10 Reasons NOT to Volunteer Abroad
Volunteering abroad might sound like a noble and fulfilling adventure, but it’s important to look beyond surface-level marketing and social media “clout”. While the intention to help others is commendable, volunteering abroad can sometimes do more harm than good. As a United Nations staff member who has been involved in humanitarian work, I want to share a personal reflection. In my teens, I went on several volunteer trips, including working in orphanages. Looking back, I realize I didn’t fully understand the complexities of what I was participating in. I now see that my efforts didn’t contribute to real change, even though it made me feel good at the time. This is why it’s so important to critically examine voluntourism and its impact. Here are 10 reasons NOT to volunteer abroad:
1. It Can Undermine Local Economies
When volunteers perform tasks like building homes, teaching, or providing other services for free, they may unintentionally take jobs away from local workers. Local professionals lose opportunities to earn a living and contribute to their community, perpetuating dependency on foreign aid.
2. It Perpetuates the “White Savior Complex”
The white savior complex refers to a mindset where a white person believes they must rescue or “save” people from marginalized communities, often without understanding the complexities of the issues or recognizing the agency of those they aim to help. It can reinforce power imbalances and perpetuate stereotypes of non-white communities as helpless. This narrative can undermine local agency while perpetuating inequality and a skewed global power dynamic. Taking photos of impoverished people, particularly without their consent, and sharing them on social media is deeply problematic – it reduces their humanity to a spectacle, stripping them of dignity and privacy. Imagine if someone came to your country, took photos with random children at the park and posted those images online without permission. It would be absurd and deeply disrespectful, yet this is the reality many marginalized individuals face when treated as nothing more than objects of charity for the benefit of others’ social media clout.
3. Lack of Skills Can Cause Harm
Many volunteers lack the qualifications or expertise needed for the roles they take on. For instance, poorly constructed buildings or unqualified teaching can have lasting negative consequences for the communities they aim to serve.
4. It Often Benefits the Volunteer More Than the Community
Many volunteer programs prioritize the experience of the volunteer over the actual needs of the community. Volunteers may walk away with heartwarming memories, but the communities they visit are often left with little tangible or lasting benefit. You can also consider if your reasoning is ethical to begin with. Are you looking to volunteer abroad just to enhance your resume, gain entry into a prestigious school, seek an adventure, or for the travel experience? Take a moment to reconsider, perhaps a trip on your own or volunteering locally could be more fulfilling.
5. Orphanage Tourism Exploits Vulnerable Children
In some countries, orphanages have become a booming industry fueled by voluntourism. Many children labeled as “orphans” may still have two living parents who simply can’t afford to care for them. The orphanage directors in Kenya where I volunteered had their biological children studying abroad in Australia, owned three cars, and lived in a large home (with an additional rental property). Meanwhile, the children in the orphanage were sleeping on urine-stained mattresses, suffering from fungal infections, red eyes, and bloated stomachs. It makes me question whether these conditions were intentionally created to elicit more donations from volunteers, with funds seemingly directed towards luxuries for the orphanage directors family. Often, international volunteer organizations partner with local agencies, sharing the fees you paid to volunteer, but that doesn’t mean the money actually reaches the cause. I still think about the children I met; from their perspective, I was likely just another volunteer they don’t remember, another transient adult who didn’t stick around. In hindsight, I see more value in supporting long-term relationships, where children can rely on adults who are there for the long haul. My advice is to invest in programs that strengthen foster care systems in local communities, preventing children from being placed in orphanages due to financial hardship, and focus on initiatives that empower families.
6. Short-Term Projects Lack Long-Term Impact
Volunteers often participate in projects for just a few weeks or months. These short stints fail to address systemic issues or provide sustainable solutions, leaving communities with incomplete projects or unmet expectations.
7. Programs Can Be Exploitative and Profit-Driven
Many voluntourism organizations charge high fees for placements but invest little in the communities they claim to help. This transforms volunteering into a business model, prioritizing profits over meaningful development. When seeking out if a program is reputable, check to see if it is run by locals in the community you would like to serve and if the fees would be a reasonable rate to cover your food and lodging. If it seems extremely high for the location you are serving in, it is probably a profit-driven model and likely unethical.
8. Cultural Insensitivity Can Cause Conflict
Volunteers may unknowingly disrespect cultural norms or impose their own values on the communities they visit, leading to misunderstandings, resentment, or even damaging relationships between locals and visitors. I once volunteered with another foreigner who openly said to a local, “I can’t believe this is what you eat here, I can’t wait to fly back home for a real burger!” I’ve also seen women attempting to challenge cultural norms by wearing revealing or sheer clothing, under the guise of promoting women’s rights. This often resulted in mistrust and division between locals and foreigners. Just as you wouldn’t wear a crop top and shorts to a funeral, it’s important to approach cultural norms with the same level of sensitivity and respect.
9. It Diverts Resources From Local Solutions
Hosting and managing volunteers often requires significant time, money, and resources from local organizations. These resources could be better spent empowering local professionals and supporting sustainable, community-led initiatives.
10. Ethical Alternatives Exist
If your goal is to make a positive impact, there are better ways to help. Donating to reputable organizations, supporting local businesses, or advocating for systemic change can have a far greater impact than a short-term volunteering trip.
What Should You Do Instead?
Before signing up for a voluntourism program, take the time to research the organization and the impact of its projects. Ask yourself if your skills are truly needed or if your time and resources would be better directed elsewhere. Consider supporting community-led initiatives or gaining experience through local volunteer work in your own community. A few ideas could be volunteering with a wildlife rescue, the food bank, a local summer camp, working with seniors, or with the humane society!
By being thoughtful and intentional, you can ensure your efforts genuinely benefit those in need without unintentionally causing harm. Remember, the best way to help is often by empowering others to help themselves.
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Please note: the views and opinions expressed on this blog are that of my own and do not represent the opinions of any agency mentioned.