This opinion piece from the Conversation discusses many of the pitfalls of international "voluntourism," and the damage it can do in struggling communities, particularly in developing contexts. The article highlights orphans and vulnerable children as one group that is often harmed, even exploited, by voluntourism. The article concludes with some suggestions for reframing and reworking the way Westerners think about, and approach, volunteering in the developing world to better meet the needs of the community.
