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WHY YOU SHOULDN’T PARTICIPATE IN VOLUNTOURISM
You’d think that giving up a few hours for a good cause while you’re on vacation would be a positive
thing, but despite its apparent virtue, voluntourism sure comes up against a lot of criticism. Is it just
miserable onlookers determined to complain about everything or is there actually a negative side to
donating your time to a charity while you travel?
For those who aren’t too sure, voluntourism is exactly what it sounds like _ a blend of volunteering
and tourism. Normally arranged through agencies in your home country, a voluntourism trip typically
lasts two or three weeks and involves plenty of sightseeing as well as a few days working with a local
cause.
For those with more time to spare, specialist agencies organize long-term placements lasting from
one month to a full year, though it’s not just time you’ll need an excess of _ these trips will typically
set you back $2000-3000 a month.
So just why do people criticize this seemingly philanthropic way to spend your summer?
Well, first of all, the volunteering stints that travelers do on their whirlwind trips can be short _
sometimes as short as a day or two. Many people question how much of an impact you can really
have in such a brief spell, though I tend to think that even an afternoon spent trying to help and learning
a little about local issues is better than another afternoon on the beach.
If your time is limited, one type of project you might consider steering clear of is anything involving
direct contact with children. They quickly become attached to newcomers and if you disappear just two
days after arriving it could do more harm than good.
Another common criticism is that voluntourism is really just a way to make travelers feel pleased with
themselves. Naturally, any act of charity comes with a side-order of feel-good, but I think it’s unfair to
suggest that volunteering is a one-way street. Sure you’ll be proud of yourself (surely no bad thing)
but while you take something away from the experience you’re bound to give a little back at the same time.
It might be that you help to save an animal, teach someone a couple of English phrases or even just
put a smile on a stranger’s face. No, volunteering is not an act of altruism, but neither is it an act of
selfishness _ it’s a shared experience with mutual benefits that don’t stop at goodwill acts.
The opportunities for learning something new are immense for both parties.
Some voluntourists have been slammed for forcing their culture on the host community without
considering the impact it might have on local traditions. I’m sure it happens, but most travelers
who choose to volunteer are keen to experience the local culture _ just as locals are often thrilled
to learn about another country.
I was recently at an event organized by an NGO working in Palestinian refugee camps and one point
that stuck with me was how enthusiastic the kids were when it came to learning about foreign lands
_ perhaps something that’s not high on the educational agenda. Anyone who complains that volunteers
are inflicting foreign culture on the host community is forgetting that most people love learning about
another way of life as much as they enjoy teaching outsiders about their own.
So far the criticisms are petty points of view that are easily countered, but there is a bigger issue that
concerns charity and tourism watchdogs _ money. It’s often been said that the agencies organizing
voluntourism trips are more concerned with profit than any positive impact their clients might have.
And you wonder how much of the huge fee ends up where it’s most needed _ in the hands of the
local charity you’ll be working with.
I recently read that well over half of the fee you fork out remains with the agency in your home country
_ a figure that make most people think twice about volunteering at all. Plus, from a volunteer’s point of
view, the hefty rates charged are often prohibitive to the budget traveler. So many times I’ve heard
people say that they’d love to do some volunteering while they’re away but just can’t afford to. When
you start to think about it, it’s pretty ridiculous. You’re already donating your time _ should you really
have to shell out a few thousand dollars for the privilege as well?
Truthfully, no, you shouldn’t and if you can be bothered with some hardcore research you don’t have to.
And let’s face it _ if you can’t make time for a few hours rummaging around the web, you’re surely
lacking the dedication to actually carry out a volunteer placement.
Organizing your own placement is obviously not the easy way, but if you can deal directly with the charity,
you cut out a lot of administration and therefore a lot of money. Plus you can guarantee that the cash you
do spend is going straight where it’s needed. For seriously deflated rates some organizations will collect
you from the airport, house you with a local family and even feed you a couple of times a day. Or if you
want to be totally independent you can perhaps save even more cash by arranging your own place to
stay.
If you choose to follow this route, it’s important not to listen to any of the agencies in your home country,
who’ll tell you that you have to arrange your placement before you set off. Of course, they just want your
cash _ I mean, what kind of charity is actually going to turn you away if you’re knocking on their door
offering to work for free? (A notable exception here is wildlife and conservation organizations
_ it’s rare to find a free placement where big game or rare species are involved).
If you can just find them, tens of thousands of NGOs across the globe are desperate for your help
_ they might not be able to pay you, but they sure aren’t going to charge you. It’s just a matter of
tracking down the details since the smaller charities usually can’t afford international advertisements
and many don’t even have websites. Google searches for ‘volunteering in Cape Town’ return nothing
but pricey mediators, so how do you get hold of the local charities that really need your help?
Guidebooks can be a good start as many list local organizations that welcome help from travelers.
But of course you’re best research tool is the web _ just be prepared for hours, if not days, of intense
trawling. Start off with a search for NGOs in your chosen country or city. Trial and error will eventually
lead you to a list of charities and most likely one of them will result in a life-changing volunteer placement.
To contact them you might have to go a bit old school _ getting on the phone or even (horror) writing
letters. But eventually you’ll find a cause that can really use your valuable vacation time, even if you can
only spare a couple of days of your trip. (See the links below to get you started on the search for
a charity that won’t charge a small fortune).
For the intrepid the other option is to simply turn up on a whim, knock on doors and hope for the best.
You could be setting yourself up for a fall, but if you stick to solid traveler spots you’d be pretty unlucky
not to score a fee-free placement. Then you can spend that extra cash supporting yourself so that you
can help out for longer _ or just donate it directly to the cause.
So it seems that the answer to the critics’ gripes is to step back in time to before the agencies
(or the word ‘voluntourism’) existed and arrange your goodwill trip unaided. Then if anyone dares to
throw criticism your way, hold your head up high and tell them you’re not a voluntourist.
_ you’re a voluntraveler!
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