There’s a new buzz-word in the travel industry, “voluntourism.” Voluntourism is gaining in popularity. Lots of people who are eager to help and seeking adventure around the world are signing up. They’re paying big bucks for the opportunity to make a difference in the global community, but some of these people are coming home feeling disappointed and deceived.
What is Voluntourism?
An Indian woman begging for money
Voluntourism is a term used to describe a program where during your vacation you volunteer your time and energy with a non-profit organization in hopes of making a positive difference in the global community. Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” and he was right.
I’ve done some volunteer work on my travels, and soon, I have another international volunteering experience coming up in Costa Rica with an organization called Let’s Imagine. Volunteering is always a challenging experience, especially in an international setting. That’s why it’s important that when considering voluntourism you have the right intent, realistic expectations, and do your research before signing up for anything. If you don’t, the results could be devastating.
A Bad Example
Me and a working elephant in Udaipur, India
In the past five years, there has been an extraordinary increase in “volunteering opportunities” with elephants in Asian countries. These programs are often run by people without any animal welfare credentials or experience, and the volunteering programs are being sold through third parties tourist offices at outrageous prices. They are capitalizing on tourists’ desire to spend time with elephants and feel good about themselves. Unfortunately, these elephants are being exploited, are considered personal property, and are being used for financial gain only. What’s more is that volunteers aren’t taught about the correct way to interact and care for an elephant and sometimes the volunteer, or the elephants, are injured in the process. Many of these organizations don’t carry insurance and don’t have proper safety programs in place.
Have the Right Intent
Malanese boy
Not all voluntourism opportunities are unsafe or poorly planned. There are many reputable non-profits happy to welcome your help. However, first make sure that you’re intent is really to help and learn, not just look good on social media and feed your ego. Be prepared to work long hours and leave your glamor fantasies at home. Also, make sure the intent of your host organization is in-line with your values. If they are charging money, it’s possible that even though they may be an “NGO,” they just want to make a profit off of you.
Do Your Research
In my opinion, if a company is charging you money to volunteer, it’s probably a red flag. Sure, you will normally have to pay for your airfare, but the least the non-profit organization should do is provide you suitable accommodations and meals in exchange for your work. Spend some time researching the organization, looking for reviews, and talking with others that have used their program.
Where to Start
If you are considering voluntourism, I suggest starting on the website workaway.org. It’s a fantastic site where you can locate international hosts willing to accommodate you with food and lodging in exchange for help with something. At the top, you will find a keyword search option. Just enter the words “non-profit” or “NGO,” and you will find plenty of great organizations wanting to host you in exchange for 20 to 25 hours per week of work. You won’t have to pay them a dime, and you don’t even need to work full time, which means you’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own.
I encourage you to think about voluntourism for your next holiday. It can be an extremely rewarding and life-enhancing experience. You’ll leant more about yourself while exploring other cultures, but most of all, you’ll make a positive difference in the lives of others.