So, what is “voluntourism” or volunteer tourism and how can you get involved? The internet defines voluntourism as “a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity” and goes on to say that “at the core of voluntourism is the desire to help others.”
By its very nature traveling is an “elite” activity, elite in that most people in the world never have (read they cannot afford) the opportunity to travel out of state let alone out of the country. Per the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 2015 travel and tourism generated $7.2 trillion (9.8% of global GDP) and accounted for 284 million jobs (1 in 11 million jobs) … that’s a lot of money and influence. So how can we as travelers ensure that our hard-earned dollars go back into the communities and directly into the hands of those who need it most and not just into the tourist industry… the answer is voluntourism.
So where do you get started? How do you get involved? If you do an internet search, you will find many non-profit organizations and travel businesses all advertising volunteer travel opportunities. You will hear and read phrases like “sustainable travel”, “voluntourist”, “ethical travel”, “travel philanthropy” and more. So how do we weed through all this information and arrive at a realistic starting point with good and reputable organizations and institutions? My recommendations are as follows:
- Start by visiting the site Voluntourism International – this site provides a wide variety of information about volunteer tourism, offers the option to sign up for a free newsletter, and hosts an ann
\ual forum in Washington, D.C.
- Once you feel you have done your research and have a clear understanding of what voluntourism is, what the possibilities are, and the areas where you feel you could contribute something, check out sites like Go Differently, Habitat for Humanity, or Projects Abroad that focus on connecting travelers with voluntourist opportunities among other programmatic missions.
IMG: MONUSCO. Goma, Nord Kivu, RD Congo. Flickr CCBYSA2.0
Voluntourism Pros
When you find a good organization that is well planned and organized, then you as the voluntourist can truly have a fulfilling experience both helping the host country and enjoying a memorable and meaningful vacation. Some obvious pluses, that despite their obviousness, warrant mentioning are:
- It meets the needs of busy people who want to volunteer and travel!
- Well-managed short-term entries of volunteer help can be extremely productive for many types of larger, on-going, or multi-phase projects that require many helping hands.
- Positive experiences as a voluntourist can lead to more sustained service, either in return trips to the same country or to more informed and deliberate forms of volunteering.
Voluntourism Cons
As voluntourism rises in popularity, there is an equally strong backlash that claims voluntourism is a bad thing and does more harm than good. There is also in many cases targeted resentment towards those very travelers who arrive in countries and communities with good hearts and good intentions but no real skills to bring about the types of long-term changes and capacity building communities need to improve/change their circumstances.
Another important note to consider when looking at voluntourism organizers is whether the voluntourism organizers truly understand the complexity of creating an experience that is “successful” for all parties. If not, the experience can be damaging especially for recipient communities. Some questions to consider when choosing a voluntourism organizer are:
- How are the volunteering opportunities chosen? Are these real needs and can volunteers truly do something useful in as little as a week?
- Is there an application process, specific qualifications for volunteers, or does the receiving site have to take anyone and everyone with an interest?
- How long has the voluntourism organization been working in the community? What kind of reputation do they have? How long have they been operating in the areas (both geographic and project based) they are promoting themselves in?
IMG: AFS USA. IMG_1533.jpg. Flickr. CCBY2.0
All that said, before you sign up for a volunteer trip anywhere in the world, consider whether you possess the skills/experience necessary for that trip to be successful. If yes, excellent! Move forward and do good work. If not, it might be a good idea to reconsider the nature of your trip. Unfortunately, taking part in some volunteer tourism where you aren’t specifically qualified beyond good intentions can do more harm than good. For example, it could potentially slow down growth and perpetuates the “western savior” complex that, for centuries, has plagued the countries and destinations we most want to assist.
Bottom line
Be smart about traveling and strive to be fully informed and culturally aware. Do your homework about the types of organizations and opportunities that exist within that country and think heavily about whether your involvement can bring about meaningful change or if a discrete project like building construction or well digging that is more tangible and can be achieved in a relatively short time. Make the time to learn about the community you will be working within; as only through an understanding of the problems communities face, and the continued development of practical skills within that community, that a long-term sustainable solution will be created.
