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.
Clare Hawkes, VSO’s Responsible Volunteering SpecialistWe need to address the root cause of the problem by providing support and care to the families themselves. If we can increase people’s wealth through focusing on livelihoods, we’re reducing the risk of unnecessary family separation.
Kickstarting our campaign
Over the next six months, VSO will focus on an external campaign raising awareness of responsible volunteering. Volunteers from the International Citizen Service programme, the UK Government-backed volunteering for development scheme that is led by VSO, will play a huge part. Thousands of participants each year deliver an 'Action at Home' following their voluntary placements, during which they campaign to raise awareness amongst fellow young people of the harms of voluntary placements in orphanages.
A focus on responsible volunteering is essential to ensure volunteering opportunities are ethical, sustainable and only in the interest of the communities we work in.
We are proud to support the Better Volunteering, Better Care campaign to end international volunteering in residential care centres for children. VSO will join Forum in launching new Volunteering Standards at the annual Conference of International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations (IVCO), during October 2019.
Read more
Using play to inspire learning in Rwanda
Learn how volunteers like Celestin are supporting children in Rwanda to learn through play. Children are taught problem solving, strategic thinking and inter-personal skills, all while enjoying the learning process.
Three ways we’re supporting local, eco-friendly business practices in Cambodia
On the Tonle Sap Lake, climate change, overfishing, deforestation, and the depositing of untreated industrial and domestic sewage, are all threatening the natural balance of the region. VSO has supported local people to adapt to this environment by developing green business practices.
The two volunteers empowering girls and young women in Mozambique
Nelma and Carmirene and are two volunteers working on VSO's EAGLE project in Mozambique. For Nelma and Carmirene, education is not just about school, it is about meeting people where they are and using the right tools to challenging harmful norms. Here are their stories.