When author Robyn Ramsay, a middle-class western woman, interacted with a family living on a dirt ledge in India, her life changed. The meager assistance she was able to provide them led to a deep yearning to contribute something more significant to individuals in developing countries. Her story is a wake-up call: Travelling can become an act of giving and sharing in a community, rather than simply stopping by to snap a few photographs before moving on.

In 2009, Robyn and her partner, Gary, travelled to Vietnam, where they caught a glimpse of a disabled street boy as they were boarding...