Orphan Voluntourism in decline – what are the alternatives?

In 2012, a hard hitting documentary by Al Jazeera highlighted some of the dangers of poorly managed short-term volunteering in orphanages in developing countries, and has ignited intense debate. The documentary, shot in Cambodia, highlights the relationship between the demand for orphanage placements and the supply of children by unscrupulous individuals who see profit in exploiting poverty-stricken families and well-intentioned volunteers.

At Quest Overseas, we were sadly unsurprised by the content of this documentary, particularly when it named and shamed one in particular of the larger UK-based volunteer companies as being involved. As founding members of the Fair Trade Volunteering Movement we are vocal in our belief that a good volunteer organisation must have a close and active relationship with its local project partners, or risk putting the profit line before its volunteers and host communities.

A key question underpinning this debate is whether poverty can or should mean looser rules on child protection, and to some, the jury is still out on this one. Is it better for children living in orphanages to have the attention of a stream of random visitors, to play, hug, have gifts, etc, risking long-term wellbeing, emotional security and personal safety? If we accept that children in institutional care are already likely to be experiencing abandonment issues, trauma, and a host of other emotional and physical needs, then perhaps there is a limit to the benefits of stickers, bubbles and hugs from strangers, despite the often fantastic intentions of the bubble blowing volunteer. Attachment to a conveyor belt of volunteers who each loves with passion, and tearfully says goodbye, to be replaced by the next could well exacerbate these issues for many children in the long run.

Let’s consider this situation flipped around… Would it be acceptable for a well-off student from some undisclosed African country to pop into a children’s home in the UK for a few hours to play with its young residents, take some photos, give out a few relatively expensive gifts and perhaps even take them out for an afternoon? The answer is of course ‘no’, as the UK has strict child protection laws in place to keep our most vulnerable children safe. Arguably some of these laws may have gone too far the other way, to the point where child care workers are no longer able to hug or even touch a child, but that is another debate entirely. A key difference is resources: the UK has comprehensive welfare provisions to look after vulnerable children, something that is often less structured in developing countries. However, many places do already have their own safety nets, although they can be less visible.

Joshua Orphan & Community Care
There is an old African proverb that it takes a whole village to raise a child – which our Quest Overseas’ project in Malawi is a shiny example of… Working with our local partners – JOCC, this concept is embraced as we pioneer alternative models of community care in which international volunteers play a fundamental role. In a country with soaring HIV/Aids rates, we work side by side with family members and community elders to help ensure the support is in place to keep vulnerable children with relatives or neighbours when parents have passed away.

Quest Overseas volunteers help to construct and renovate orphan feeding centres, having spent up to a year before the trip fundraising for the materials. Along with improved medical and educational facilities, these in turn attract more teachers and nurses to the areas. 

The good news is that the ensuing debate is starting to have an effect in the sector: volunteer organisations are slowly waking up to the inherent risks and some have halted their orphanage programmes to reflect these. Experts in the industry are also working to develop a set of guidelines for best practice moving forward. And in Cambodia, one child trafficking ring was closed down and several children reunited with families or moved to safe new homes.

Check out our Malawi orphan and Community Care Summer Volunteer Project for a different way of doing things…