The GiveYourGap team has been engaged in a lot of conversations lately about “Voluntourism.” Probably valuable to you, too – so here are some thoughts and resources for you to learn more about what voluntourism is and how to be responsible about it!
First off, what is Voluntourism?
Voluntourism is volunteering while traveling, a fairly recent trend that’s grown profoundly in the last twenty years. The goal of voluntourism is to travel and learn and making cross-cultural connections.
What to look for in a voluntourism program?
Here are five things we think are imperative when looking for a good program:
1) The history and mission of the organization. Make sure the organization is legitimate. If the org doesn’t have a website, ask for a write up of their bio. Find out the work they’ve done in the past and what their present objectives are.
2) Find out exactly what you’ll be doing. If the ad is to volunteer at a school, ask what this means. How many hours will you be expected to work a day? How many days a week? Will you be taking the kids on field trips? Will you be helping to cook, clean and feed them? These types of questions will help you get a better idea of what your time will be like at your placement.
3) Make sure you know where you’re living and whether or not you’re expected to find your own accommodations. If you’re doing a home-stay, make sure you bring photos of your family and friends and things from home that you can talk about with your new family.
4) Asked to be connected with a volunteer, either past or present, who can tell you more about their time there. Any good program will be happy to provide you with contact information. Looking at GiveYourGap profiles is a good place to start.
5) Understand where your money goes. Keep reading to find out more…
Where does your money go?
When deciding on a organization to volunteer with, it’s important to find out the fine print of the job description, especially if a fee is required for your placement. Don’t be shy to ask what the money goes to– any legitimate organization should be open to transparency and discussing these matters with you. Plus, you’re probably not the first person to ask. If you’re volunteering with a local organization, ask where your fees go: back in to the community, the organization, administrative costs, etc.
Volunteering through American organizations/companies is really popular right now, but keep in mind that traveling this way means that a lot of your money may be going to American staff and overhead costs instead of into local groups and causes. Make sure you ask for a breakdown of your fees.
No matter who you volunteer through it’s important to know exactly where your money is going!
Resources for Voluntourism
One of the hardest things to do when getting ready to volunteer is managing expectations, but it’s also extremely important! Talk to past volunteers, keep a journal, and stay open minded about the journey you’re about to embark on!
Global Sojourn’s reading packets on preparing, learning and reflecting on travel and volunteering
Worldchanging: Bright Green: Worldchanging Essay: Creating Responsible Voluntourism.
Author judging a high school debate tournament in Cape Coast, Ghana
