Join the fight to stop orphanage tourism

Our network of over 35,000 youth volunteers is joining in efforts to end orphanage tourism and other harmful 'voluntourism' schemes.

What is harmful volunteering?

Research shows that orphanages can be harmful when used as a long-term solution.

However, such institutions are in high demand from (usually well-meaning) backpackers seeking volunteering experiences while travelling in developing countries, who will pay thousands of pounds to have them. This has created an economic incentive to keep orphanages open, encouraging vulnerable families to place children in care, exposing them to serious harm.

Children within institutions lack stability and are often cared for by volunteers who lack the proper skills, experience and background checks to work with young children, adding further to the risk.

Currently on a two-year voluntary placement in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, VSO’s Responsible Volunteering Specialist, Clare Hawkes, explains:

“There has been decades of research showing that children are better cared for in a family setting and growing up in institutions has all types of long-term detriments. Almost 80% of children in these long-term residential institutions aren’t orphans at all but have at least one living parent, who are often encouraged to put children into institutional care due to factors including extreme poverty,” said Clare.