An Alternative to Regular PTO

Written By

Cookerly Public Relations

Paid time off (PTO) usually allows employees to enjoy a bit of relaxation and retreat from the stresses of work, but one Cookerly employee used his PTO to complete a ”voluntourism” trip to Honduras. After he embarked on a mission trip, which included improving a primary school and creating a system for fresh drinking water, he was left with five key takeaways for anyone else considering this type of PTO:

1. Zero in on your mission- Plan to help out in the best and most sustainable way possible, taking a lead from those who have traveled before you and have set up these types of projects in the past. You will learn a lot from the organizers and the locals, so it’s important to listen to them and know how to help in meaningful ways.
2. Pick up new skills and customs- During a voluntourism trip, you will learn new skills that can transfer into your daily life while exploring and experiencing life with the locals.
3. Leverage the opportunity to put the world in context- One of the most impactful parts of the journey is seeing American privilege from a new lens and stepping outside of oneself for the trip.

Read the remaining two takeaways over on Cookerly’s blog, Five Ways to Maximize PTO for a Cause.

Cookerly is an Atlanta-based public relations and marketing agency that provides various services from brand-building strategy to reputation management. Cookerly leverages traditional and social channels to engage with key publics, consistently exceeding client expectations.