<< Back to ReThink Orphanages Home
Considering a Visit to an Orphanage Abroad?
Are you planning a holiday to a country such as Cambodia, Nepal, Kenya or Guatemala? While you’re there, as well as having the chance to visit incredible places such as Angkor Wat, Kathmandu, or the Masai Mara, you may also find that you get the opportunity to visit an orphanage. Although this might seem like a great thing to do, it actually does a lot of harm to the children involved and should always be avoided!
Whether a tourist, a long-term traveller, a missionary or even a business person on a work trip, in countries across Asia, South America and Africa it is very common to be presented with the chance to participate in an orphanage visit. This may be something you plan before arriving in the country either independently or via your tour operator, or it could be more spontaneous after seeing the visit advertised by your hostel or hotel or promoted by your taxi or tuk-tuk driver. But remember, more often than not, those who promote visits to orphanages are being paid to do so or will profit in some way.
Whether a tourist, a long-term traveller, a missionary or even a business person on a work trip, in countries across Asia, South America and Africa it is very common to be presented with the chance to participate in an orphanage visit. This may be something you plan before arriving in the country either independently or via your tour operator, or it could be more spontaneous after seeing the visit advertised by your hostel or hotel or promoted by your taxi or tuk-tuk driver. But remember, more often than not, those who promote visits to orphanages are being paid to do so or will profit in some way.
If I Can’t Volunteer in an Orphanage What Should I Do Instead?
We’re definitely not saying don’t support children abroad. What we’re saying is support children in the right ways! Here’s some suggestions of alternatives ways you may wish to support:
- Tell your friends and colleagues about what you have discovered about supporting orphanages. The only way we’re going to see this practice stopped is if more and more people change their behaviour.
- Donate to programmes which keep children and their families together.
- Support ethical businesses where you’re travelling. When you know where you’re going, do some research to find out about local social enterprises that pay their workers fairly and offer some benefit to the community. Remember, if parents can afford to care for their children they won’t be as likely to be placed in an orphanage.
- Vote with your wallet and avoid giving your support to organisations who run or promote orphanage volunteering, visits or day trips. If the demand isn’t there children will not be unnecessarily separated from their families.
- Do not give to children who are begging on the streets or buy souvenirs offered by them! Doing so only keeps them on the streets for longer.
Join us in building a better alternative for children and help families stay together.
What If I Still Want to Volunteer?
Our message is not to volunteer in orphanages, but we definitely don’t want you to feel that you can’t volunteer at all! Volunteering abroad, when done ethically and responsibly, is a great way to learn about the world and work alongside people with completely different life experiences to you - be they local community members or other international volunteers.
1. Help Strengthen Families and Communities
Instead of supporting an orphanage, support local organisations that are working to strengthen families and communities. Look for programs which work to tackle poverty and building the capacity of families to care for their children in the long-term. If a family can afford to clothe, feed, educate and keep their children healthy they are substantially less likely to feel they have no choice but to send their child to an orphanage.
2. Support Family Reunification
Volunteer with an organisation that supports family reunification and prepares families for the return of their child from an orphanage. While it may not be appropriate for you to work with families directly, there may be opportunities for you to use your skills to support the organisations that do this work.
How to Select an Ethical Volunteering Role?
Below we’ve listed our top 5 recommendations of things to look out for when it comes to choosing and applying for a volunteer role overseas. You can read a longer and more thorough checklist here.
1. Are you the Right Person for The Role?
When it comes to considering what volunteer program you might like to apply for, firstly have a think about the skills and/or qualifications you already have. Is it appropriate for you to do that particular role if you aren’t a qualified teacher or social worker? Would you be permitted to do the same role in your own country? Are you taking a role that a local professional would be more qualified to do?
2. It Feels More Like a Job Application than Booking a Holiday
When volunteering with children certain checks need to be completed. Before confirming a volunteer role, you should expect to fill out an application form, have an interview (on Skype or in person) and complete a criminal background check. If the organisation is a good one, they will want to know exactly who you are in order to confirm that you are suitable to volunteer with children abroad. If you can book onto a project without being asked any questions you can assume that your experience is being put above the safety and well-being of the children. This is a major red flag!
3. The Organisation Doesn’t Offer Orphanage Volunteering Placements
A quick-fire way of determining whether an organisation is ethical is by seeing if they run placements in orphanages or children’s homes. Choose to volunteer with an organisation that doesn't.
