Voluntourism Analysis: Positive Development for Local Communities?
The term ‘voluntourism’ suggests just that. But while intentions of the travelers may be pure and noble, the outcome and propensity of accomplishing truly positive achievements in a geo-developing world context may be questionable, doubtful, or downright detrimental for the people in local communities. The goal herein is to evaluate the pros and cons and make a position.
Untrained youth in volunteerism is a problem. In Doc Zone Volunteers Unleashed (2015), most of the young volunteers are privileged white girls from Western societies. Statistics bear this out, placing most of the voluntourism sectors as approximately 80+ percent of women between ages 15 and 28 years-old (“Voluntouring Do’s,” 2015). One young man rejected from medical school, ‘practices’ medicine on one local developing community, with merely a high school diploma. There are no regulations. This is unethical.
While voluntourism is popular among youth. Motives are vital. For example, Dr. Badlani (2009) encourages doctors to pursue these types of journeys, encouraging would-be physician voluntourists to “do no harm,” and one key reason to go – even if for ten days – “makes all the difference to that single patient” (p. 28). Stressing social responsibility Snyder et al. (2011) think that ethics in best care practices should dominate. Children can easily become attached to travelers, or be abused in some cases. Emotional trauma is bad.
The Founder and Executive Director of War Child, medical doctor Samantha Nutt, was recently interviewed by CBC Radio Canada. She is one professional who agrees with the position of this essay, that voluntourism is wrong and not in the best interest of developing countries’ communities. In reaction to Carnival Cruise opening up voluntourism, Dr. Nutt expressed that she “cannot fathom” opening up this kind of experience, because it essentially an “initiative driving by our needs,” while ignoring the needs of local communities (“Aid Experts Skeptical,” 2015). One example and proof, of how dangerous voluntourism can be for local children in orphanages was tested in the firm by an undercover reporter of Al Jazeera. She was allowed to take several children, of her choosing, outside the compound without any paperwork or protest whatsoever. Obviously, these babies could have been subjected to pedophiles or sold into the sex industry. This aspect is dangerous and must stop. Dr. Nutt also thinks a better development model must be in place, to help local people help themselves. Another con is the probability of taking away jobs for locals, since travelers are doing it for free. Additionally, the economic implications are enormous, as the companies promoting voluntourism are making millions of dollars.
In conclusion, one journal article discusses the engagement of university study abroad programs on the rise. Hartman and Chaire (2014) state that the impact on those communities has not been “well researched,” with any evaluation of this type “rarely assessed” (p. 31). An important factor to consider in all this, is that developing-nation volunteerships were formerly organized by government sponsors, like Peace Corps, and offered long-term stays of one year in conjunction with much more extensive training. Privatization of the industry brings more concern for economic gain. Scholars Lyons and Wearing (2012) believe the intersection between volunteerism and tourism is confusing (p. 88). Pippa Biddle’s blog garnered millions of responses warning about the detriments. Biddle (2015) agrees that “over $2 billion” annual income shows an “unequal power dynamics” in Africa, Asia, and South America (“Voluntourist Trap”). In light of the growth of the industry, the National Parks have jumped on the bandwagon. Perhaps this is where Americans and Canadians need to focus their efforts and stop traveling outside the country trying to enjoy an exotic vacation while practicing their unprofessional skills on indigenous populations, prior to being fully trained as experts in teaching or medicine.
References
Badlani, G.H. (2009). International volunteerism—Is it medical tourism or does it make a difference? Auanews, 14(9), 28.
Biddle, P. (2015, June 9). Voluntourist trap: Volunteer travel programs silence critics while luring in record numbers of would-be volunteers. Retrieved from http://randomnerds.com/voluntourist-trap-volunteer-travel-programs-silence-critics-while-luring-in-record-numbers-of-would-be-volunteers/
CBC Radio-Canada. (2015, July 3). Aid experts skeptical of voluntourism’s corporate slant [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-july-3-2015-1.3136821/aid-experts-skeptical-of-voluntourism-s-corporate-slant-1.3136832
CBC Radio-Canada. (2015). Voluntouring do’s and don’ts [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/features/voluntouring-dos-and-donts
Hartman, E., & Chaire, C. (2011). Market incentives and international volunteers: The development and evaluation of fair trade learning. Journal of Public Scholarship in Higher Education, (4), 31-68.
Lyons, K.D., & Wearing, S. (2012). Reflections on the ambiguous intersections between volunteering and tourism. Leisure Sciences, 34(1), 88-93. doi:10.1080/01490400.2012.633858
MixOnMix. (2015, April 14). Doc Zone volunteers unleashed series finale. [Web vlog comment]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF3WGT7YDwI
Snyder, J., Dharamsi, S., & Crooks, V.A. (2011). Fly-By medical care: Conceptualizing the global and local social responsibilities of medical tourists and physician voluntourists. Globalization & Health, 7(1), 6-19. doi:10.1186/1744-8603-7-6
Volunteer tourism. (2013). High Country News, 45(5), 6-7.
