Ethical Volunteering in Orphanages

Voluntourism has taken off as a travel trend in the last decade, with thousands of people looking to help the communities they visit. Unfortunately there are people who take advantage of the good will of others. In the past few years, there have been revelations that many orphanages in Southeast Asia are scams looking to make a profit. If you are planning on a voluntourism trip, it is important to know how to find a legitimate organization.

Be wary of programs that don’t require a long-term stay. Volunteering requires a commitment to make a real impact, and the surge of charitably-minded travelers has led to caretakers effectively renting out their children for tourists to play with for a few days. This has unfortunately led to the present situation where children are commoditized.

Orphanages can make a profit through tourists and will increase their supply by paying families to give up their children. In fact, less than half of the orphans in Cambodia have actually lost both parents, though this doesn’t mean that they were bought. In many impoverished countries, parents will send their children to an orphanage hoping they will be properly fed and educated. Check to see whether the organization you want to volunteer for is involved with a family reunification program.

If the orphanage in question is openly soliciting tourists, warning bells should be going off. This is especially the case if they don’t request a resume, references or do a background check. Also, be aware if volunteers work directly with the children or support the staff. An ethically-minded organization will not put their children at any risk of danger. While working directly with kids might sound more fulfilling, it can actually be damaging to the children being cared for by a different person every few days, rather than developing emotional bonds with their caretakers.

Lastly, payment and donations should be transparent. If they ask for fees, be cautious if they ask for it in advance and do not state how funds are allocated. Some orphanages will ask for bulk-food donations. Food is a great way to help out an organization, but check their legitimacy first, as some corrupt orphanages will resell their donations for a profit.

Reading this might have soured your disposition on volunteering overseas, but keep your chin up. There are still thousands of organizations out there who are doing good, and an army of volunteers who support them in an ethical way.