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Volunteering/adventure holidays for teenagers

2 replies

scrappydappydoo · 16/04/2021 12:09

DD is 15 (yr10). She would love to go on one of these volunteering/adventure holidays abroad - where you volunteer for a project but also do some travelling/adventure type stuff too. We have had a very long conversation about the ethics of some of these companies and experiences. She is very keen to avoid the ones where you drop in to a developing country, build a wall badly while taking jobs away from local qualified people, take lots of pics for insta and leave but at the same time would love to volunteer somewhere ethically while experiencing the world (I’m not sure these exist).
I have suggested that with the way the world is this year maybe she could find a similar holiday/experience in the UK this summer and research other opportunities for next summer. Several issues though - all the volunteering stuff seems to be aimed at older teenagers (she’s too young for NCS) or are just PGL type stuff with no ‘worthwhile’ aspect. She already volunteers regularly with a couple of charities (food bank, church, and rainbows leader for DofE) but wants a summer ‘experience’ (I think there’s an aspect of wanting to escape as well!).
Can anyone recommend something for her - for this year or next?
Is there such a thing as an ethical voluntourism company or are they all as bad as each other. And/or does something equivalent exist in the UK for a 15 year old?

OP posts:
murbblurb · 16/04/2021 12:17

No. As an entitled child from a developed country ( and we are all entitled here) with no actual skills there is nothing she can contribute by flying off to do the white saviour bit.

Plenty needs doing in the UK where she could be useful, she may need to be a bit older. You dont get as good a tan and the alcohol costs more. She's doing some already, good for her.

She can also work and donate money - no fundraising by running about etc, actual donations from wages.

Want a holiday - have a holiday.

scrappydappydoo · 16/04/2021 12:27

Yep- this was pretty much the long conversation we had. She does get it - she’s very much a ‘I’m going to change the world’ type of teenager but does recognise her privilege. Just trying to encourage her in the right way.

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