Meet Kurt Decorte, Founder of Horizon Impact Travel
Kurt Decorte is the founder of Horizon Impact Travel, a specialist volunteer travel company helping families and couples find volunteer programs that fit the way they want to travel.
With more than 20 years of experience in the travel industry and extensive experience living, working and travelling throughout Asia, Kurt brings a practical perspective to choosing volunteer destinations and programs.
On this page, you can learn more about Kurt's background, his approach to volunteer travel, and how he helps families and couples decide which destination and volunteer program is right for them.
I've been working in travel for more than 20 years,and over that time I've learned that choosing the right experience is often more important than simply choosing a destination.
My career has taken me around the world and included more than 10 years living in Asia. I've worked with travellers, developed volunteer programs and worked with local partners, which has given me a good understanding of what can make a volunteer experience work well, and what can sometimes go wrong.
Today, I'm the founder of Horizon Impact Travel, where I help families and couples compare volunteer programs operated by carefully selected local program partners.
I don't believe there is one best destination or program for everyone. My job is to understand what you're looking for and give you an honest recommendation based on your interests, travel style, comfort level and expectations.
Kurt Decorte
Founder, Horizon Impact Travel
Why Trust My Advice?
I've spent more than two decades travelling, living and working internationally, helping thousands of travellers choose volunteer experiences that fit their goals and expectations.
20+ Years of Travel
Extensive international travel across Asia and beyond.
Lived in Asia
Spent five years living, travelling and working throughout Asia.
Business Background
Ten years' experience as an international business consultant.
Personally Visited
Personally travelled to many of our destinations before recommending them.
Local Relationships
Works closely with carefully selected local program partners.
Founded Horizon
Created Horizon Impact Travel specifically for families, couples and adults aged 30+.
Why My Experience Matters
I've spent more than two decades working in and around travel, including extensive time living and travelling throughout Asia.
My experience combines several perspectives that are useful when choosing a volunteer program:
Travel Industry Experience
More than 20 years working in travel and helping travellers plan experiences in different parts of the world.
Living in Asia
Years spent living, working and travelling throughout Asia gave me a deeper understanding of the destinations where many volunteer programs operate.
Business Experience
My background in international business consulting taught me how to assess organisations, communicate clearly and look carefully at how different parts of a service fit together.
Volunteer Travel
Working with volunteer travel providers and local organisations has given me practical insight into how volunteer programs operate and why choosing the right local partner matters.
Destination Experience
I've personally travelled to many of the destinations Horizon Impact Travel features, allowing me to bring first-hand destination knowledge into the recommendations I make.
Building Horizon Impact Travel
I created Horizon Impact Travel to help families and couples navigate the volunteer-travel choices that can otherwise be difficult to compare.
Our founder in an interview with our local partner in Cambodia.
How I Help You Choose the Right Volunteer Program
There isn't one volunteer program that is right for everyone.
When I help a family or couple compare options, I look at the whole trip rather than just the volunteer project.
Who Is Travelling?
A program that works well for a couple may not be suitable for a family with children. Ages, interests and the needs of everyone travelling matter.
What Do You Want to Do?
The volunteer work needs to be something you genuinely want to contribute to. I look at the project itself, what volunteers actually do and whether it matches your interests.
Where Do You Want to Go?
The destination is part of the experience. I consider what you want to do outside volunteering and whether the destination fits the type of trip you have in mind.
How Do You Want to Stay?
Private accommodation is a core requirement of every volunteer program featured by Horizon Impact Travel. I also look at the accommodation arrangement and how it fits the overall experience.
How Much Time Do You Have?
A short volunteer placement can create a very different trip from a longer stay. The length of the program needs to work with the time you actually have available.
Does the Whole Trip Make Sense?
This is ultimately the question I want to answer.
A program can be excellent in isolation and still be the wrong choice for you.
My job is to help you understand the options and make a recommendation based on your circumstances, not simply what is available.
How I Think About Volunteer Travel for Families
Family volunteer travel needs more careful consideration than simply asking whether a program allows children.
I look at factors such as the children's ages, the type of volunteering, the destination, the accommodation and how manageable the overall trip will be for the family.
A good family program should give everyone a meaningful experience without making the adults spend the entire trip managing practical problems.
That is why I prefer to look at the whole family experience, rather than simply marking a program as “family-friendly”.
How I Think About Volunteer Travel for Couples
For couples, I look for a good balance between meaningful volunteering and having an enjoyable trip together.
The volunteer project matters, but so do the destination, private accommodation, free time and what you can do before or after the placement.
I also think destination choice deserves careful consideration. The best project is not necessarily in the best destination for the trip you want to take.
For many couples, the strongest volunteer experience is one that gives you something worthwhile to contribute while still leaving enough time to experience the destination together.
My Journey Into Travel
After graduating, I travelled around the world for a year. That journey introduced me to Asia and changed the direction of my life.
I went on to spend years living, working and travelling throughout Asia, including teaching English and studying Japanese and Chinese.
Later, I returned to Europe and spent ten years working as an international business consultant in the software industry. That experience strengthened the communication, organisational and analytical skills that I now use when helping travellers make more complicated travel decisions.
My work with volunteer travel providers and local organisations eventually brought those experiences together.
It showed me how important the relationship between the traveller, the local partner, the project, the accommodation and the destination can be.
That experience ultimately led me to create Horizon Impact Travel.
Why I Created Horizon Impact Travel
I created Horizon Impact Travel because I saw a gap between the volunteer experiences available and the way many families and couples wanted to travel.
They wanted meaningful projects, but they also cared about private accommodation, clear information, good local support and choosing a destination that worked for the whole trip.
I wanted to create a service that helped people make that decision properly.
That is still the principle behind Horizon Impact Travel today:
Understand the traveller first. Then recommend the program.
What I Believe About Volunteer Travel
I don't think meaningful travel has to mean uncomfortable travel.
I also don't think a volunteer program should be chosen simply because the project sounds appealing.
The destination, accommodation, local partner, project and overall travel experience all matter.
Most importantly, I believe travellers should understand what they are choosing before they commit.
If I can help a family or couple make a better decision, even if that means recommending a different destination or telling them that a particular program isn't the right fit, then I've done my job.
My Personal Destination Recommendations
Every destination offers something different. These are the reasons I'd typically recommend each one.
A Note From Me
If you're considering volunteering abroad as a family or couple and aren't sure where to start, you don't need to have everything worked out before you ask.
Tell me who you're travelling with, what interests you and what you want from the trip.
I'll help you understand the options and work out which destinations and volunteer programs are worth considering.