4. There Are Strong Child Protection Policies in Place
Any organisation that works with children should have a child protection policy clearly accessible on their website. If you can’t find one, ask the organisation to see one. If they don’t have one, you shouldn’t volunteer with them. A child protection policy will include things like a statement outlining the organisation’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children, as well as detailed information with regards the steps taken to ensure their safety.
5. Your Supporting Long-Term Staff- Not Replacing Them!
As a volunteer, the roles you should seek out are supportive ones. For example, providing admin and IT assistance, acting as teaching or coaching assistants, working alongside local, qualified teachers and coaches. It is rarely appropriate for volunteers to take over these roles directly as it can disrupt children’s education or other services. If the organisation is allowing you to assume such roles, it indicates they are prioritising your volunteer experience ahead of the needs and best interests of the children.
Beware of Orphanages by Another Name!
Institutions use a range of different names. Not all are called orphanages. In fact, as Western audiences are becoming more aware of the harms which orphanages can cause children, some institutions are changing their names in order to sidestep criticism and continue their operation. Whilst on your travels, you may see orphanages referred to as:
- Children’s homes
- Shelters
- Safe houses
- Children’s villages
- Transitional homes
- Boarding schools
- Residential care institutions
It doesn’t matter what an orphanage is called. What matters is whether care is provided in a family- or not. Orphanages by any other name still harm children the same way, and volunteering in any type of institution should be discouraged.
If Visiting an Orphanage is Wrong, Why Do So Many Tour Operators Still Offer It?
In short, because it is still popular and so leads to more business. There is also a lot of misunderstanding around the harms caused by visits to orphanages, as well as longer term volunteering projects. Lots of tourism operators - like individual tourists - believe they are doing the right thing by supporting orphanages. It is only through increased dialogue that we can change this practice for the better.
Lots of tourism and volunteering operators are increasingly recognising the problems with visiting orphanages. Many have never run these sort of trips, and a growing number are removing them from their websites.
It’s important to remember that just because your tour operator offers an orphanage visit or trip as part of its package, it does not make it ethical. Why not contact them about what you’ve read here?
What If I’m Already Supporting An Orphanage?
If you are already involved in supporting an orphanage, particularly if you are a long-term donor, it is important redirect your support towards services that support children to grow up in families. This may involve:
- Encouraging your partner orphanage to shift their model from running residential care services to community or family-based care services- with your support. This is referred to as ‘Transition’.
- Withdrawing your support, in instances where your partner orphanage does not want to transition. This is called ‘Divestment’.
- Selecting a different volunteer sending organisation that does not facilitate orphanage volunteering.
Below are Some Key Tips and Links to Resources to Help You Approach Transition or Divestment Responsibly
1. Undertake A Due Diligence Check
Conduct a due diligence check on orphanages you currently sponsor or are considering sponsoring in the future. This will help you understand if the orphanage is abiding by the relevant laws and standards in place, whether it truly is a last resort and temporary care centre for children, and whether they are working towards transition and the reintegration of children in their care. ACCI Relief has some brilliant resources to support you when conducting due diligence checks.
2. Encourage your partner orphanage to transition
If you’re supporting an orphanage, why not share with them what you’ve learnt and encourage them to consider transitioning to family-based care or community services. This is quite a technical process and there are often organisations in their country that can come along side of them and provide technical support. You can find organisations in the BCN directory of organisations or reach out via this contact form. You can find lots of good resources to help you advocate for transition on the BCN Transition Hub.
3. Divest responsibly
If your partner isn’t interested in transition, and it’s time to conclude your support of the orphanage, communicate your reasons for stopping support and provide a reasonable period of notice. Our Divestment Guide provides a step-by-step approach to this with lots of helpful tips and case studies.
4. Redirect your support
Don't just stop your support altogether, shift your support, whether volunteering or financial, to help organisations or programs that are enabling children to live in a family. This could include organisations that support community development, are tackling the underlying issues of poverty; work to strengthen families and prevent separation, reintegrate children in institutions back into families or provide family-based care for children who need alternative care. Shift your approach to volunteering with children to volunteering for children. Volunteer with organisations who don’t offer orphanage volunteering. Find out about the work of organisations that are actively tackling the underlying reasons why children are ending up in orphanages.
Shifting your support might first involve a process of ethical divestment, which is the process of withdrawing support from any current orphanages. For advice on how to divest responsibly, check out the Rethink Orphanages divestment guide.
5. Spread the Word
Think about who else you might need to share this message with as part of shifting your support. Why not host a screening of the film The Love You Give, invite your friends, colleagues, or other members of your organisation along and start the discussion.