Eco and Voluntourism

[Empty Glass]

Originally Posted by ISV Venture Star

Be careful. This article is worth a read:

Before you pay to volunteer abroad, think of the harm you might do | Ian Birrell | Comment is free | The Observer

Absolutely. I was in a bookstore the other day and stopped to flip through a book about voluntourism, and there was a chapter that mentioned this. Not specifically everything in that article, but just how important it is to figure out what exactly you're doing, or what exactly you're trying to do, 'cause it's easy to end up doing something harmful with good intentions. The idea that it's a new kind of colonialism was also mentioned. Plus, I certainly don't want to treat any people as if they were creatures on a safari. I've already seen a few advertisements put out by a student travel agency, and I don't like what they say with regards to that.

At the same time, I've figured that there's a ton I could do around where I live, so why do I want to leave the country so bad? Anyways, if I do decided to do some kind of volunteering abroad I'll look into it very thoroughly.

[Mika]

Originally Posted by ISV Venture Star

Be careful. This article is worth a read:

Before you pay to volunteer abroad, think of the harm you might do | Ian Birrell | Comment is free | The Observer

Originally Posted by Empty Glass

Absolutely. I was in a bookstore the other day and stopped to flip through a book about voluntourism, and there was a chapter that mentioned this. Not specifically everything in that article, but just how important it is to figure out what exactly you're doing, or what exactly you're trying to do, 'cause it's easy to end up doing something harmful with good intentions. The idea that it's a new kind of colonialism was also mentioned. Plus, I certainly don't want to treat any people as if they were creatures on a safari. I've already seen a few advertisements put out by a student travel agency, and I don't like what they say with regards to that.

At the same time, I've figured that there's a ton I could do around where I live, so why do I want to leave the country so bad? Anyways, if I do decided to do some kind of volunteering abroad I'll look into it very thoroughly.

Good points! And yes the Volunteer Book especially discusses the issue particularly well! It also covers things like culture shock, expectations, home sickness, etc. It emphasises the attitude one needs to go with should be that of a learner and reciprocity!