volunteer

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Volunteer
on this page: headlines, recommended listening related: work, volunteering in oaxaca flickr: [|volunteer] editing: [|Volunteering]

It's time to talk honestly - warts and all - about volunteering and tourism. Can we learn from the mistakes about the mistakes made in voluntourism by travelers, organizations and communities?

Our proposal: let's highlight meaningful discussions about volunteering and tourism. This wiki page collects a lot of resources focusing on the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to volunteering. Editors are invited to share their perspectives.

Suggestions please! Let us know where and when volunteering is being discussed in relation to tourism. We would like to call attention to examples of good practices around the world and ask who takes the responsibility when things do not work out. Let's collaborate and build the capacity to build capacity among volunteers and locals alike. Otherwise we are spinning in circles and critical information remains isolated in individual silos.

A more complicated proposal would be to hold a series of face-to-face events with accompanying livestreaming webcasts. Let's have the opportunity to create a dialogue among the volunteers, volunteer organizations and locals in which they can ask and answer questions. A more modest proposal would be to schedule a Google hangouts on this topic, again with the benefit of livestreaming and the opportunity to ask participants questions.

Events
[|volunteerday - UN] [|Wikipedia]
 * December 5** International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

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 * February 8-14** Responsible Travel Week 2016; hashtag: [|#rtweek16]

Wiki
People and Places Volunteering in Oaxaca

Recommended Listening
[|Problem of fake orphanages and 'volunteerism'] - Fake orphanages have been proliferating in Cambodia at an alarming rate, leading not only to their separation from families, but leaving them open to abuse and exploitation from 'orphanage tourism'.

[|Voluntourism] - Encounter delves into the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of volunteering overseas.

Headlines
[|How to visit orphanages or volunteer overseas without exploitation] - [|@jmcheer1] [] [|7 Reasons Why Your Two Week Trip To Haiti Doesn’t Matter: Calling Bull on “Service Trips"] [] [|The professionalization of development volunteering – towards a new global precariat?] - [|@BluCollarProf] http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/apr/16/humanitarian-douchery-volunteering-voluntourism-endhumanitariandouchery - [] [|Voluntourism Isn’t Always as Bad as It Sounds] - [|@thetravelword] [|@skift] [|@pandpvolunteer] [|@vickysmith][|@jasonclampet]

RSS
rss url="http://news.google.com/news?pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=volunteer&output=rss" link="true" number="10" date="true"

Facebook
[|People and Places] [|Responsible volunteering people and places] [|UN volunteering] [|Better Volunteering] [|Volunteering in a Digital Age]

Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unvolunteers

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Twitter
[|@pandpvolunteer] [|@bettrvolunteer] [|@NPSVIPNetwork] [|@UNVolunteers] [|@Pla_voluntario] [|@AMIGOS_Americas] [|@paulmiedema1] [|@voluntourism] [|@Learnser] [|@CVAustralia]

access - accountability - behavior - benefits - capacity building - cause - charity - conduct - conservation - continuity - conversation - engagement - evaluation - expectations - forests - fun - gap year - goals - harm - introductions - irresponsible - listen - management - orphanage - orphans - parks - philanthropy - preconception - responsibility - responsible tourism - skills transfer - street children - transparency - turtles - vacationary - virtual volunteer - **volunteer** - volunteerism - voluntourism - voluntweetism
 * Buzzword Bingo**


 * Vacationary** = Person who performs short-term missionary work, particularly as part of a vacation. ([|word spy])


 * Virtual volunteering** = performing charity work online. ([|word spy])


 * Voluntweetism (Vrywilligetweetisme)** = Getting people together to share on the social web a specific topic or place

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2014 Headlines
[|Volunteering to be a tourist] - [|@nepalitimes] [|#InstagrammingAfrica: The Narcissism of Global Voluntourism] [|Voluntourism] ([|Outbounding discussion]) [|Volunteer holidays: how to find an ethical project] [|The Problem With Little White Girls (and Boys)] [|Das Geschäft mit dem Mitleid] [|pearltrees]

2013 Headlines
[|Volunteering - just an ego boost - observations by a GAP volunteer] [|Fake orhanages and bogus animal sanctuaries] [|putting responsibility back into responsible volunteering] [|if all it takes is a click on a drop down menu on a website to sign up as a volunteer – look elsewhere."] [] [] [|Five more mistakes in development volunteering (part two)] [|The ego within NGO voluntourism in India - thealternative] [|40 places to Volunteer Travel in India - The Alternative] [|a useful list of recent articles on volunteer travel] [|the importance of a selection process for volunteers] [|volunteer travel needs to go viral not parasitic] [|Common mistakes volunteers make] [|The does and don'ts of volunteer travel] [|The Blue Yonder: Does Voluntourism Do More Harm Than Good?] [] [] [] [] http://www.theethicalvolunteer.com/7-deadly-sins.html [|Martin Stevenson - Give a man a fish - a critique of volunteer travel in Cambodia] [|BFM Business Radio]

