In this article, Kate van Doore discusses the need for establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia and explains the connection between orphanage volunteering and child trafficking. van Doore provides a definition of modern slavery and explains her argument that orphanage tourism is an exploitation of children, thus a form of modern child slavery.
There is evidence to suggest that where there is a demand for volunteering in orphanages, children are being taken from their families to fill those orphanages and pose as ‘orphans’. Many orphanages are established in popular tourist destinations for this reason. Once in the orphanage, children are often kept in poor conditions, malnourished and without proper healthcare or schooling in order to encourage donations and further funding from volunteers. Other concerning activities are where children are made to perform traditional dances, sent out to beg for funds in bars at night or hand out flyers advertising their orphanage.
The article concludes with alternative suggestions for ways in which people can help without volunteering in an orphanage, including supporting organizations that support families and allow them to stay together.