Ethical Volunteering Abroad: How to Choose the Right Program

Ethical volunteering abroad and alternatives to orphanage volunteering

 

If you’re reading this it is probably because you’re aware that sometimes volunteering abroad can cause more harm than good. But with thousands of volunteering programs available in countries across Africa, Asia and South America, it can be very difficult, as a prospective volunteer, to know which one to choose.

The debate around the pros and cons of international volunteering has been raging for the past decade. With hundreds of articles, blog posts and exposés out there, both in favour and against volunteering overseas, it is difficult to know what to think or where to begin when deciding what program is best to give your time and money.

We have pulled together some advice on the main things you need to look out for when researching voluntary work programs, as well as some examples of the types of activities you might like to consider - especially as alternatives for orphanage volunteering placements. 

But first, let’s look at some of the key ethical issues surrounding volunteering abroad, so we know what not to sign up for.

5 things that make volunteering abroad unethical

 

1. Taking local jobs

 

A big criticism of international volunteering is that it takes jobs away from qualified local people and gives them to international, usually young and unqualified volunteers. Volunteers should be either qualified to do the work or be fulfilling a legitimate skills gap which exists in the community.

2. Creating dependency

 

Another criticism of the practice of volunteering overseas is that little thought is given to what happens after the program ends and the volunteers go home. Can the work still continue? Has it been sufficiently set up so that eventually it can be fully sustained by members of the local community? After all, trends come and go and volunteers prepared to participate on one particular project in one specific country won’t be around forever.

3. Programs designed for the volunteer and not the community

 

Placing the volunteer experience before the needs and desires of the community is another big criticism thrown at the volunteer travel industry. This leads to projects which are not particularly impactful and can actually place a burden on the community in the form of having to adapt to meet the expectations of the volunteer.

4. Are we making money off of poverty?

 

One of the big moral arguments against volunteering overseas is that the practice can sometimes be exploitative, whereby money is being made or an ‘experience’ is being offered off of the back of poverty. Volunteering abroad as an industry is worth billions of dollars a year. Now, not all of the money generated from a volunteer program can realistically go directly to a host community, as volunteer programs cost a lot of money to run - especially if they’re being run well. But a question is posed about the amount of money being made by NGOs or volunteer travel companies versus the amount of impact being achieved at the local level. Some commentators have even argued that organisations that offer volunteering abroad programs, have an incentive to keep people poor, as without poverty they wouldn’t be needed and they’d go out of business.

5. An attitude problem

 

Probably the most damning criticism of the practice of volunteering abroad is that it can be neocolonial, paternalistic and racist. To some, volunteering overseas is founded on the assumption that an outsider from countries such as the UK, USA or Australia, could have better knowledge or skills to tackle a social challenge than the people who actually live in that country and understand the language, history, culture, religion, economics, politics and climate. The practice can risk creating a sense of superiority, where volunteers are told that they will be able to arrive in a country and make a difference to its people, without the need for any prior experience, skills or qualifications. The consequence of this is that those living in countries which receive international volunteers end up being portrayed as helpless, incompetent and in desperate need of help - even by someone without any knowledge of the issue or country.

Volunteer Checklist: What to look for when choosing an ethical volunteer abroad program

 

The above makes for some pretty depressing reading, but don’t be put off! Volunteering your time on an issue you care about is extremely important and a very worthwhile thing to do. It just needs a bit of thought and preparation first.

With more and more organisations using the word ‘ethical’ or ‘responsible’ in their marketing it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell what actually is a good program and what’s simply utilising the latest ‘buzzword’.

Below you can find listed our top 5 recommendations of things to look out for when it comes to choosing and applying for an ethical volunteer role overseas. You can read a longer and more thorough checklist here.

1. If feels more like completing a job application than booking a holiday

 

When it comes to volunteer programs abroad, although you’re paying some money to be involved, it is not a holiday and so the organisation should have some kind of criteria when recruiting you. Ethical organisations will run an application process  whereby you will be expected to complete an initial application form and attend an interview, which could be online or in-person. During the selection process, the organisation will be assessing your suitability for the role - especially if you’re hoping to work with children.

To make sure you’re in with a great chance of landing a role that you are well-suited to, have a think about what skills or qualifications you already have before applying. When researching possible programs, consider if you would be permitted to do the same role in your own country, or whether you would be deemed unqualified. For example, you wouldn’t be allowed to practice medicine or offer direct care to vulnerable children without being fully qualified in countries such as the UK, US and Australia. Also think about whether you could be taking a role away from a local professional who would be more qualified to do the job. For example, if you’ve never built a well or a toilet block before, there is very likely qualified builders in the local community who could do the work better than you. 

Choose a program that will benefit from your skills and get ready to complete an application in order to prove this to the organisation.

2. The project is designed with the needs and wishes of the community at its heart

 

Too often volunteering programs abroad are designed to focus on the experience and enjoyment of the volunteer and not on what is going to benefit the local community the most. When considering programs try to determine the reason the project came about. Ideally it would be through a long-standing relationship with the community, whereby the specific project was requested. If you can’t see any evidence of this on the organisation’s website, feel free to ask them directly. 

Similarly to thinking about how the program was set up, you also want to be thinking about what will happen when you leave. Can the project only continue with the presence of volunteers or is it self-sustaining? Look for projects which have been designed with longevity in mind. For example, a program where volunteers teach local teachers English is more long-term than volunteers directly teaching children, as when volunteers leave, the project itself can continue.

3. The organisation doesn’t offer orphanage volunteering and has strong child protection policies in place

 

Orphanage volunteering poses real risks to children and is also helping to sustain an industry that is purposefully exploiting children for financial gain. When checking out a volunteering provider, one of the first things you should assess is whether or not they offer programs in orphanages. If they do, we would recommend you vote with your wallet and shop elsewhere. 

Similarly, if the organisation offers any programs directly volunteering with children, check to see if they have a child protection policy in place and if a criminal record’s background check is required by all volunteers. If not, you can assume that they are not an ethical provider. 

4. Local people are represented with dignity and respect in all marketing material

 

In order to try and sell their programs lots of organisations rely on two things: 1) they want to make it seem that your support is extremely needed, and 2) they want to make it seem like you’ll be able to make a huge difference in the short time you’re on the project. This leads them to use images and phrases in their marketing that portray whole countries as in desperate need of help. They also use phrases such as ‘change the world’ and ‘change a child’s life’ to make development work seem easy and achievable. Unsurprisingly, solving complex challenges in countries across the developing world is actually extremely difficult, and the people most capable of doing it aren’t volunteers from other parts of the world, but local people who have in-depth knowledge of their community. Any organisation that uses pictures or words which rob individuals of their dignity or agency should be considered unethical. Instead, look for genuine emphasis on equal partnership, where projects are locally-led and change in being driven from within, with the support of international volunteers.

5. There is evidence of past impact

 

When choosing an ethical volunteering program abroad, you should be able to see how the project has benefited the local community already and how it plans to continue to do so in the future. Statements simply claiming to have ‘made a difference’ are not good enough if you’re looking for an ethical program. Instead look for quotes or interviews with local community members talking about the benefits the project has helped to bring about. You could also look for the organisation’s impact report where they will talk about what they’ve achieved over the past year. Remember, you’re looking for quality not quantity, evidence not hearsay. Reaching a thousand people with a terrible project is not as good as reaching a hundred people with a brilliant one. Claiming to have helped is not the same as showing how you helped.