The term “voluntourism” is usually used to describe people going to Africa on expensive short trips to do things like visit orphanages, distribute food, and construct buildings. While these things make you feel better, and may help in the very short term, they either do no help in the long term or are downright harmful to the locals. It also feeds into the narrative of a “sick Africa” that needs the help of the often unskilled Western volunteer.
A few people have brought this up to us- that we may do more harm than good being there. While this is always going to be a possibility, we have gone to great lengths to learn and prepare about what to do and what not to do.
Primarily, we will listen and learn about why something is happening that way before trying to change it. This is made a bit easier by deciding to stay for a year instead of just a few weeks.
Make sure money spent goes directly to the locals, and not just donating to government charities which may be corrupt. Just like we try to do at home, support the local mom-and-pop shop!
Do not take jobs from locals. Instead of jumping in yourself to build your first building ever, hire some of the local workforce that could likely do the job better! The teaching positions at our school are having a difficult time finding staff to stay awhile, so we will be filling those rolls without fear of taking the job from someone that needs it.
“If you want to volunteer, just volunteer at home”. It is true our own communities also need plenty of help and volunteers. I am very sad to leave my volunteer position at the Pacific Science Center, and the fact is neither of us really have the time with work etc. If we quit work we would not have the money to support ourselves. So we go somewhere it will be a little cheaper to volunteer, where we can really dive in, and of course where there is a little sense of adventure involved.
This is only the start of things we will be working on. For now, we will focus on being excellent teachers and learning about the community.
We thank Derek and Katherine at https://derekandkatherinemalawi.blogspot.com/ for helping to guide us this part of the process. For further reading
A reporters perspective: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/magazine/the-voluntourists-dilemma.html
A look at what is good and bad: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/intelligent-travel/2015/02/04/unpacking-voluntourism-five-myths/
A negative opinion
on voluntourism: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-sullivan-volunteering-abroad_us_5a7de894e4b044b3821d1627
Johns Hopkins Edu resource: https://www.globalhealthnow.org/2019-03/6-tips-students-against-ethically-iffy-global-health-field-placements?utm_source=Global+Health+NOW+Main+List&utm_campaign=0b0087569c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_04_01_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d0d062dbd-0b0087569c-2930113
Medicine perspective: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/global-health-ethics-home-and-abroad/2010-03
Donations commentary: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/2015/feb/13/second-hand-clothes-charity-donations-africa
Ticket to Anywhere 