Hangout
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2012 Headlines
http://www.ethicaltraveller.co.uk/2012/12/volunteer-tourism-needs-to-go-viral-not-parasitic http://www.bethkanter.org/vm-data-learning http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/articles/why-volunteer-overseas-interview.shtml [|"they leave traumatised children behind - but somehow beacause we are poor its OK"] [|Insured to pat a lion but not read a book] [|Projects Abroad Orphanage Project Recommended by PeterGreenberg.com] [|Why pay to volunteer?] [|Be careful how you give] [|Bullied communities and disappointed volunteers] [|Nobody needed us and we could make little to no difference] [|Working with children - our mistake] [|radio interview with Sallie Grayson from people and places]
 * [|watch an debate re the ethics of volunteer travel]
 * [|a heated debate about volunteering in orphanages and the responsibility of sending organisations]
 * [|responsible volunteering it SIMPLE]
 * [|I found a rare happiness in the mountains of Nepal]
 * Tip for future volunteers: Be prepared to be put on the spot, to think on your feet. [|YouTube Video]
 * A volunteer explains the importance of books and the magic of reading []
 * Why should I pay to volunteer? @http://youtu.be/GXWk2MX3sjk []
 * Think Child Safe: Questions to ask yourself before visiting or volunteering at an orphanage when traveling
 * Think Child Safe: Why is community-based care preferable for children to residential care?
 * Think Child safe Volunteer Travel and Child Protection – Let’s demand that we do better
 * Reflection from a Volunteer [|Fundación En Vía: Reflection from a Volunteer]
 * [|Better volunteering]
 * [|Better Child protection]

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2011 Headlines
Please read the features [|Before you pay to volunteer abroad, think of the harm you might do - Guardian] and [|Inside the thriving industry of AIDS orphan tourism]. There is also a Telegraph article [|Volunteer holidays 'do more harm than good'] and the response from Sallie Grayson including the blog entry Journalists do more harm than good? and [|Another missed opportunity]. There are also recommended articles in [|wanderlust Feb 2011] to advise and stimulate discussion.There are some thought provoking debates going on at the voluntary traveller and socialedge [|Working with children - a little responsible responsibility is a dangerous thing] [|Time to start naming and shaming bad practice] [|Governmental Regulation of Voluntourism: No Longer a Matter of If, But When?] [|Working with children - our mistake] [|Leading think tank DEMOS research into gap volunteering – old news or new opportunity?] Are Volunteers Encouraging child abuse? IMPORTANT read [|EXCELLENT interview] with Paul Miedema about responsible volunteering in South Africa [|ITC Giving - PR smoke or a genuine luxury voluntourism initiative?] [|Voluntourism Programme Launched by Luxury Operator] [|Short-term & luxury hotel – is this responsible voluntourism?] [|Volunteer Abroad and Feel Fabulous Body and Soul. Seriousl] [|Caveat emptor - bogus reviews - is there a solution] [|Budget Excursions for Volunteers] [|Volunteer and get a vacation deal] [|“I want to make a difference”: voluntourism, NGOs and international aid in Cambodia] [|how to find an ethical volunteer organisation] [|problemetizing voluntourism] [|Eyewitness Volunteer Tourism Thailand + competition] [|Orphanage tourism: Why you should avoid it - Travelfish on Phnom Penh]__Calling all blogging volunteers! [|State of the World’s Volunteerism Report - UNRIC] [|LinkedIn Now Lets You Include Volunteer Experience in Your Profile]

Voluntourism Guidelines
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Amigos de las Americas
[] [|@AMIGOS_Americas] https://www.facebook.com/Amigoslink http://www.youtube.com/user/amigosrd2013?feature=watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX1wi5KEcO8

**irresponsible tourism**
[]

[|Gap Years - Irresponsible Tourism]

**Youtube**
[] [|Danielle talks about her volunteer experience in a South African Township] [|Michael talk about his time supporting maths teachers] [|Nick an experienced volunteer talks about the challenges of volunteering in India and nepal] [|people and places volunteers talk about their experiences] [|WTM 2012 volunteer travel debate gets heated!]

