“Our Man In Granada” On The Downside Of Voluntourism, Part 3

By Kate | Permalink | No Comments | June 18th, 2007 | Trackback

(Start here for the first part of Steve Jackson’s guest post)

“The voluntourists (VTs) have contacted the NGO in the developing country. They’d like to visit and play with the kids for a week. The sustainable volunteer (SV) is wary about this. He knows it would mean taking all the children out of classes for several days – that might greatly hinder their development.

He’s also aware that wealthy foreigners bring money. Perhaps once they have met these beautiful kids they’ll be a few cheques floating around. There are plenty debts to pay off – he doesn’t have much choice but to accept.

A week later the kids have gladly missed out on a week of academic lessons and instead they have been playing soccer, finger painting and singing. They love their new, fun friends. The SV realises it’s going to take a while to catch up all their work and settle them back into classes.

The SV has at least had a chance to take a bit of a break but he’s had to work late every evening clearing up from the days’ activities. But he’s looking forward to maybe an extra donation or too from the VTs.

Unfortunately he’s left deflated – no more cash. They do thank him though. They have loved the experience but their time is up. They tell him they are so glad to have helped. They tell him how good they feel about themselves and how much better it was that just sitting on a beach.

Then they say they are going back to their hotel and are having a special last night dinner. The SV knows the hotel. While he lives simply with local people he knows how much that hotel costs. He also knows how much their flights home will be.

He does a quick mental calculation. All their rooms, their meals, all their round-trips flights, multiplied by everyone in the group.

He knows the cost of their trip would keep his NGO in business for a year.

He suddenly doesn’t feel quite so good as the departing VTs.

Okay. A harsh story, but it does happen and more often than you might think. Your voluntourism, despite the best of intentions can cause problems and sometime ill-feelings.

Ask yourself and the NGO before you offer to do anything: is this how I can best help?”

Steve Jackson writes the blog Our Man in Granada.

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