A critique of voluntourism.

As some of you may know, I spent part of summer 2007 working as a volunteer in Kalomo, Zambia. I worked with the Presentation Sisters as an assistant on a home-based care program and it was one of the most formative experiences of my life. It informed my future career direction, shaped my opinions on the world we live in and lead to a huge spurt in my personal growth. In my mind, I owe a huge debt to both the Presentation Sisters and the community of Kalomo, Zambia.

Despite this, I’ve begun to question the status quo belief that overseas volunteering is a commendable, worthwhile act of altruism. I wonder if it does more harm than good.

I have decided to publish my views in the hope of encouraging further debate on the subject among the Irish NGO community and potential volunteers.

As an increasing number of people are interested in volunteering (particularly in these economic times) and with many companies and NGOs offering such experiences, I think it’s time to reconsider what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

POSITIVE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTOURISM:

Without doubt, there are some benefits to voluntourism (volunteering tourism).

Raising awareness. I can’t remember who said it, but to really understand someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. Living in the developing world is the best way to learn about it. You meet the people who make up the statistics and experience the hard realities on a very personal level. Any overseas volunteer learns A LOT, and the good ones pass on what they’ve learnt to others.

Fundraising. Generally, short term volunteers raise money, a small percentage of which is donated to the project where they work. No doubt, this money comes in handy.

Knock On Effect. There is also this somewhat airy fairy notion of a knock-on effect. Some volunteers become aid workers or advocates and devote their lives to improving lives in the developing world. Some are inspired to take a completely new course, but others have the experience, add it to their CV and simply move on with their lives.  

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTOURISM:

Expensive.

First of all, let me dispel a common myth. Volunteers are not free. Both in terms of staff time and financial resources - it costs a bomb to fund and manage volunteer programs. Some NGO seem to be quasi-travel agencies these days, worrying about disgruntled participants who haven’t a clue. (I’ve heard stories of volunteers demanding hot showers and picky diets in countries where children are starving and women carry water on the heads for miles). This is not what NGOs are for – they should have a loftier purpose.

Deflecting resources.

Both NGOs and donors have limited money. If money is spent on flights, accommodation, vaccinations and the other costs associated with volunteers, then less is spent on education, health care etc. Plus, staff time is spent babysitting Irish people rather than working with locals. Most Irish NGOS pour huge resources into preparing their volunteers and rightly so. Pre- and post- departure orientations, meetings, talks and seminars are held. But, isn’t preparing for 3 months for a three-week trip a bit daft?

Displaces local labour.

If you are an unskilled volunteer who cannot get work in Ireland, why would you go to Africa? Do you think they have a shortage of unskilled workers? They don’t. Do you think that you’ll arrive into a strange place, with a strange climate, culture, currency, language and customs and you’ll be able to fit in and work like you would here? You won’t. There is a native unskilled person who needs the work far more than you do. For him, it could be life or death. For you, it’s a fun thing to do for a while.

Charity Builds.

Think about some of the building charities for example. (Niall Mellon, Habitat for Humanity, Haven) They take mostly unskilled volunteers and pride themselves on having a place for everyone.  I took part in a charity build with Habitat for Humanity a few years ago. I was tasked with dry lining a house (at least I think that’s what it was called). Predictably, I was crap at it. I am not good with a hammer. But, I worked hard and was very enthusiastic and got it done, albeit to a very poor standard. I shudder to think of the quality of those houses. If you cook with the right food, you get a yummy dinner. If you build houses with do gooders who are crap with hammers (like me), you’re gonna get crappy houses (and a very sore arm).
(If you’re interested in reading more, check out this piece on the Niall Mellon Township Trust.)

What do you do there?

As I’ve said, I dunno why unskilled volunteers go. What are they gonna do that couldn’t be done by a local person for a fraction of the cost?

If you’re a skilled volunteer, that’s slightly different. First of all, is your skill needed in Sub Saharan Africa? If it’s not, then don’t bother. If you are skilled, then focus on sharing that skill with others. If you’re a teacher, go and teach the teachers not the kids. I know that’s a hard sell. Volunteers like working with cute kids and NGOS can fundraise for poverty-stricken kids easier than middle class teachers.

If you’re skill is so important, what are they gonna do when your 3 month stint there is over?

Short term is silly.

The learning curve for working overseas is at least 1 year. It take a few weeks to adjust to the jet lag and months to acclimatize to the weather and general strangeness of it all. First time volunteers find it very hard to settle.

Measurable impact.

When it comes to development work, it’s all about impact. You can have all the ideology, preparation and fancy plans you like, but it doesn’t matter a hoot if it makes little or no impact. Volunteers have little or no impact. Sure, you might teach a few kids their ABCs or paint a few schools. But, it cost thousands to get you there (from a limited kitty of cash) and those schools never needed painting. Short term volunteering is crappy development work.

