For many years people have been paying to go abroad and volunteer in poverty stricken countries. While most intentions are good, studies have shown that this gesture actually does more harm than it does good. When people go on these trips, they tend to do such things like plant trees, build houses, donate goods and visit orphanages. What they fail to realize is that these gestures make little to no difference in the overall well being of the country. The people there can most likely build houses and plant trees more efficiently than the volunteers. Visiting orphanages is moving and although taking pictures is tempting, doing so puts the children on the same level as an animal. Also, what about the children who have just taken a liking to you? Now you are going to leave to go back to the US and leave them behind. The locals of the country have taken notice to how orphanages attract tourist and money and now they see them as a gold mine.
These orphanages cash in on the guilt of volunteers like us. Often times the children aren’t even orphans. "Westerners take a pity on the children and end up creating a grotesque market that capitalizes on their concerns", said Birrell, author of this article. Majority of these orphanages are also unregistered!
As stated in the Article, "Voluntourism is more about self-fulfillment of westerners than the needs of developing nations". Careless attempts to help have harmed nations. By not doing your research before you go somewhere, you may end up fostering corruption, dumping cheap food and clothes, and destroying local industries and enterprises. Conclusively, before people go on these types of trips they need to examine the consequences for the people who they are trying to help.
Reading this article about "voluntourism" was a really insightful and different way for me to look at what we will be accomplishing on our trip. Are we really helping, or just making the situation worse? I think it is interesting that most people come with the intention to make a difference, but do not even realize that they are doing it for themselves. Although we all have good hearts, are we really making a difference? One needs to ask whether or not the difference being made will be able to help benefit the community, once the volunteer leaves. The number one thing I come away with from this article is that it is about what we do after our trip. What is the most effective way to help Haiti after the trip? Again, I really enjoyed this article because it forces people to think about their intentions and what they plan to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteThis is very impressive article which is published by you.This article motivate many people seriously.
volunteer abroad
Volunteering in orphanage is a difficult task because it requires a lot of effort nurturing the kids especially the younger ones. It is best for me to have feeding program for children because they needed it badly for their health especially the young one's.
ReplyDeleteJoseph @ volunteering abroad
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe theme of your blog is very beautiful and the article is written very well, I will continue to focus on your article.The people there can most likely build houses and plant trees more efficiently than the volunteers.
Volunteer Cambodia