Volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding and life-changing experience, however, it can also do more harm than good. Volunteering should mutually reward both the volunteer and the community in order to be considered valuable; all stakeholders should feel they benefit positively and equally from the experience.
What is Voluntourism?
‘Voluntourism‘ refers to short-term, unskilled volunteering. Specifically, orphanage tourism has experienced great growth in South East Asian countries in recent years.
‘Globally, up to 8 million children live in institutions, however over 80% of these children have living parents or family’ – The Conversation.
Orphanages should be a last resort option, and efforts should be put into building families up to support them to care for their children. By investing in sustainable grassroots projects that support families and communities (instead of trying to meet the demands of foreigners for orphanages) we can encourage communities to stand on their own two feet.
The Main Problems With Voluntourism and Orphanage Tourism
- It normalizes access to vulnerable children – Strangers are allowed access to vulnerable children, thus exposing them to forms of physical and sexual abuse.
- Children experience a lack of privacy – All children have a right to privacy according to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
- It emphasizes the ‘white savior complex’ (AJ+ Video) – Whereby the traveler imagines a view of the ‘problem’ to which they are the ‘solution’.
- It takes focus away from sustainable locally-driven development
- It creates attachment disorders – Children experience a constant rotation of visitors coming and leaving their lives.
- In worst-case scenarios, it exposes children to sexual exploitation, forced begging, and human trafficking.
Before You Begin Your Next Volunteering Adventure, Here Are Some Points to Consider:
1. Does the organization you are planning to volunteer with have a sound child protection policy? If yes:
- Have all staff been informed on how to adhere to and implement the policy?
- Before beginning work, are volunteers’ backgrounds checked and asked to provide a Working with Children Check or similar?
- Is there a system in place for children to safely report their complaints and concerns?
2. Do you have valuable skills to contribute?
- Are you trained and qualified in fields such as teaching, social work, film making, IT, nursing, or international development and policy? If not, realistically consider what you are going to be able to contribute.
3. Are you able to commit to volunteering for a considerable length of time? (eg. minimum two months)
- If not, have you considered the effects your short-term stay will have on the children you will be working with?
4. Consider your use of social media regarding children. What is your motive for taking photos with children? (eg. is it for self-promotion?)
- You should always ask a child (and the organization you are working with) prior to taking a photo with a child, as this protects their autonomy and dignity.
- You should never tag photos of children, or add children on social media (as this can expose them to forms of abuse).
- You should always seek permission from a child and your organization prior to posting a photo of them.
Child Protection Policy at Center For Girls
The strict Child Protection Policy at Center for Girls (CFG) follows the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child, to which Thailand is a signatory. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to Life, Development, Participation, and Protection.
CFG is committed to the safety and well-being of all children. Our aim is to provide children with the safest possible environment at all times.
When hiring, CFG will seek out staff and volunteers who demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ethical issues associated with research, monitoring, evaluation, and other participatory processes involving children and young people. Upon arrival, all staff and visitors must sign and adhere to our child protection policy, as well as view a PowerPoint and take a quiz regarding the policy.
‘It’s time to step up for child rights, don’t become another good person doing the wrong thing because you didn’t do your research’
– Andy Gray, One Sky Foundation
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Not able to donate today? Look for opportunities in your community to work against gender-based violence and human trafficking, as these are universal issues