Lebogang Mokoena
Volunteering is a common resort for youth to gain international work and life experience. While many intend to volunteer based on several reasons such as taking gap years and enhancing their curriculum vitae, some go into voluntary services with genuine aims to “serve communities” and to simply give back. Yet, despite the intended good that volunteering should be giving participants and communities, the growing practice of youth from developed countries going to developing countries to volunteer (sometimes also with the aim of doing some personal travelling and sightseeing and therefore also called “voluntourism”) can do serious harm.
There are several flaws alongside the positive aspects about volunteering services. And the lack of critical reflection can create double standards and an industry which fails to understand its own consequences.
I am an alumni volunteer and I participated in the South to North volunteering programme. The programme is basically an exchange programme, an African volunteer (in this case, me), takes on voluntary service in Northern Europe (in my case Germany to be precise) and at the same time, a Western scholar or volunteer is placed in an African country, or another developing country such as Peru, Colombia, India or Ecuador, for instance.
Even though there is a sense of ‘equality’ when it comes to the programme (two people from two different places swap countries and volunteer to gain valuable life experience; the reality is far from this). In this context, the portrayal of Africa and western volunteers “playing saviour” is an important issue that needs to be examined.
But first, some background. According to a 2014 report by NPR, volunteers are predominantly women and range between the ages of 20 to 25. According to the report, over 1.6 million volunteer tourists “are spending about $2 billion each year”. A report by The Guardian recently addressed some of the growing concerns around this ‘unregulated industry’ worth billions of pounds and states that “in the UK alone, 85 organisations place 50,000 volunteers overseas every year. The majority of these organisations are for-profit travel agencies charging high fees to their customers”.
In my case, with the South to North programme, many of the volunteers either go to Africa, Asia or South America. On the African continent volunteers most often go to Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, or Uganda. Other popular destinations include Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi and Ethiopia. 38% of the South to North volunteers come to Africa and volunteer for a period of 2 to 4 weeks while others volunteer for up to 9 months.
One of the consequences of the amount of westerners volunteering in developing countries is the spread of misleading bias and misinformation about communities, cultures, lifestyles and marginal images of “they and us”. This is no new trend, given the continuous images created by international media about the African continent over the centuries.
In a study by Megan Smith titled ‘The Cost of Volunteering: Consequences of Voluntourism’ published in 2015, she argues that voluntourism in fact deepens social inequalities and strengthens cultural boundaries. And that even though voluntourism may be “attractive for countries or areas facing economic instability”, the volunteers more often than not, originating from wealthier countries is problematic and has unintended consequences.
One of the many ways in which the power dynamics play out on the global stage is the use of social media, an everyday action which speaks volumes about this power imbalance.
We are now in a digital era where westerners can take and share images and selfies of backgrounds that are one dimensional and without context. They take photos with impoverished children and devastated communities to share on their social media pages to showcase their version of hardship. It goes beyond just images, they write about Africa in less informed ways. I do understand that volunteers have a right to subjective views and expressions. But, what can these volunteers possibly learn about sensitivity, about humanity, about the complexity of the African continent? There are simply too many stories written from a privileged point of view, condescending narratives which devalue the fundamental goals of volunteering and question the motives of participants. Yes, Africa has challenges.
But the role of volunteering is not to perpetuate stereotypes about developing countries.
Where I was based during my exchange, in countries such as Germany and Switzerland (places where these “voluntourists” are often from), one is not allowed to take photos of children at their kindergarten, or other social institutions, valuing the need to children’s privacy more than the volunteer’s emotional outlets. So, is it not imperative to apply the same privacy in other countries? Do voluntourists not take these lessons with them? It is important for westerners to respect people’s privacy under which they live. Included too is respecting conditions and circumstances under which citizens live.
The problematic nature of voluntourism has become so commonplace that parody accounts have been set up to poke fun at the ignorance of westerners. The Barbie saviour campaign on Instagram is based on the “white saviour complex”. That is, volunteers portraying the communities they work in negatively, and approaching voluntary services as projects where they can ‘save’ Africa, essentially mocking people who make their volunteering trips all about themselves.
But the ‘white saviour complex’ does not only come from individuals, it is in fact a selling point, promoted by the very organisations that receive and send volunteers. Their unregulated criteria of selecting volunteers to work in sensitive communities is highly problematic. Volunteers are placed as “teachers”, for instance, a title that immediately creates a power balance between the volunteer and the community; the former positioned as having the knowledge and power, the latter as the silent receiver, a community which has nothing to teach the ‘teacher’.
In many cases, abused children and orphans are forced to interact with volunteers who are sent to work in social and psychological related work places. So much can go wrong in these circumstances. Imagine Grade 1 children being taught by a 17 or 18-year old volunteer?
Children need teachers who are trained to do the job well. In Europe or the United States, volunteers cannot be placed as teachers or social workers. Particularly without necessary qualifications, skills and training. These sectors are treated as sensitive sectors, where the services have standards of expectations and outcomes. While in developing countries, with an exception of a few countries, volunteers can simply allude to “I am teaching in Africa”, “I am a counsellor in Africa” statements without the expertise to do so. The double standards are not just condescending but downright dangerous.
