Voluntourism: Weighing the Good Against the Bad

Despite its good intentions, voluntourism faces many criticisms. While the 10 million international travelers participating every year have already turned it into a major trend, it’s often still linked to imperialistic behavior. It’s impossible to break down the complex challenges individual communities may face, but they usually circle around the same issues.

• Ethical concerns: Some believe it does more harm than good. Foreign volunteers may not understand local issues and may offer short-term fixes that don't last.
• Communities growing resentful: There’s a risk of communities growing resentful of volunteer tourists due to the economic situations their presence creates. 
• Orphanage tourism: Many orphanages in developing countries depend on donations from well-meaning tourists. This can lead to children being kept in poor conditions to attract money.

In some instances, news reports and case studies have also highlighted problems, showing that volunteers have caused more harm than good. That’s even more true if they’re not prepared for the job at hand and visit under the wrong premise.

To address those issues, Brot für die Welt recommends integrating volunteer services into sustainable travel while keeping an eye on child protection and partnering with local organizations. They also give examples of organizations doing things differently. Some may ask candidates for a letter of motivation; others may perform role plays to help volunteers understand the difference between a traveler and a volunteer.

Voluntourism no doubt remains a complex and controversial topic. As our understanding of volunteering as a whole continues to evolve, it’s important to consider both its potential benefits and risks before deciding to create a program.

Benefits Of Voluntourism

Assuming you’ve considered the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with voluntourism, it can also provide many benefits to volunteers and community members. Here are some ways in which voluntourism can change your community for the better.

Enhanced Resource Allocation

By integrating voluntourism into your programs, you gain access to a diverse pool of international volunteers. These individuals often bring unique skills and expertise that can complement and enhance your existing projects. Utilizing platforms like Rosterfy can streamline the management and deployment of these volunteers, ensuring their efforts are effectively aligned with your organization’s goals.

Economic Support for Local Communities

Voluntourists contribute directly to the local economy through their spending on accommodations, food and services. This influx of funds can support local businesses and improve overall economic conditions, making your community more resilient and self-sustaining. As an organization, promoting this economic benefit can help garner local support and foster stronger community relations.

Long-Term Engagement and Advocacy

Voluntourism often inspires long-term commitment from volunteers. Many participants continue to support their host communities through donations, advocacy and future volunteer work. By providing a meaningful and impactful experience, your organization can cultivate a network of dedicated supporters who advocate for your mission long after their initial trip.

Cross-Cultural Exchange and Global Awareness

Voluntourism facilitates rich cultural exchanges, allowing volunteers and community members to share knowledge and perspectives. This interaction fosters mutual understanding and global awareness, which are crucial for addressing complex global challenges. Highlighting these cultural benefits can enhance the attractiveness of your programs and encourage more thoughtful and engaged volunteers.

Skill Development and Capacity Building

International volunteers can help build local capacity by transferring skills and knowledge to community members. This exchange can lead to sustainable development outcomes, as locals gain the expertise to continue projects independently. By emphasizing capacity building, your organization ensures that the benefits of voluntourism extend beyond the volunteers' stay, contributing to long-term community empowerment.

Sustainable Project Implementation

When properly managed, voluntourism can drive the implementation of sustainable projects. Collaborating with local partners and focusing on genuine community needs ensures that volunteer efforts are both effective and respectful. Your organization can lead by example, setting standards for ethical voluntourism that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of the host community.

By addressing these benefits with a focus on sustainability and thoughtful engagement, your organization can maximize the positive impact of voluntourism. Embracing these practices not only enhances your projects but also ensures that the contributions of volunteers are meaningful and lasting.

To choose a concrete example, here’s how targeting American voluntourists can benefit Canadian charities. While volunteering has always been ingrained in Canadian culture, there’s no doubt that some projects could benefit from the cultural exchange or a larger volunteer base. 

And even though volunteer rates in the U.S. are declining, this doesn't mean less interest in voluntourism. In fact, the 51% of the population aged 16 and over who informally helped their neighbors during the pandemic clearly show a passion for helping others. The large population in the U.S. offers a big pool of potential volunteers.

Proximity and ease of travel between the U.S. and Canada make it convenient for American voluntourists. Shared language and cultural similarities also help Americans feel more comfortable volunteering in Canada.

Strategies to Attract American Voluntourists

When trying to engage and attract American candidates for your project, it’s still important to follow a coordinated strategy and guarantee a cohesive volunteer experience.

As a first step, it’s advisable to partner with American voluntourism organizations. Collaborating with these groups can help connect American volunteers with Canadian causes.

Targeting American audiences with targeted marketing campaigns can also raise awareness. To achieve a great cultural match and truly support your cause, you should highlight the unique experiences volunteers can expect as well as your organization’s values.

Always aim for high-quality, long-term engagement. That way, you’ll end up supporting your mission in the long run rather than creating patchwork solutions and causing short-term problems due to mismatches or wrong expectations.

Enhancing Volunteer Recruitment With Rosterfy

With voluntourism programs especially, you’ll want to keep engagement high and create the most personalized volunteer experience possible. After all, you won’t bump into a candidate once they’ve left, so it’s in your and their best interest to qualify and onboard them properly.

Using Rosterfy for your volunteer program makes onboarding quick and easy. Volunteers can complete their profiles, submit documents and get approved faster. This speeds up the process, helping volunteer organizations start projects sooner.

With dedicated communication tools, keeping in touch with volunteers after their stay is also easier. You can send updates, notify past participants about the latest project and create a strong volunteer legacy. This reduces confusion and keeps everyone on the same page.

Rosterfy helps charities save money by reducing the need to hire extra staff. The platform handles many tasks automatically, freeing up resources for other important areas.

A better experience for volunteers means they are more likely to come back or donate. Through Rosterfy's partnership with Sterling Backcheck, efficient background checks ensure safety and trust. Happy volunteers are committed volunteers.