To think voluntourism needs to be called out?

[icreaminbarnsley]

I've had numerous requests this year by parents of teen dc who are going to various African countries to contribute to their crowdfunding "to help the people in [insert country]". They further explain that said child will be building schools/wells, teaching English, designing sanitation projects....but the latest I received was that their child would be "advising locals on how to set up a business". This in particular has really annoyed me, as the child is doing A Levels, has no business of their own, and no business acumen that I'm aware of. How can you be so brass necked and unaware to be spouting stuff like this? I totally get going to a different country is going to be a fantastic experience for the dc, but who is dressing it up to make it sound like these teens have something important to offer and are needed abroad, in areas that they have absolutely zero experience? I also get that the locals might benefit from the money that the dc need to pay to undertake such an experience, but is it really the locals who benefit, or is it the mainly the 'charitable' organizations that are based in the UK?

AIBU to feel we need to call this a unique opportunity to experience life in [insert country] and not delude ourselves into thinking the locals are benefitting from groups of western teens, who are not builders, engineers or business advisers?

I feel totally different about a qualified adult who goes to volunteer, even if there is a bit of tourism thrown in. I support a surgical team (the surgeon operated on my DN) who fly to Pakistan every year for 10 days and they do several operations daily. It is a rural location where poverty would prevent these children getting the surgery in the first place, and they also train up local surgeons. They meet the children the following year again and do follow up surgery if necessary. I'm more than happy if they have a jolly for a day or two.

Agree, that’s a completely different story, 16 year olds know have no Corrientes and nothing to add other than what they have found on the net which anyone ( even people living in poverty) can do

True…you probably had it done many other times when as a younger person, you were « helping » in any other way…or do you think you were really doing it? Did anyone around you drilled into you that you weren’t helping?

No, the pretence isn’t the problem at all. The companies trying to make profit and abusing populations are. Volunteering is good. Profit orientated companies, not so much.

On the subject of donations towards teen volunteering travel.

I was once co-erced into giving money towards flights, being under the impression that the kids were doing something hugely practical in a rural community. However on interaction with the kid they told me they were looking forward to going body boarding. I am standing there, hard earned cash in hand, being told stories by proud parents with the big houses on the high street, asking me to fund this trip. I can't even afford petrol to the airport. Never again.

Completely agree with your post.
I'd be more inclined to support a scheme providing micro-loans - especially to women - they seem to be effective and the percetage of loans repaid is very high apparently. Also makes a very real difference to the families involved.

I have a friend who paid a hefty sum to participate in one of these holidays, in practice she was telling grandmother's looking after grand children whose parents had died of AIDS to feed them more as they were not hitting their growth targets. They were too old and tired to work more. She came home with very bad TB and PTSD.

The ethical side has been commented on and I agree that it's beyond cringeworthy.

My point - why would I part-pay for an 18-year-old who is not my family and who I barely know, to go off on a trip/holiday that I myself would love to do but can't afford?

Who do these Crowdfund Requesters think they are, I mean c'mon, what an audacity this is 😂😂😂.

Agree with you op

This happens a lot in my dads home country. Apparently people are so thankful. Well yes some of them are as they are part of the scam

and they know how to please westerners acting so grateful just to be in their presence

Volunteering is good...when done properly.part of a chain moving aid from air drop zones to good distribution centres... great.

Packing up emergency kits, tents , clothes ina warehouse in UK to be sent to areas if natural disasters...great.

Helping sort and distribute food bank donations? Good.

Helping raise funds and donations for baby banks and shelters for people living less than 10 miles away... perfect.

But anding teenagers across the world to do skilled tasks in order to "help" the poor? "Teaching English" to 7 year olds... Building walls in schools? Taking readings in the jungle for some vague research aim whilst hiking to see a waterfall and swim...

Nah, won't be funding that, thanks.

Everyone chooses how to spend their money 👍🏼

You know what they say about fools and their money...

That they allow others (strangers, undoubtedly unqualified) to make their own opinion a decision (unwanted/unsolicited…I didn’t write the op, you realise that?) upon their words? 😁

Talking about a fool 😏. I will pass! Have a good life 👌

Yes, that is exactly the saying I was referring too. Catchy! Well done.

Yeah which is fine, bit don't fool yourself into thinking your funding something other than an expensive holiday.

Here's a novel idea, if you don't agree with it, do not donate, then move on and forget about it.

I'm not donating, don't worry.

But, I do feel the need to highlight to people they're giving money in good faith thinking they're supporting a charity or similar, when I'm fact they're paying for a teenagers holiday 🤷‍♀️

Just out of interest do you feel the same way about other scams? If someone you knew was falling for a romance scam or some other sort of financial fraud, would you just shrug your shoulders and ‘move on’ with no attempt to warn them?

These voluntourist programs are at best just as much based on tricking the person handing over the cash and many are actually worse - they don’t just con money out of someone, they do that plus hurting entire communities.

This.

Plus often the teenagers are also victims - they put a lot of time and effort into first fund raising then doing physical labour and none of it is actually useful and much of the work can be actively harmful.

It can also damage their university applications / CVs. I work in a field where research / reading around a subject is important. If I saw one of these trips on someone’s CV it would raise questions about their judgement and be a black mark. I wouldn’t be surprised if universities see them the same way.

These voluntourist programs are at best just as much based on tricking the person handing over the cash and many are actually worse - they don’t just con money out of someone, they do that plus hurting entire communities

Exactly, @CandidHedgehog

Upthread someone suggested a more honest approach, by selling these things with the emphasis more on the holiday and some of the money paid going to a good cause, but I rather doubt it would be as appealing if the potential for Insta pics with kiddies was removed

Edited to add you're also correct about the views of many who carry out selection processes with young people
My own experience is with employment more than Unis, but the questions over judgement are indeed a significant concern no matter what kind of spin is put on the activities

In the UK I'm pretty sure if you worked/volunteered with vulnerable children you would specifically be asked not to take photos, and/or not to post them on social media dye to safeguarding.

Similarly I imagine insurance and health and safety regulations might prevent inexperienced under 16 year old on building sites

Actually 16+ year old can do construction apprenticeships in the UK, and work on building sites as part of this, as they should be able to.

Yanbu

I had one of these pop up on fb last week. The mum wanted donations so her daughter could do one of these trips in Mexico....

Next post up for her was the same daughter embarking on her flying lessons to get her pilots licence. The sheer brass neck of it! Pay for it your bloody self.

Apparently when the teenagers go to build something it taken down again, it is just an 'activity' for.them to feel useful.

Agree completely.

its not just racist, but also incredibly patronising to people on low income.

there is a pervasive idea that poor people are foolish with money ( spending it all on booze and fags and not saving it in ISAs)

the reality is that many people on low income are financial wizards and very resourceful because they have to make money stretch.

I heard an economist saying that when these people are given a chance, they are actually very good at running small businesses etc.

the average MC person I see in my part of London wastes money all the time. How often do people ‘throw money’ at a problem?

I too find this type of volunteering inappropriate on a number of levels. There are numerous volunteer opportunities in the U.K. some of which are residential and entirely free. On a similar note I feel it is not in the spirit on the D of E when the residential aspect cost a fortune and is akin to type of holiday when they are volunteer or cheap options. I honestly to my think that some parents are so obsessed with their child participating in either that they fail to think about the bigger picture.