Voluntourism

A very well written article, summarising what we've thought for a long time. There are so many stories of half finished schools, fake orphanages etc. not to mention the 'voluntourism' companies that skim off a huge chunk of what people pay to go. As she says, people have the best of intentions, but it can also be seen as slightly egotistical for us from the West thinking we can bestow upon others our knowledge and skills - when we may have none.

We used to help out on an elephant mahout project - a great organisation where people from the west pay to learn how to be elephant mahouts for a period of time. The money goes to the families and towards the upkeep of the elephants, and the participant gets a unique experience on their holiday. There's nothing wrong with that. The lives of the families on the camp were also made more interesting by meeting various foreigners. However, it was called a 'volunteer project', rather than a sustainable holiday. This name alone meant people came over expecting to feel they were helping out in more than money. They would complain and get angry because they weren't 'volunteering'. But what skills did they have that were needed? The mahouts could care for the elephants, the families cared for their children, they could grow their own vegetables and build their own houses. They didn't need 'help' from the westerners, they needed the financial support.

As a teacher, you hear about a lot of projects where people pay to go and 'teach' in a school for a short period, but where there is no overall curriculum, so the students just do the same activities repeatedly with different volunteers. While it could be seen as better than nothing, a more beneficial situation would be for people with teaching skills to at least oversee the projects, prepare curriculum and materials and train the volunteers.

So, I guess in conclusion, there can be a position for voluntourism, although perhaps the name needs changing. If organisations are regulated and have the appropriate protection and organisation, it can be a good thing. But, unfortunately, very often, it isn't. Reply to this

Very interesting article Shane and thank you for sharing. Dave and I have had conversations about volunteering and discussed some of the issues brought out in this article. It is a vexing problem.

The most corrupt orphanage managers even have an incentive to keep the children looking poor, because, as I have heard many travellers say, tourists often want to give their time and money to the poorest looking place, as they think that is where it is needed most.

Wanting to help others is a good thing. Finding a way to do it that will truly help and be appreciated is tougher than it sounds. Finding an organization that is honest, fighting off graft and greed and an organization that is actually teaching the locals how to fend for themselves is another matter. The work needs to be sustainable.

Finding an organization like Vietna mum
who has been established long enough to build the proper infrastructure is vitally important. The principles behind Karen's work is sound. Reply to this

A brilliant article. As humans we want to help others and in doing that, we often feel good about ourselves without there being sustainable improvements for the receptors. With every action there is a re-action. And in the end, are we doing the right thing? The effects are often only seen after a long period of time and then we decide: ok, that didn't work, what should we do to rectify it. And so the cycle continues. Once again, as humans, we aren't perfect and we make many mistakes, but I do feel we need to think and think again before we do something in order to help others. We too have made mistakes when we have travelled through poorer countries. Still, it is great to see so many people out there with good intentions and not wanting to sound too negative, please carry on the good work. Charity and hand outs create another problem, and understanding the culture of those poor countries will go a long way to helping their situation. Reply to this

Deni and Dax,

Your point is well taken about not volunteering in your own country.
Dave and I are health care professionals and would love to do some volunteer work in our country. We have some friends who have a free clinic and we have volunteered some free time there but not enough yet.

Volunteering in America just takes some time and planning.

One of the problems Americans have to deal with when working in their own country is liability. As nurses we have some licensing restrictions.
A few years ago when hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, we as many other nurses, wanted to go provide help. The way our laws are set up we could not provide nursing services which they needed badly because we did not have a Louisiana license at the time or malpractice insurance which covered that kind of work. It was sad and frustrating for many who needed help and those who wanted to provide help. Yes, we could have done other work but when you have a needed skill it would be great to provide it.

Many American physician and nurses travel to foreign lands because they can provide services and not worry about being sued.

Within the last five years some of these issues have been decreased and it is becoming easier to serve at home. We do believe this is a direct result of the Katrina situation.

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