It is important to note that volunteers can only help to a certain extent and changing the world is generally a long-term, complex and collective effort.
It is important for volunteers to take cognisance of the need to respect and present communities in ways that inform others factually without degrading or insulting anyone.
These situations could be improved if organisations use the same standard procedures to place volunteers at appropriate social institutions as they would in their home countries as well as understanding the limitations that volunteers have. The awareness by host organisations abroad about privilege, the saviour complex, poverty porn and power dynamics should play a big role in preparing, teaching and helping volunteers not to fall in the same traps.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist
with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results.
If you know of any please share. Cheers!
Thanks for any other magnificent post. The place else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such information.
FitSpresso is a natural weight loss supplement that will help you maintain healthy body weight without having to deprive your body of your favorite food or take up exhausting workout routines.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really loved surfing around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity to your publish is simply nice and i could suppose you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay updated with drawing close post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
Wonderful post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I’m also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort.
I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome weblog!
Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice article.
I like this weblog its a master peace ! Glad I found this on google .
Puravive is a natural weight loss supplement and is said to be quite effective in supporting healthy weight loss.
What is Lottery Defeater Software? Lottery software is a specialized software designed to predict and facilitate individuals in winning lotteries.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
I really like your writing style, excellent info , thankyou for putting up : D.
naturally like your web-site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.
The very core of your writing while appearing agreeable originally, did not really sit very well with me after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you actually were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a while. I still have got a problem with your leaps in assumptions and one might do nicely to help fill in those gaps. In the event that you can accomplish that, I will certainly end up being impressed.
I think other web-site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and magnificent user friendly style and design, let alone the content. You are an expert in this topic!
I am impressed with this website , very I am a big fan .
Thanks for every other informative site. The place else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a mission that I am simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Hello.This article was extremely motivating, particularly because I was investigating for thoughts on this issue last Tuesday.
Keep functioning ,splendid job!
Hey there! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic work!
Lottery Defeater Software is a cutting-edge application designed to analyze and optimize your chances of winning various lottery games.
It¦s really a great and useful piece of info. I¦m happy that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
Thankyou for this howling post, I am glad I detected this site on yahoo.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
wild bandito играть игра за регистрацию без депозита stake официальный сайт com casino казино бонус 200 spin city фриспины без депозита игровые автоматы слоты демо бесплатно вулкан игравыеавтоматыбесплатно играть онлайн бесплатно ставка демо список i казино бездепозитный бонус игровые автоматы ставка от копейки игровые автоматы адмирал старая версия топ 10 крутых песен промокод вулкан рояль 2020 покердом 1000 фриспинов игровые аппараты демо версия золотой волк сюжетно ролевая игра это
игровые автоматы клубнички на деньги 2024 [url=https://aug-avtomat.vacuu.ru]ауг автомат[/url] слоты демо igrovie avtomati 7 games [url=https://vulkan-ili-dx11.vacuu.ru]vulkan или dx11[/url] money game слот [url=https://promokod-v-play-fortuna.vacuu.ru]промокод в play fortuna[/url] иммортал романе слот демо [url=https://igrovie-avtomati-onlayn-dzhoykazino-joycasino-vhod.vacuu.ru]игровые автоматы онлайн джойказино joycasino вход[/url] https legzo57 casino ru [url=https://vacuu.ru/map142.html]hal leonard jazz[/url]
big mama blox fruits драгон флай отыграть назад сериал смотреть зетфликс x casino в телеграмме отзывы фри спин коин мастер лотерея со ставкой в 1 рубль остров мечты просп андропова 1 москва отзывы pin up скачать приложение на андроид вин ivi casino star code pokerstars 2018 free
ик вулкан бонус [url=https://novie-besplatnie-igrovie-apparati.vacuu.ru]новые бесплатные игровые аппараты[/url] vavada игры бесплатно в аппараты vavada zerkalona5 [url=https://luchshie-proizvoditeli-divanov.vacuu.ru]лучшие производители диванов[/url] игры с большим джекпотом на вавада [url=https://1hbet-ofitsialniy-sloti-xvh.vacuu.ru]1хбет официальный слоты xvh[/url] код joycasino 2018 [url=https://oneplus-ace-pro-antutu.vacuu.ru]oneplus ace pro antutu[/url] бинго бум официальный сайт регистрация онлайн [url=https://top-sloti-casinoisloty.vacuu.ru]топ слоты casinoisloty[/url]
