Many companies brag about being socially responsible. They take volunteering very seriously and look for that in all their employees. Even some people are looking to volunteer abroad to get to know these responsible and ethical companies.
Many people decide to take a sabbatical year after finishing high school or university in order to find themselves or have a life-changing experience and opt to volunteer abroad.
How about spending your next holidays in Peru, hiking through the Andes and visiting archaeological ruins while helping the community? Sounds cool, right?
Combining holidays and free time with volunteer work sounds like a great idea, but be careful. Sometimes, doing volunteer work does more damage than good.
For example, after the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, the demand for volunteers in orphanages increased in order to help the children that lost their parents. Because of this, the rate of human trafficking increased to fill these orphanages up and make money out of the volunteers’ pockets and the necessity of the country at that time. According to a study from the UNICEF, many kids living in orphanages in Nepal have one of their parents alive. To this, you have to add the continuous abandonment cycles the kids have to go through every time a volunteer leaves.
There are tourism agencies and NGOs that make money out of volunteers and they don’t know the different situations of the communities they support. They just offer a palliative care that won’t solve the overall problem.
This is why you should follow this tips if you want to be a responsible and ethical volunteer. Don’t fall for the voluntourism that only wants to profit out good intentions.
1. Learn before help
First of all, you have to realise than when you volunteer abroad or in your community, you’re not doing anyone a favour, but using your skills and abilities, for free, to help a community. Have a open mind so you can comprehend the community’s lifestyle. Learning about their necessities and worldview will help you know how to help and you might even realise they don’t need any help.
2. Make your research before your departure
If an NGO or volunteer organisation is arranging your trip, it is a good idea to go on the internet and do a little bit of research about their principles, mission and vision statements, and how they manage their funds. Testimonials from their volunteers can also help. Also, reflect on how your abilities can contribute to the project of your choosing. You can’t help kids learn the alphabet if you don’t know how to teach.
3. Promote sustaintability
Whether it is building a house, teach to read and write, dig a well or create a library, consider the impact your work will have in the community once you go home. For any voluntary work, it is essential that the local people have the necessary skills to have a positive impact in the communities once the volunteers leave. If you empower a community, in the future, they won’t need more volunteers as they have gained the skills to improve their lifestyles.
4. Be an ethical traveller
At the end, if the NGO or volunteer organisation can’t answer your question on how sustainable their projects and the organisation itself are, it is possible that they’re only after money. This does not mean you won’t be able to travel with ethics in mind, buying only from local stores that will increase the community economy and avoiding going to the big businesses.
Don’t promote voluntourism and be an ethical traveller. Be the change this planet needs and focus your good intentions and skills on places where you’re needed.
Proyecto Peru promotes ethical and sustainable projects to all qualified volunteers. Check our website to see our volunteer and internship projects!
Article translated and adapted from Profesionistas.