Slideshare
[|people and places]

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Quotes
The greatest gift you can give is your time. The world is hugged by the arms of faithful volunteers There is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need. The true meaning of life is to plant trees,under whose shade you do not expect to sit - Popular saying

It's not whether it's good or bad, it's what shape it will take in the future. - Tribe Wanted Guy, http://www.justin.tv/wadiscovery

Kindly don't underestimate the intelligence of local people ( whether is Haiti or Uganda or my own village). By your 'wanting' to save the world, please don't make another local person a lazy one waiting for her hand out'. 'Hand hold' if you can, other wise for God's sake, just stay home! - http://www.blog.theblueyonder.com/2013/01/does-voluntourism-do-more-harm-than-good.html

Questions
[|"We know what the best practice is - at some point can we begin to do it?"] an impassioned plea - bear with the first 20 mins of the video! How do we make sure that volunteering does not replace local labor, but rather enhance it? How do we guarantee that host communities are not exploited? How do we make sure that volunteers are not exploited? How is volunteering documented? How is volunteering evaluated? How effective are codes of practice - [|is an independant rt audit a workable alternative ?-] Are visitors allowed to clean the dishes? Is there a code of conduct for volunteer organizations? Who checks the validity of the claims? How do we manage volunteer philanthropy and should we? Can luxury travelers genuinely help destinations they travel to? @http://bit.ly/gREpiM__ Does the organization of a code of conduct? Does the organization ever reject volunteers? What are the goals (short-term, medium-term, long-term) of a voluntourism program? How is this evaluated/measured?

Global News
[|Ecuador Volunteers] || http://www.govolunteer.com.au/volunteer/default.htm ||
 * **Place** || **News** ||
 * North America: Mexico and Central America ||  ||
 * North America: USA and Canada || [|Volunteer Program] ||
 * South America || [|South American Explorers]
 * Asia || Rajasthan a volunteer story ||
 * Africa || South Africa [|a day in the life of a volunteer] ||
 * Europe || Ireland to host world volunteer conference ||
 * Oceania || [|National Volunteer Week]

Easily Made Mistakes (and how to avoid repeating them)
[|sallie grayson from people and places opens the debate with her thoughts]


 * ===Mistakes made by ....=== ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Community Hosts || @http://blog.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/?p=753 ||  ||   ||
 * Voluntourism Organizations || @http://blog.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/?p=758 ||  ||   ||
 * Volunteers || @http://blog.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/?p=1061 ||  ||   ||

Tips

 * If you can volunteer for a day ... ||  ||
 * If you can volunteer for a week ... ||  ||
 * If you can volunteer for a month ... ||  ||

H.O.P.E. Was Here
http://hopewasherefilm.com https://twitter.com/HOPEWasHereFilm []

**Transitions Abroad**
[|How to evaluate volunteer programs] [|Coming Home After Volunteering Abroad] [|Volunteer Abroad Advisor] [|Volunteeing in Africa: Top Tips and Volunteer Sending Organizations] [|Tips for Choosing a Volunteer Placement Organization] [|Learn a Language and Do Good: Combine Volunteering with Study Abroad] [|Volunteer Overseas the Right Way: An Interview with Zahara Heckscher] [|Volunteering Overseas: What It Takes to Be a Highly Effective Volunteer] [|Internships vs. Volunteering] [|why-volunteer-overseas]

[|Why Volunteer Overseas?: An Interview] http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/articles/why-volunteer-overseas-interview.shtml [|How to Evaluate International Volunteer Sending Organizations] [|Volunteering in Africa: An Overview, Top Tips, and Recommended Volunteer Sending Organizations] [|Volunteering in Asia: An Overview, Top Tips, and Recommended VSOs] [|Volunteering in Mexico and Central America: An Overview, Top Tips, and Recommended VSOs] [|Leveraging Your Volunteer Experience to Find Paid Work Abroad] [|Using Study Abroad to Launch Your International Career] [|Choosing a Volunteer Placement Organization] [|International Volunteering with Your Family: Inter-Generational and Cross Cultural Considerations] [|Volunteering Overseas: What It Takes to Be a Highly Effective Volunteer] [|The Seven Sins of Overly Altruistic Volunteers] [|Combine Volunteering with Language Study Abroad] [|Volunteer Overseas the Right Way: An Interview with Zahara Heckscher] [|Learn a Language and Do Good: Combine Volunteering wth Study Abroad]
 * Zahara Heckscher**

Virtual Volunteering
[|Online Volunteering]