джойказино промокод бездепозитный бонус joycasino officialnyi375 установить рулетку на телефон для измерений vodka casino vodka casiino ru промокод 1xslots без вейджера 1xslots officiall ru бесплатные азартные игровые автоматы играть 777
онлайн. казино. slotoking. казино фараон вход играть на деньги как посмотреть все фото на пк скачать 1 xbet официальный сайт на андроид программа для выигрыша в онлайн казино как сделать 2 аккаунт в тг без номера онлайн казино бонус при регистрации без депозита покердом официальный сайт скачать на айфон казино пин ап играть на деньги официальный играть в игровые автоматы на деньги без вложений лучшее онлайн казино с живыми дилерами вулкан казино онлайн с выводом денег спины за регистрацию в подарок без депозита казино с минимальным депозитом 5 грн европейская рулетка онлайн играть бесплатно без регистрации
пин ап скачать бесплатно на андроид [url=https://igrovie-avtomati-vulkan-igrat-azartnie-igri-1.kebabushki.ru]игровые автоматы вулкан играть азартные игры[/url] [url=https://luchshee-onlayn-kazino-na-realnie-dengi-1.kebabushki.ru]лучшее онлайн казино на реальные деньги[/url] [url=https://casino-x-zerkalo-na-segodnya-mobilnaya.kebabushki.ru]casino x зеркало на сегодня мобильная[/url] [url=https://azartnie-igri-na-dengi-onlayn-s-vivodom-deneg.kebabushki.ru]азартные игры на деньги онлайн с выводом денег[/url] [url=https://igrat-na-dengi.kebabushki.ru]играть. на. деньги.[/url]
рабочее 1xbet зеркало на сегодня прямо сейчас как создать аккаунт вконтакте без телефона войти на мою страницу в одноклассниках через логин и пароль онлайн игры слоты играть без регистрации бесплатно как выиграть в слоты онлайн казино 1хставка официальный сайт полная версия вход игровые автоматы бесплатно без регистрации и смс париматч регистрация с бонусом мобильная версия автоматы вулкан играть бесплатно без регистрации казино с бонусом за регистрацию без депозита
париматч букмекерская контора скачать на андроид [url=https://bezdepozitnie-bonusi-za-registratsiyu.kebabushki.ru]бездепозитные. бонусы. за. регистрацию.[/url] [url=https://kazino-vulkan-igrat-besplatno-i-registratsii.kebabushki.ru]казино вулкан играть бесплатно и регистрации[/url] [url=https://onlayn-kazino-pinap-pinup-spinscom.kebabushki.ru]онлайн казино пинап pinup-spins.com[/url] [url=https://pin-up-casino-vhod-v-lichniy-kabinet-ukraina.kebabushki.ru]pin-up casino вход в личный кабинет украина[/url] [url=https://kazino-onlayn-na-dengi-bez-registratsii-1.kebabushki.ru]казино онлайн на деньги без регистрации[/url]
пин ап обзор pin up зеркало бонусы пинап up-x казино официальный сайт 1win. зеркало. сайта. онлайн. казино вулкан 24 игровые автоматы играть бесплатно бездепозитный бонус в букмекерской конторе за регистрацию
[url=http://promokody-letual.ru/android/skachat-iks-bet-na-android.html]скачать икс бет на андроид[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/depozita/bonus-na-stavki-bez-depozita.html]бонус на ставки без депозита[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/vulkan/vulkan-igrovie-avtomati-kazino-onlayn.html]вулкан игровые автоматы казино онлайн[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/kazino/kazino-gde-mozhno-zarabotat-bez-vlozheniy.html]казино где можно заработать без вложений[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/igrovie-besplatno/igrat-besplatno-bez-demo-igrovie-avtomati.html]играть бесплатно без демо игровые автоматы[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/map195.html]pin-up casino aviator is real or fake[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/rabochee-zerkalo/1-h-bet-rabochee-zerkalo.html]1 х бет рабочее зеркало[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/skachat/pokerdom-ofitsialniy-sayt-skachat-na-ios.html]покердом официальный сайт скачать на ios[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/skachat/skachat-azartnie-igri-kazino-besplatno.html]скачать азартные игры казино бесплатно[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/pin/kazino-pin-ap-ofitsialniy-sayt.html]казино пин ап официальный сайт[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/rabochee-zerkalo/pin-up-casino-zerkalo-rabochee-na-segodnya.html]pin up casino зеркало рабочее на сегодня[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/zerkalo/bk-leon-zerkalo-skachat-na-android.html]бк леон зеркало скачать на андроид[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/telefon/pin-up-bukmekerskaya-skachat-besplatno-na-telefon.html]pin up букмекерская скачать бесплатно на телефон[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/onlayn/kakoy-zaym-onlayn-luchshe-otzivi.html]какой займ онлайн лучше отзывы[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/bonus-registratsiyu/melbet-promokod-pri-registratsii-bonus.html]мелбет промокод при регистрации бонус[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/prilozhenie/prilozheniya-na-stavki-na-sport-na-dengi.html]приложения на ставки на спорт на деньги[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/map144.html]проверенные онлайн казино с выводом денег[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/dengi/kazino-turbo-igrat-na-dengi.html]казино турбо играть на деньги[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/ofitsialniy/odin-h-bet-ofitsialniy-sayt.html]один х бет официальный сайт[/url] [url=http://promokody-letual.ru/kartu/perviy-zaym-pod-0-na-kartu.html]первый займ под 0 на карту[/url]