To think if teenage girls from a private school can afford plane tickets ...

[Morgansports]

.... To visit the orphanage in Africa that they have been fundraising for, then the orphanage would be better served by just receiving the money they spent on their tickets. Seriously, what actual use to the orphanage is a group of hair-flicking, ugg boot wearing blondes???

And the bit that made me laugh is that other parents at the school were asked to help fundraise for the girls' trip.

AIBU?

[garlicbaguette]

Thanks for your replies, Fellowship and Smithson. You've both highlighted, in different ways, how ego gratification often overrides serious intent to help ... Donating one's time and effort is fabulous; not so much if you count your glorious presence so valuable that you get to dictate terms.

I can't say I thoroughly disapprove of poverty tourism. People often have no clue unless they've been there and, if they're interested enough to check it out themselves, good luck. It's the idea that one's physical presence is itself an act of charity that repulses.

Btw, what happened to VSO? It's still going, isn't it? As I recall, volunteers did try to raise their fares as donations, but were put to good use while abroad.

[seeker]

VSO is still going- but has little or no use for unskilled volunteers. One more bricking the wall of evidence that some people are mysteriously unable to see!

[seeker]

vSO has 3 month overseas placements for 18-25 year olds. Tellingly, the strap line is "Looking for a holiday? look somewhere else!"

[Smithson6]

well if it is persuasive that the homeless women's project i was talking about needs consistent support for its beneficiares by workers who know what is happening in their lives and whom they have grown to trust over a long period of time- isn't the same going to be true for orphaned children?

Not just that they need consistency of care and carers but also that these should ideally be people from their own communities who really have a proper insight and understanding into their situations?

And equally that a constant stream of changing faces is not only not going to provide that but actively sabotage it?

I really am going to go now. Cheers folks.

[Serendipity30]

''life is cheap and corruption is very big news'' Sounds like every other country. Also I did not realize Africans didn't know how to wash [hshock]. As one myself i better go run that bath [hhmm]. This is the funniest thread i have ever read on MN as there are some ignorant posters on here , Bravo

[marcopront]

I know this is not completely relevant but it is interesting.

www.granta.com/Archive/92/How-to-Write-about-Africa/Page-1

[Procrasstinator]

fucking hell, maybe the poor over-privileged children could learn the lesson of humility in this scenario; you may not want to chuck your hard earned cash at the problem. But you have to learn you are not so important that you can have an impact on every situation. Some things are bigger than you, and beyond you.

[Procrasstinator]

I also suspect that professional, highly experienced volunteers didn't just magically burst-into-being, fully formed and fully qualified. I expect that once upon a time, they were teenagers...

this is true. And I bet some of your privileged wannabe-volunteers will grow up and be professional-engineers/doctors. No doubt about it. They sure as shit aren't going to grow up and become African though are they.

Go practice somewhere else

[deleted203]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I have always maintained that this type of thing is a bit of a 'jolly' holiday for teens. The school my DCs go to take part in these things - this year they want teens to raise £3,000 each to go out to Bolivia to 'build' an school. I suggested to DD2 that if they really wanted to help the poor of Bolivia then if she and 9 of her mates could raise £30,000 between them that it would be of far more use to send her Dad and his squad of lads out there (they are builders). Reckon they'd build something a darn sight better than a bunch of teenage girls would.

[Procrasstinator]

i meant to write, go practice being people, some where else

[Himalaya]

Sowornout -

Indeed, or even more good by employing some Bolivian builders.

[deleted203]

Exactly, Himalaya! It would be a lot better to provide employment for locals, obviously.

[seeker]

"go practice being people, some where else"

Good point well made!

[Jusfloatingby]

But sowornout that would not be as good a dinner party conversation for middle class mums as discussing how darling Jasmine is over in Bolivia helping to look after orphans and dig a well and yes, she raised the air fare all on her own bag packing in Sainsbury's and organising a raffle in the school.

[Aboutlastnight]

And it does look good on that Oxbridge application...

[seeker]

Oxbridge admissions tutors are not quite as green as they are cabbage-looking!

[Knowsabitabouteducation]

Although I am not as scornful as most people on this thread, I draw the line at the value of these types of trips for Oxbridge admissions, or admissions to any decent university.

What good universities are looking for are, above all, good A2 grades and passion for the subject. As a tiny addition, they want some evidence pointing towards the student's capacity for hard work. They don't really care whether this is Grade 8 music, DofE Gold, or a Saturday job in Tesco. They just want it to be something credible. If the student could prove, in fifty words or less, how they fundraised over 18 months or so, then they might be able to swing it. Just going on a month long trip doesn't enhance a UCAS application.

I know that travel agents, such as World Challenge, tell you that you can get 50 UCAS points, but to do this you have to complete and be awarded a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness.

Top universities only look at relevant A2 grades. Mediocre ones look at UCAS points from A2 grades (same thing but lower threshold). You have to go pretty low for vocational qualifications to count, which is probably why they are on Mr Gove's radar screen.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

They will be well hot if they wear Uggs in Africa.