"While there's little doubt, a traveler who signs up to help at an orphanage is intending to help the community and children, in reality, they could be helping an industry which takes advantage of the vulnerable," says this article from World Nomads. The article explains the ways in which orphange tourism and orphanage volunteering have a harmful impact on children, families, and communities (particularly those in developing contexts). The article encourages tourism companies to gradually phase out the practice from their offerings and calls on volunteers with relevant expertise to support institutions in transitioning to better models of care. The article concludes with some alternatives to orphanage tourism.
