Volunteer programs can have a large impact on communities as long as individuals’ skills align with the tasks they undertake

By Alyssa Bradford

If you’re planning a trip, why not consider making an impact on the community you are visiting?

From teaching English in local schools to participating in environmental conservation projects, “voluntourism” offers individuals the chance to contribute their skills and resources to address pressing social and environmental challenges.

What is voluntourism?

Voluntourism, also known as volunteer travel or volunteer vacation, blends volunteering and tourism. It involves travelers engaging in voluntary work, often for charitable purposes. Voluntourists, who come from diverse backgrounds and age groups worldwide, contribute to various fields such as agriculture, health care, education and more, per World Vision.

What are the benefits of voluntourism?

According to World Vision, if done right, there are many positive aspects to volunteer travel.

When voluntourism opportunities are carefully planned and sustainable, volunteers’ efforts can yield long-term benefits. For instance, instead of traveling abroad to teach English to students, volunteers can assist local teachers in improving their English proficiency and teaching methods, preserving jobs for local educators while enhancing the community’s educational resources.

Exploring a new culture is a significant perk of travel, especially with voluntourism. Immersing oneself in a community, making new connections and witnessing firsthand the challenges they face expand one’s global perspective and comprehension of poverty and sustainable development.

Furthermore, traveling can improve local economies. Voluntourists contribute to this when they support local markets, engage in tours and activities and dine at neighborhood eateries. This boosts businesses within the community and the country as a whole.

What is the criticism of voluntourism?

According to an article in The New York Times, voluntourists often assume their ability to travel the world makes them qualified to alleviate global issues. However, many trips end up yielding little impact due to the volunteers’ limited involvement and expertise.

Furthermore, host communities may become reliant on foreign financial aid, as the impacts of the trip rarely extend beyond the duration of the volunteers’ stay, per The New York Times.

https://www.deseret.com/24073254/what-is-voluntourism