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Good read on why "Voluntourism" is BS
Posted on 7/6/17 at 8:55 am
Posted on 7/6/17 at 8:55 am
LINK
There have been many different articles written about the ineffectiveness of short-term voluntourism trips to developing nations, including here and here by our friends at in-Training. You know the kind of trips I’m talking about: a spring break spent painting an orphanage in Haiti as opposed to drinking all day in Panama City Beach; a 10-day excursion in exotic Peru, with the pics of Machu Picchu to prove it; or, for the overachieving do-gooders, a couple weeks spent parading around Nairobi, Kenya.
However, these types of trips often exploit the people and communities they pretend to help. Worse, these short-term service self-fulfillment trips can end up doing more harm than good.
There have been many different articles written about the ineffectiveness of short-term voluntourism trips to developing nations, including here and here by our friends at in-Training. You know the kind of trips I’m talking about: a spring break spent painting an orphanage in Haiti as opposed to drinking all day in Panama City Beach; a 10-day excursion in exotic Peru, with the pics of Machu Picchu to prove it; or, for the overachieving do-gooders, a couple weeks spent parading around Nairobi, Kenya.
However, these types of trips often exploit the people and communities they pretend to help. Worse, these short-term service self-fulfillment trips can end up doing more harm than good.
13
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:29 am to anc
And it is so much more glamorous to travel to the Dark Continent than an American ghetto.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:31 am to anc
quote:
Not all of the short-term efforts are a lost cause if the organization’s focus is on the right things.
quote:
I recognize there are some short-term trips that do produce value
I think your title is a bit misleading in what the article is saying. Basically, like anything in life, you need to research it before jumping in. I believe overall it is probably a net positive for young people to be involved in struggling parts of the world. Yes, much of it is self serving, but that in and of itself doesn't make it bad. Many things in life that are self serving can have a positive impact on society. It's not mutually exclusive.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:39 am to anc
So helping kids in poverty makes their life worse?
You sound communist. Just because someone is making a profit doesn't make it bad.
You sound communist. Just because someone is making a profit doesn't make it bad.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:42 am to anc
Any effort exerted to help others is bullshite. You don't have to go to South America to waste your time.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:52 am to anc
I figure I do more good when I go to Jamaica, get shitfaced and drop twenty dollar bill tips on bartenders and guys selling fake MJ on the beach. At least they can take that cash home and buy a couple of days worth of groceries.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:55 am to anc
But how else can girls make them hugging a black toddler their Facebook picture
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:56 am to anc
The volunteer work I do definitely does no harm.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 9:59 am to anc
For many of these villages, the voluntourism doesn't actually empower the people. It's the paradox of giving a man a fish vs teaching a man to fish. The people become dependent upon the goods and services of the volunteers
Posted on 7/6/17 at 10:02 am to anc
I agree. You want to volunteer? Start right in your own towns and cities here in America. Trust me, there are folks (including children) who really would appreciate a helping hand.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 10:23 am to anc
The best thing you can do is find a small, established, trustworthy charity located on the ground permanently in whatever location you wish to help and give them funds and stay out of the way.
Unless you have an expertise in an area that is needed then do not go. These people already have shite for a life. They don't need a school built by a hipster who is seeing a construction site for the first time.
Unless you have an expertise in an area that is needed then do not go. These people already have shite for a life. They don't need a school built by a hipster who is seeing a construction site for the first time.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 10:26 am to anc
I'm sure it's a good experience but in the end, you would help them more by donating the cost of your trip directly to that community.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 10:32 am to anc
The worst part about it is you cannot say anything about it. No one post these kinds of things to Tigerdroppings because they would get brutal honesty. But, on Facebook people Like and comment on how great each other are and things like this get encouraged.
I wish some of the Teachers and Nurses who have the world's hardest jobs would post here. Or the single mom's who have the world's best kid would post about it here. Or Voluntourists would post about their existential experience helping others here. It would be glorious.
I wish some of the Teachers and Nurses who have the world's hardest jobs would post here. Or the single mom's who have the world's best kid would post about it here. Or Voluntourists would post about their existential experience helping others here. It would be glorious.
Posted on 7/6/17 at 10:43 am to anc
There's a reason it's called "voluntourism" and not "volunteerism"
I don't think the idea is bad. But yeah, handing out bracelets ain't gonna save a village.
Having said that, there are a number of companies that do these trips that actually build stuff... build huts, build water systems, etc. While these may lead to further dependence, it's also hard to say that having clean water makes their lives worse. Maybe they could incorporate more teaching to the locals.
But in the end, it's a lot like foreign aid. I love the idea of sending money to help foreign countries. But we have too many of our own issues and problems in this country that we should focus on fixing first.
Spend some time and money volunteering in your own area.
I don't think the idea is bad. But yeah, handing out bracelets ain't gonna save a village.
Having said that, there are a number of companies that do these trips that actually build stuff... build huts, build water systems, etc. While these may lead to further dependence, it's also hard to say that having clean water makes their lives worse. Maybe they could incorporate more teaching to the locals.
But in the end, it's a lot like foreign aid. I love the idea of sending money to help foreign countries. But we have too many of our own issues and problems in this country that we should focus on fixing first.
Spend some time and money volunteering in your own area.
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