sharing accommodations with other volunteers? Are you up for travelling by ground or sea? Evaluate opportunities carefully to make sure there aren’t any surprises.