Voluntourism

hanno · Post by **hanno** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 6:45 am

vladimir wrote:I really don't understand the resistance to admitting that many of these positions are nothing more than scams, even to the extent of resorting semantics to cloud the issue.

If it looks like a scam, smells like a scam and walks like a scam...

It's a duck scam:

rick_o'shea · Post by **rick_o'shea** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:12 am

phuketrichard wrote:
If they purely wanted to volunteer without the tourism, they'd do that at home. And many do. It's not all gap year students taking selfies for Facebook
I was a volunteer in 1978-1980 in Zaire Africa
it was called the peace corps and i did get paid as well
$100/month plus all costs taking care of ( ie my hut and food) no electric, no internet, no phones
one of the best jobs i have ever had

BUT paying the monies some of these so called legit businesses charge, is sheer crazy and a total rip off and shameful

I'd put peace corps in a different category entirely. As i understand it, the selection process is very lengthy, they require certain skills or experience, and you may not be placed at your first choice country.

I overheard to women from peace corps talking in a cafe this week, discussing their selection process. It sounded like the process took more than 18 months for one, just to hear that she was accepted- no country decision was yet made. Her first choice as Africa, but she was placed here with little notice. Her curriculum development skills were why she was accepted and eventually placed in Takeo.

Not the same as unskilled volunteers choosing their destination first, then a project/placement that operates there. Or an independent traveller passing through a place and seeing an advert on a notice board in a guest house.

TheGrinchSR · Post by **TheGrinchSR** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:37 am

Voluntourism began as a way of making a short-time volunteer useful to charities - they paid, (to compensate for time wasted supporting the individual and for the fact that the individual's contribution would be negligible - so the money was more important than they were) and the charity began to benefit from these human wastes of skin...

Then it became a business and the more money it brought in - the more it was pushed as a model for the whole sector. I've heard of people paying for 12 month placements; which is taking the piss - if you're sincere about volunteering, you'll start to become useful after 2-3 months and the NGO/charity's ROI is pretty much guaranteed without you ponying up any cash.

Me, I'd like to see the whole NGO racket in Cambodia put under examination. In a recent "fundraiser" a couple who seem to have spent roughly 10 times what they claim to spend (and I don't think it's a coincidence that this couple are seen drinking in expensive bars and eating in expensive restaurants, living in a very nice home and driving a good vehicle too) on their charity - actually had the cheek to enter their own raffle. So they took their charity's funds, spent it on raffle tickets and then claimed some of the prizes in their own draw. This same "charity" won't publish its accounts nor even share them with large donors. I don't think they're unique or even the tip of the iceberg... though one of the couple's ability to cry on demand is certainly reasonably unique.

flying chicken · Post by **flying chicken** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:40 am

Unlike Hanno, I am not afraid to name names and I am going to be here indefinitely too. I dont have no smartphone or cameras, but once I get one will take photos of these 'voluntourism' places in my neck of the wood. Will keep this thread updated in a month or 2.

Just a side note: I got paid pretty good dosh writing

articles for a volunteering abroad website enticing clueless westerners to the Kingdom. A few already planning on volunteering here as we speak.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:22 am

rick_o'shea wrote:
phuketrichard wrote:
If they purely wanted to volunteer without the tourism, they'd do that at home. And many do. It's not all gap year students taking selfies for Facebook
I was a volunteer in 1978-1980 in Zaire Africa
it was called the peace corps and i did get paid as well
$100/month plus all costs taking care of ( ie my hut and food) no electric, no internet, no phones
one of the best jobs i have ever had

BUT paying the monies some of these so called legit businesses charge, is sheer crazy and a total rip off and shameful
I'd put peace corps in a different category entirely. As i understand it, the selection process is very lengthy, they require certain skills or experience, and you may not be placed at your first choice country.

I overheard to women from peace corps talking in a cafe this week, discussing their selection process. It sounded like the process took more than 18 months for one, just to hear that she was accepted- no country decision was yet made. Her first choice as Africa, but she was placed here with little notice. Her curriculum development skills were why she was accepted and eventually placed in Takeo.

Not the same as unskilled volunteers choosing their destination first, then a project/placement that operates there. Or an independent traveller passing through a place and seeing an advert on a notice board in a guest house.

It was 10 months. but its weird
i spoke Spanish and was placed in a french speaking country.
The assigned me to teach school but when i got on post, the school was closed

so i did my own thing (pre natal care clinic, sanitation, irrigation) ater 6 months my advisor visited me and asked how the teaching was going ( before that there was no contact) i told him an he laughed an asked if i wanted to be re assigned but i said no, i was doing better work.
u are first accepted and than they send you jobs available and u can choose.
you allowed to turn down the offers twice only

Your also asked when u apply how much civilization u want , ie that means do u require to be placed in a city or way out,

I chose WAY out and thats where they put me

MY brothers son just spent 2 years in Morocco, his process took 18 months and he spoke Arabic so it was a good fit.

this new thing of paying to volunteer is big business and both sides get scammed.

rick_o'shea · Post by **rick_o'shea** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:27 am

Yeah you are comparing something run by the US government, and independent for-profit/non-profit placement services. Different objectives, and opposite ends of the volunteering scale.

rick_o'shea · Post by **rick_o'shea** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:28 am

Sounds like you had a great experience, AND were effective. Win win, not necessarily in that order!

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:57 am

rick_o'shea wrote:Yeah you are comparing something run by the US government, and independent for-profit/non-profit placement services. Different objectives, and opposite ends of the volunteering scale.

agree but shows u how things should be done

and yes it was one of the highlights of my life

Note;
most PC vol. teach and the drop out rate is very high still ( those that cant get thru 2 years).
Before they would take you without a degree but more an more that want to see a degree .

6EQUJ5 · Post by **6EQUJ5** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:32 pm

flying chicken wrote:Just a side note: I got paid pretty good dosh writing articles for a volunteering abroad website enticing clueless westerners to the Kingdom. A few already planning on volunteering here as we speak.

You don't see a moral or ethical problem with that?

kiwiincambodia · Post by **kiwiincambodia** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:48 pm

6EQUJ5 wrote:
flying chicken wrote:Just a side note: I got paid pretty good dosh writing articles for a volunteering abroad website enticing clueless westerners to the Kingdom. A few already planning on volunteering here as we speak.
You don't see a moral or ethical problem with that?

FC doesn't have morals or ethics. He is a wife beating shit stain.

Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Re: Voluntourism

Voluntourism

Who is online

Register/Login to CEO with your Social Media Account: