Voluntourism

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Voluntourism

Can it really make a difference in the world ?


A growing trend Voluntourism:
doing volunteer work in a foreign
community while traveling
- Mainly in southern countries

- 1.6 Million tourists

- 3 billion $ / year

- Various activities:
→ Childcare
→ Teaching
→ Construction
→ Medical aid

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Volunteers motives
Age group
→ Altruistic values
→ Self development & learning

→ Ego enhancement
→ Career recognition
→ Feeling of belonging

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Impact
Short-term projects Long-term projects

- Provides needed funds for local - Benefits local tourist attractions


improvement
- Develops skills and emotional
- Brings comfort to local communities intelligence

- Brings personal satisfaction - Transfers needed skills such as


computer/medical skills, English

- Volunteers may not have the - Constant stream of new faces


required skills
- Locals may be deprived of paid
- Possible lack of consultation with labour/work opportunities
local communities

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Critics & concerns: Orphanage crisis
- 80% are not actual orphans (UNICEF)
- Most directors are found guilty of larceny Larceny:
Embezzlement,
misappropriation of money

To hinder:
To interfere with/slow the
progress of something

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Possible improvements
- Focusing on local volunteering

- Thinking it through and researching

- Choosing a community more carefully

- Lending your strengths, not your


weaknesses

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Effects of COVID

➢Many projects left on hold


➢Infrastructure lack of
volunteers
➢Lack of funding

➢Opportunity to do more
meaningful projects in the
future
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The article
“Voluntourism: new book explores how volunteer trips harm rather than help”

- June 10th, 2021 by Melissa Godin

- The author recalls her trip to Tanzania when


she was a teen

To exacerbate:
to worsen/intensify

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Pippa Biddle’s opinion Detrimental:
tending to cause harm

➢ Not benign but detrimental

➢ The number of unqualified


volunteers is increasing

➢ May lead to negative


repercussions
Pippa Biddle

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Our opinion

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Conclusion
A worthwhile experience if :
➢ the projects you work on aren’t
taking jobs from local people

➢ you are doing it for the right


reasons

➢ the benefit of your work is felt


long after you have left

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What about you?

Do you think volunteer tourism is an efficient way to make an impact?


Would you like to take part in this kind of activity someday?

Larceny Detrimental

Voluntourism To exacerbate

To hinder

Thank you for your attention :)12

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