By Erica Bray, from an article originally published on Frommer’s. Read the full article here.

Volunteering is good for the heart and soul–and your travel karma. Weaving some service into your vacation time not only benefits the communities you serve, but the act of volunteering has also ben shown to alleviate stress and increase happiness by those who give. In other words, it actually amplifies two of the benefits of vacationing. While you may not be able to devote all your precious holiday time, you can still give back. One day, or even just a few hours, can still make an impact.

For the DIY planner, it’s possible to build an entire vacation around a one-day volunteer opportunity listed on Give A Day Global. The volunteer-run organization was founded in 2012 by do-gooder travel industry pros who were frustrated by the lengthy minimum tie commitments required by many nonprofits. The site harnesses one-day opportunities in travel destinations around the globe, and each experience has been vetted by the organization: wildlife conservation, community health and nutrition, education, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability, and others. The website features everything from sea turtle care and animal rescue (pictured) in Costa Rica to leading language lessons in Cambodia. “While most travel guides don’t [list] nonprofit organizations that are devoting themselves to solving community problems, meeting these local heroes can be one of the most inspiring experiences you can have,” says co-founder Kerry Rodgers.

Read the full article on Frommer’s