Profit.

There are travel companies who specialize in voluntourism.Yes, they make a profit on poor people by sending you over to look at them and do some short term unimpactful work that may do more harm than good (see below).  Poverty tourism: don’t do it.

More harm than good.

Whatever about being unimpactful and wasteful, think of the potential harm short term volunteers do.

Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be a kid in Africa who has a new teacher every 3 months? No real curriculum or structure, no continuity, wasting endless weeks on “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”.

Children suffer psychologically when someone wonderful and white shows up with new resources for the classroom and lollipops for when they’re good, only to be gone in three months.

Be very careful.

I’ve heard stories of Westerns being brought in to “distribute” stuff. Don’t do it. Aid needs to be distributed through local power structures, and frankly, if you’re there as a tourist or a volunteer, you haven’t a clue. This kind of ‘poverty tourism’ destroys markers, creates dependencies and fosters moral imperialist views (see below).

For-profit voluntourism companies are travel agencies, not development workers. Unless they work on the ground in the host country, they haven’t a clue. One off initiatives with no relationship building, structural support or monitoring and evaluation are a waste of everyone’s time and money.

Reinforcing a patronizing dichotomy

Short term volunteering reinforces a patronizing and racist dichotomy that the developing world would be fixed if enough gap year students and unemployed builders went to work there for 3 months at a time. Nonsense. There are many complex, institutional, political, environmental, economic and moral reasons why the south is poor. There are people dying as I type and as you read. No matter how many of us do gooder types head over to paint schools and teach English, these things won’t change without serious political will.

Environment.

As an aside, I think it’s worth mentioning the damage this does to the environment. These are long flights, pumping huge levels of CO2 into the ozone layer and all for very little impact. Climate change is having a hugely detrimental effect in the developing world (Africa, in particular). Think about that before you fly.

It’s hard.

It’s damn hard to live in a developing country. It’s mentally, physically, emotionally and practically very difficult to manage on a day to day basis. Potential volunteers need to REALLY understand this before committing to time overseas.

Fundraising.

Most NGOs ask that potential volunteers undertake a substantial amount of fundraising. If it’s to fund a volunteer, be aware that the lion’s share will go to a travel agent or an airline. A small percentage will go the NGO. If volunteers were doing ground breaking work, that’d be fair enough. But, given that volunteers generally have no measurable impact on the wellness of people in the developing world, why should I be funding their foray around the world?  It’s always good to be charitable, but we should also be SENSIBLE. To me, fundraising to cover the personal costs of volunteering is immoral.

So, why do NGOS do it?

The cash. The money raised by volunteers comes in handier than the volunteers themselves. Do-gooder middle classes can afford to fundraise, take time of work and go “save the world” and the NGO is happy to facilitate that as long as you bring the cash. If only we could send all of the money, and not waste half of it on a glorified holiday for ourselves, deflecting resources from what we all agree is the true need.

NGOS keep it up because supporters want to feel ‘involved’. Sending Irish folk over raises both money and awareness of the NGO’s brand. Volunteer programs exist so that we (rich westerners) can feel involved. And I think that’s selfish.  (And yes, I realize it’s a bit bonkers to suggest that do gooders working for free overseas are selfish, but there you go.)

In conclusion…

I realize that this may be an unpopular piece. I was motivated to write it because I don’t want a single volunteer to go overseas without being aware of the wider debate. I’ve been blunt because this really matters to me. It matters to me that millions of people are dying of preventable causes; that 1 billion people are starving; that women are treated like dogs, because they are women.

To suggest to outgoing volunteers that they are having a big impact in the developing world is deceitful. You are, in fact, partaking in a counterproductive and wasteful exercise, deflecting resources from the real need and re-enforcing a racist and patronizing view that black Africans are somehow less capable than white Europeans.

NGOs have a duty to be honest with their volunteers and volunteers have a responsibility to ask questions and make an informed decision.

There’s a limited pot of money available to deal with development and it matters to me that a significant proportion of it is being consumed by misguided volunteers and NGOs who are use precious resources on such a wasteful practice. Short term volunteering is dishonest, unimpactful, highly wasteful and ultimately damaging to international development.

An alternative to Voluntourism: Tourism.

Before I leave you, allow me to suggest an alternative. Tourism. When you go to Paris, you don’t want to volunteer in the ghettos so you can see the ‘real’ Paris. It’s a preposterous suggestion. If you want to see the developing world, go travel there and give your money the best way possible – by supporting local economies.  I only know Africa and it is an amazingly beautiful place full of unexplored hidden treasures.