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Volunteer Tourism: Who really gains?

divinecaroline.com — Interesting read on Voluntourism and how it's not the best way to help people abroad.

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  • allisdivine, on 11/16/2007, -0/+5Who knew 'volunteering' could cost so much and be so involved. It still makes a difference and it's better than just giving the money to an org and not really seeing the effects of what it does.
    • GenghisCohen, on 11/16/2007, -0/+5I agree it still makes a difference, but it would make a greater contribution if the money was spent on dedicated organizations instead of your own travel.
  • kelseyisfine, on 11/16/2007, -1/+8some people just do their once in a lifetime volunteer 'adventure' and think they are saints.
    • stignordas, on 11/16/2007, -1/+1I agree. I mean it's a noble thing to want to help, and to use vacation to do so. But the point about money being more effective when used elsewhere makes sense.
  • tambird, on 11/16/2007, -1/+3So glad to see the statistics about the number of Americans signing on. What an excellent redistribution of wealth.
  • waste49, on 11/16/2007, -0/+5Well written article, I appreciate how this is even an issue nowdays.
    • MFallopian, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2Agreed, this wouldn't have even been on the radar 20 years ago.
      • sashapave, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3people have been doing this for much longer than 20 years, although in smaller numbers and much worse accommodation :)
  • trystero49, on 11/16/2007, -0/+4I'm not buying it. Perhaps these Voluntourists wouldn't even consider helping out if they couldn't travel? Or maybe they would put the money/time into a Club Med instead? I think any volunteer ism is a good thing.
    • muchomass, on 11/16/2007, -1/+3Yea, but that's not the point. The point was that you have a choice how effective your time/money are, and wouldn't you want to spend them in the most effective manner?
  • KathC, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2Anything to open peoples eyes to what's going on is fine with me. We all suffer from an out of sight out of mind mentality. I hope it helps.
  • MTessa, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3I still feel like someone will profit from this and not the people who should. On the flip side I think anything that raises awareness and gets us off our ass is good.
    • wandatinasky, on 11/16/2007, -0/+0I agree. There's plenty of my ass to go around.
  • acoate, on 11/16/2007, -3/+3I've always thought that American college kids, in order to earn their degree, should have to give one-year service in a developing country. That will teach them that there is more to life than buying your next pair of jeans and that the world needs the education they just spent too much to get. As for volunteer vacations, it's a lot simpler to travel in the world, meeting locals, get to know their cause, and help them while you are there in any way you feel comfortable. And the people who profit are profiting two-fold, by your time or money, and by you getting to know eachother and realizing that we're all interconnected, no matter where we come from in the world.
    • browwiw, on 11/16/2007, -2/+5And I've always thought that old assholes who have never been to college shouldn't run their mouths about what actual college students should or shouldn't do to get their degree. College is ***** hard enough without having to risk getting typhoid or raped by gypsies.
  • Kuestionmark, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1I read as volunteer terrorism; where nobody gains =
  • yoda17, on 11/16/2007, -0/+4Every single person I know who joined the peace corp, half dozen or so, and the ones that joined through other organizations said that they felt like they contributed very little when they thought about it. But what they did contribute was 'emotional support', ie making people believe that others cared about their condition which was encouraging to them.
    Really, you cannot help other people, they have to want to help themselves. Being there will basically will help show them how if they want to and cannot find out another way.
    It did profoundly affect the people that I knew. The world is a lot different than you can imagine without actually experiencing or living in certain conditions. Not different in good or bad ways, but just a different reality. Like mayonnaise instead of ketchup different.
  • yoda17, on 11/16/2007, -1/+2Every single person I know who joined the peace corp, half dozen or so, and the ones that joined through other organizations said that they felt like they contributed very little when they thought about it. But what they did contribute was 'emotional support', ie making people believe that others cared about their condition which was encouraging to them.
    Really, you cannot help other people, they have to want to help themselves. Being there will basically will help show them how if they want to and cannot find out another way.
    It did profoundly affect the people that I knew. The world is a lot different than you can imagine without actually experiencing or living in certain conditions. Not different in good or bad ways, but just a different reality.
  • zombies187, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3Some diggers are getting the message that people who travel and volunteer are pretentious. This is not necessarily the case and also misses the bigger point. Charity needs your COMMITMENT. The difference between going on an exotic vacation to volunteer and volunteering at your local whatever only one day a year are nil. People need more than your spare time. They need your commitment. I live in New Orleans. We get people from other places coming down to volunteer often. Yet they often take the opportunity to congratulate themselves on being so much better at providing than we are. Their arrogance and contempt override the good that they do over their weekend of charity. Some people do good work because they really care while others do it to make themselves feel better, or to please their corporate bosses.
    If you cant commit to helping others make it your hobby. If you cant make it your hobby, do it on vacation. If you cant do it without contempt, stay home.
  • biw314, on 11/16/2007, -1/+1Whatever makes guilty rich liberals hate themselves a little less. I hate this crap. Isn't it obvious that the developed countries don't have it all figured out? Why are we trying to spread it?
    • zombies187, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2This is what Im talking about. The implication of this article is that you shouldn't do this. But the truth is that you should do it all the time where ever you are. Even if you ARE on vacation. Articles like this make people who don't lift a finger feel better.
  • peterjez, on 11/16/2007, -1/+0You should never have to pay to help someone.
  • pinguwin, on 11/16/2007, -0/+0I volunteered for a month at Kalighat in Calcutta. This was the original center that Mother Teresa set up. I had no intention of volunteering, I was asked to come to Kalighat with another person, having no idea what it was, I figured it was something attraction or another. There was no money involved, on either side. Kalighat received our labor, we received biscuits & tea, twice a day.

    Most people there were there for altruistic reasons (myself being the exception, see explanation above). I didn't find the people who volunteered there pretentious or looking to fill in their travel resume. They were there for their own reasons, whether it be personal or religious belief. The things that I saw there are unlike anything you will see in a western nation. When people say there is poverty in the west, don't believe it. Yes, people are poor relative to their neighbors, but they aren't poor compared to Calcutta.

    Ultimately it really doesn't matter what your reasons are for volunteering (bragging rights, pretensions, wanting to help others, etc), as long as you are there and your hands are in action, what's in your mind or heart really doesn't matter.
  • munna80, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1What a bunch of CRAP!!!

    "According to the Travel Industry Association of America, more than fifty-five million Americans have participated in so-called volunteer vacations—vacations including a jaunt in charitable activities abroad—and some one hundred million Americans are contemplating similar trips."

    So you want me to believe that 25% of Americans have been in "charitable activities" abroad...lol, That is more than the number of passports Americans have, only 20% of Americans have a passport, and I don't believe more than 2% of those and getting the for " charitable activities"

    Buried for total exagerated lie.
    • scott2007, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2Whenever an organization's name contains "Industry Association" you can pretty much forget about the statistic given.

      This article was well-written and mostly empty of facts or substance. It was written by an undergrad, so what can you expect?
  • laurarstevens, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2I'm not sure how many Americans acutally travel abroad or do so to volunteer, but regardless of whether it fosters local acts of charity, I often find that the folks who go with their churches to Africa or go with an organization to Latin America to build bridges, or go with doctors without borders to provide needy surgeries, etc. are the type of people who might also take their children to soup kitchens, or donate to a local charity--international volunteering doesn't necessarily negate exploring local efforts at home. Besides, what an experience to go to a needy country and provide a fabulous service!
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