Voluntourism
Getting to the root of change.
Voluntourism
Getting to the root of change.
Around the world, over eight million children live in orphanages.
Prompted by a spirit of goodwill, many people go abroad to volunteer their time with children in care centers. This is known as voluntourism.
Prompted by a spirit of goodwill, many people go abroad to volunteer their time with children in care centers. This is known as voluntourism.
While the impulse is generous and well-founded, voluntourism is, at its best, a temporary band aid for larger problems.
At its worst, it creates a number of problems for the children it purports to help.
At its worst, it creates a number of problems for the children it purports to help.
Voluntourism can also unintentionally contribute to the de-humanization of children in care.
Voluntourism can also unintentionally contribute to the de-humanization of children in care.
Kenyan Stephen Ucembe spent 14 years in an orphanage and recalls times when volunteers visited and the children were prompted to sing, dance—often shoeless—and look bereft to encourage donations for the “orphans.”
“The term orphan,” says Stephen, “had become a homogenizing and pathologizing label. It stole away our individuality and dignity. Silently I felt sad and miserable to have people gawk at me and cameras flashing at our faces.”
Voluntourism also encourages emotional bonding between volunteers and children, who experience intense disappointment when volunteers leave the orphanage.
Voluntourism also encourages emotional bonding between volunteers and children, who experience intense disappointment when volunteers leave the orphanage.
“Funding and supporting institutions disrupts the local family and community-based child protection system,” says Stephen Ucembe. “We deny local families and communities a sense of responsibility and accountability.”