Australian politician Linda Reynolds, a Senator for Western Australia, issued a press release warning parents and schools contemplating helping Cambodian orphanages to proceed with caution to ensure they are not unwittingly taking part in “orphanage tourism." The Senator recently visited Cambodia to look at Australian aid projects.
According to UNICEF, approximately 75% of children living in ‘orphanages’ still have at least one living parent and short-term visits can cause harm to children’s development and emotional wellbeing. Donations from well-meaning Australians create more orphans, rather than helping orphans.