Around the world, water scarcity is becoming one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Over 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress, and the United Nations projects that by 2025, half of the global population could be living in water-stressed areas. The World Health Organization further warns that 785 million people still lack basic drinking water services, while nearly 2 billion rely on contaminated sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

While governments, NGOs, and private sectors grapple with solutions, volunteer tourism—where travellers actively contribute to projects in local communities—has emerged as a powerful force in tackling water scarcity. Unlike traditional tourism, which often strains local water resources, volunteer tourism channels global engagement into lasting solutions, helping vulnerable communities build resilience against water shortages while educating travellers on responsible resource use.
Volunteers engage directly with communities to implement sustainable water solutions. This can include constructing rainwater harvesting systems that capture and store rainfall for household use, digging wells to provide villages with year-round water access, and installing filtration systems that make contaminated water safe to drink. These hands-on projects are critical in regions where unreliable rainfall and polluted water sources threaten lives and livelihoods.
Equally important is the educational component of volunteer tourism. Volunteers support community-led water conservation initiatives, facilitating workshops on sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable water use. By equipping local communities with knowledge and tools to manage their water resources, these projects create long-term resilience—empowering people to protect their health and livelihoods. With climate change accelerating the frequency of droughts, floods, and other water-related crises, building this local capacity is crucial.
Through its projects across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, Camps International has witnessed the transformative impact of such initiatives. From building clay pots for water collection in Cambodia to improving water wells in Borneo, these efforts have significantly enhanced water access for countless communities. Volunteers not only contribute physical labor but also leave a lasting impact by raising awareness and supporting long-term project sustainability.
What sets volunteer tourism apart is that it actively addresses a lesser-known aspect of the water crisis—the strain traditional tourism places on local water supplies. Popular tourist destinations, especially in developing countries, often suffer from increased competition for water. Studies show that a single tourist can consume up to 2,000 litres of water per day—through hotel use, swimming pools, and other amenities—compared to as little as 50 litres per day used by locals in water-stressed regions. This imbalance exacerbates water scarcity, impacting local communities already struggling with limited resources.
Volunteer tourism flips this dynamic. Instead of consuming excessive water, travellers contribute to projects that replenish water supplies, improve infrastructure, and promote sustainable practices. It offers a model for how tourism can be a force for good - reducing its water footprint while leaving behind lasting benefits for host communities.
For students from the United Arab Emirates, participating in volunteer tourism projects focused on water security aligns with both personal development goals and national priorities. The UAE, located in one of the world’s most water-scarce regions, has long recognized the critical importance of water security. Through its UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, the country aims to ensure sustainable water supply and reduce the impact of climate change on its resources. Education, innovation, and international cooperation are central pillars of this strategy.
Volunteer tourism offers UAE students a unique opportunity to engage directly with global water challenges, complementing the UAE’s vision. By working on water projects in regions facing extreme scarcity, students gain first-hand understanding of the complexities of water management, climate resilience, and global interdependence. This experience fosters empathy, global citizenship, and a deeper appreciation for the importance of water conservation—values that resonate strongly with the UAE’s sustainability goals and initiatives like ‘Year of Sustainability’ and COP28 commitments.
Moreover, engaging UAE youth in such initiatives builds a generation of leaders equipped to drive future water security efforts both at home and abroad. It aligns with the country’s emphasis on empowering youth to contribute to global solutions, promoting responsible travel, and ensuring that the tourism industry evolves into a more sustainable force.
Water scarcity is a global challenge that extends beyond communities to entire ecosystems. For many of us, glaciers feel like distant, frozen giants—majestic landscapes we admire from afar. But in truth, they are among the world’s most critical water sources. Storing nearly 70% of the Earth’s freshwater, glaciers feed rivers, support agriculture, and sustain entire ecosystems. As global temperatures rise, these frozen reservoirs are melting at an alarming rate—putting millions of people worldwide at risk.
Volunteer tourism stands as a beacon of what’s possible when travel transcends leisure and becomes a force for change. By contributing to sustainable water projects, raising awareness, and empowering communities, volunteer tourists help enhance community resilience where it’s needed most. At a time when global water demand is expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, these efforts are not just admirable—they’re essential.
It’s a reminder that every drop counts—and so does every action. In choosing experiences that give back, travellers can help turn the tide on one of the world’s most critical challenges.