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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Why we don’t support orphanage volunteering: a response to IVHQ

Better Volunteering Better Care, 14 Dec 2016

Better Volunteering Better Care (BVBC) responds to a blog by the Executive Director of the volunteer travel company IVHQ expressing his views about the benefits of orphanage volunteering.

Orphanage Volunteering: Why to say no Infographic

Better Volunteering Better Care, 01 Jul 2016

This infographic produced by Better Volunteering Better Care explains in an accessible way why we should say NO to international volunteering in orphanages (residential care centres).

Stop Orphanage Volunteering University Pledge

London School of Economics Volunteer Centre and Better Volunteering Better Care Initiative, 19 May 2016

The London School of Economics Volunteer Centre and the Better Volunteering Better Care Initiative have collaborated to develop a pledge that can be adopted by universities and other institutions of higher or further education. By adding this pledge to their websites, universities and other supporters promise not to advertise orphanage volunteering trips to students and to “endeavour to ensure that such opportunities are neither facilitated nor promoted within our institution.”

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Expert Paper: International Volunteering and Child Sexual Abuse

Kathryn van Doore, Florence Martin & Anna McKeon - Better Volunteering Better Care, 12 May 2016

This paper provides an overview of international volunteering, or “voluntourism,” and its potential vulnerability to child sexual exploitation, particularly in residential care centres.

Orphanage Volunteering - Why To Say No

Better Volunteering Better Care, 01 May 2016

A detailed explanation of the problems associated with volunteering in orphanages (residential care centers).

Volunteer tourism impacts in Ghana: a practice approach

Bertine Bargeman, Greg Richards & Ellen Govers , 29 Jan 2016

Using a practice approach focused on interactions between foreign volunteers and local staff, this study examined the impact of volunteer tourism on Zion Primary School and Tamale Children’s Home (an orphanage), both in Tamale, Ghana.

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Transición al cuidado familiar para niños: Manual de Orientación

Beth Bradford, Kerry Olson, Sarah Gesiriech, and Daphne Fowler - Faith to Action Initiative, 2016

Este Manual de Orientación provee información y herramientas útiles para iglesias, organizaciones religiosas, donantes y otros que persiguen transferir el cuidado de niños que son atendidos en residencias al cuidado en una familia.

Razones para decir NO al Voluntariado en orfanatos

Better Volunteering Better Care, 2016

Este documento provee una explicación detallada de las razones que Better Volunteering Better Care está desalentando el voluntariado internacional en orfanatos (centros de atención residencial).

Transition vers le placement familial pour les enfants : Manuel d'Orientation

Beth Bradford, Kerry Olson, Sarah Gesiriech, and Daphne Fowler - Faith to Action Initiative, 2016

Le présent Manuel d’orientation fournit des informations et des outils utiles pour les églises, les organisations confessionnelles, les donateurs et autres acteurs qui font passer la garde des enfants du placement en institution au placement en famille.

Addicted to Orphans: How the Global Orphan Industrial Complex Jeopardizes Local Child Protection Systems

Kristen E. Cheney and Karen Smith Rotabi, 2016

This chapter first traces the etymology of the definition of “orphan” and its attendant “crises.” Then, using examples from Guatemala and Uganda, the authors consider how the idea of an “orphan crisis” has traveled from development to charitable responses and what effects this has on local child protection systems.

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