Elsewhere on the Web
[] [|Go Voluntouring.com] [|Voluntourism.org] Responsible Tourism Partnership [] [|I Want to Volunteer Abroad - World Hum] [|People and Places: Responsible Volunteering] people and places wikispace [|The cost of short-term missions - catapult] [|The Growth of Global Health Service-Learning Programs - on Philanthropy] [|Our Man In Granada: On The Downside Of Voluntourism - General Tips And Advice] [] [] [] Voluntourism Guidelines Survey Summary Report (PDF, 600mb) The worst hasn't even begun Follow a volunteer trip as it goes wrong Voluntourism the good and the bad - a presentation for The Institute for Social Change [] [] - [] irresponsible volunteering? Volunteer Forever Orphanage Volunteering - helping or hindering? Tips for volunteering in The Gambia - from a volunteer responsible volunteering VoFair

USA/Idaho
[] [|@voluntouridaho] Listen Here

Australia http://govolunteer.com.au/

Voluntary Service Oversees
[|Voluntary Service Overseas] - [|@VSOUK] [|VSO warns students to look before taking the gap - NZ Herald] [|VSO - Promoting volunteering to fight global poverty and disadvantage] [|Ditch (un)worthy causes, VSO advises gap year students - VSO] [|Gap-year students told to forget aid projects - Times Online]

WWOOF
WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) - connecting people who want to volunteer on organic farms with farmer owners looking for volunteer help. WWOOF sites for North and Central America WWOOF sites for South America WWOOF sites for Europe and Middle East WWOOF sites for Africa WWOOF sites for Asia Pacific

Misc
Why do so many adventure companies fail with voluntourism interesting discussion Should volunteers go to Haiti? [|Volunturismo / Voluntourism] The Experience of a Lifetime? The V Word – caveat emptor

Did you know most travel insurance policies do not cover you whist you are volunteering? Here's one that does Journalists do more harm than good?

Recent Events
 * September 26-27** [|Volunteering in a Digital Age Conference] Swansea, Wales [|@Communities2_0] [|Facebook]
 * November 3** people and places volunteer social Chippenham UK

Essay
If we take our game up a notch, we improve the opportunities for engagement among locals and visitors. If a visitor can volunteer for 1 hour or 1 day or 1 year, what's vital is that the opportunities are explained to the satisfaction of local and visitor alike. Otherwise you're spending your time managing the expectations that are never quite met.

Organizers of volunteer programs have the opportunity (and responsibility) of creating something that is more than a one-off meeting. No doubt your new partnership will indeed result in a win-win if everyone shares the core values of transparency and mutual respect. Talking with Michael Kaye he said he had been asked what locals being visited deserve. His answer: respect. And what do you visitors deserve? Respect.

Mind you, it's quite the aspiration to conceive and journey toward such a high-trust environment. Lead on and inspire us!

Spotlight on people and places - responsible volunteering
People and places is a UK-based organization.

**Some volunteer blogs**
@http://poundhouse.wordpress.com/about/ husband and wife team in India [|http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com] the amazing Kuglers have nearly reached their 20,000 book goal [|http://blog.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk] a new blog from people and places [] volunteers debate the validity of short term volunteering @http://blog.geovisions.org/ Articles about voluntourism on YourTravelChoice.org - The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

Europe
[|Ramblers]

Mexico
http://www.ecobiosfera.org.mx/English/voluntourism/teach_english_at_ecobiosfera.html http://ecoturismogenuino.ning.com/forum/topics/volunturismo-en-chiapas http://educacionparalaconservacion.conanp.gob.mx/voluntarios.php

USA/Building Bridges
http://buildingbridgescoalition.ning.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_Bridges_Coalition

Previous Events
[|Higher Education & International Volunteer Service: Sum Greater than its Parts] November 2009 - Washington, DC

people and places volunteer meeting June 2012 February 15 London Event

Changing the World on Vacation http://deedaproductions.com/ctwfilm https://twitter.com/deedadocs

Embedded Tweets
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Recent Events
watch the video of the session here Increasing demand for volunteer experiences is being met by a growing number of volunteer service organisations, most of whom have their headquarters in the developed world.
 * November 6** WTM session on responsible volunteering
 * **Responsible Volunteering**
 * 16.30 - 17.30, South Gallery Rooms 21 & 22** ||

Most of these emerging companies have excellent, transparent credentials with the aim of matching volunteers to projects and ensuring that communities see widespread benefit. However, there is increasing concern amongst host governments about the activities of some volunteering companies.

Chairperson Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA

Speaker(s) Sallie Grayson, Co-Founder and Programme Director for responsible volunteering, PeopleandPlaces Richard Oliver, Chief Executive, Year Out Group Paul Miedema, Owner,Calabash Tours, Chair Calabash Trust

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Artwork / Cue Yourself
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