Orphanage Tourism, Voluntourism and Trafficking

A growing evidence base has consistently highlighted the negative impact on children of living in institutional care such as orphanages – especially when parents or close family members are still living nearby. The increasing trend in volunteering in or visiting these facilities compounds the issue and the impact on children. Not only does it encourage the expansion of orphanages, but it also makes children vulnerable to abuse in those areas where regulation is lax, creates attachment problems in children who become attached to short-term visitors, and can heighten the risk for unregulated inter-country adoption by well-intentioned volunteers who form a bond with a child and want to take them home.

This section highlights resources focused on international volunteering, tourism, and donations in residential care centres.

Key facts about orphanages and orphanage volunteering

Millions of children worldwide live in residential institutional settings such as orphanages – yet an estimated 80% are not actually orphans and have at least one living parent
Poverty is one of the main drivers for a child to be placed in an orphanage – to access basic services including education and health care
Decades of research show that living in orphanages is harmful to children – the effect continuing into adulthood
There is now a global response to move away from orphanages towards strengthening families, to prevent the needless separation of their children
Well-meaning support for orphanages – through donations, volunteering, tourist trips and faith-based mission – is challenging care reform efforts. This support would be much better directed if channelled towards strengthening families
Despite the best intentions of volunteers and short-term mission teams, the transient nature of orphanage volunteering is harmful to children. Without a family to make them feel secure, children are quick to form relationships with arriving volunteers, only to feel abandoned once again when they leave.
Sadly, our desire to help children overseas has resulted in a rise in orphanages in some countries – to generate income from donations and volunteers. This has resulted in children from poor communities being exploited and trafficked to pose as orphans to attract donors, volunteers and tourists.

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Child Exploitation and Tourism at the Example of Orphanage Tourism: A Situation Analysis on the Current Situation of Orphanage Tourism in Myanmar Including a Comparison of Myanmar and Cambodia

Julia Hanel, Masters Thesis for Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 15 Nov 2017

This thesis focused on the two questions ‘What is the current situation on orphanage tourism in Myanmar?’ and ‘What are the causes of orphanage tourism?’.

Preventing Orphanage Tourism: A Practical Guide for the Tourism Industry

Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute, Hanns Seidel Foundation, and Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, 01 Nov 2017

This guidance document, developed by the Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute, Hanns Seidel Foundation, and Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, offers guidance to those in the tourism sector on how to protect children in institutions.

Going on a short-term mission trip?

ACCI Missions & Relief, 28 Sep 2017

This animated video from ACCI Missions & Relief explains how short-term missions in orphanages are harmful to children, why volunteers should avoid volunteering in orphanages overseas, and what kind of programs should be supported instead.

Haiti Infographic: Why Funding for Orphanages is Harming the Children it Aims to Help

Elevate Children Funders Group, 2017

This infographic from the Elevate Children Funders Group describes how private donors add to "the pull factors drawing more vulnerable children into institutional care and away from family or community care" in Haiti.

Partnerships with Overseas 'Orphanages': Implications of the proposed Modern Slavery Act for Australian Charities

ACCI Missions & Relief, 2017

This briefing note has been written to give Australian charities currently engaging with overseas residential care institutions an overview of the issue and an understanding of some of the potential ramifications of the proposed Modern Slavery legislation.

Nepal Policy Brief: Why Funding for Orphanages is Harming the Children it Aims to Help

Elevate Children Funders Group, 2017

This policy brief from the Elevate Children Funders Group describes how private donors add to "the pull factors drawing more vulnerable children into institutional care and away from family or community care" in Nepal.

Haiti Policy Brief: Why Funding for Orphanages is Harming the Children it Aims to Help

Elevate Children Funders Group, 2017

Nepal Infographic: Why Funding for Orphanages is Harming the Children it Aims to Help

Elevate Children Funders Group, 2017

This infographic from the Elevate Children Funders Group describes how private donors add to the "pull factors drawing more vulnerable children into institutional care and away from family or community care."

Short-Term Missions and 'Orphanages': What Australia’s proposed ban on orphanage tourism means for the local church

ACCI Missions & Relief, 2017

This briefing note has been written to give Australian churches an overview of the issue of orphanage tourism and an understanding of the likely ramifications of the legislation for churches.

Unanticipated outcomes of voluntourism among Malawi's orphans

Andrea Lee Freidus - Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 16 Dec 2016

This project adds to the newly emerging literature on orphan tourism. In-depth, open-ended interviews and participant observations were conducted over a three-month period with American travelers to a Malawian orphanage between 2009 and 2010.

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