Finalists 2013 World Responsible Tourism AwardsBest for Child ProtectionandBest for Responsible Tourism Campaigning

responsible volunteering

SIMPLE prioritiesSafetyInformed ConsentMarketingPurposeLegacyEconomics

responsible volunteering

“ It’s a time for change – absolutely it’s a time for change – we have to start questioning how and what we are selling as volunteer experiences..........This is not about selling a beach package – it creates a shared humanityor it destroys the more vulnerable.The understanding of the needs for strong local partners with good community and ethics is something that seems to be missed by a lot of the sending organisations”

Paul Miedema – Calabash Tours, South Africa – speaker at WTM 2012

responsible volunteering

Have we seen any change

in the last 12 months?

responsible volunteering

Good news

responsible volunteering

Good news

responsible volunteering

Bad news

you can still buy a “deal” for a few hours engaging one to one with children

highlights: “One-on-one reading time with children in the Hope schoolhouse”

responsible volunteering

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=147760068756904&set=a.147760065423571.1073741828.113177318881846&type=1&theater the poster

responsible volunteering

responsible volunteering

Good newsMore volunteer organisations with published child protection policies

responsible volunteering

responsible volunteering

Bad news

Do you have child protection policies in place?*

90 volunteer organisations asked26 responded - 29%15 declared they have them - 17%

5 make them publicly available or sent proof - 6%

*Question asked of organisations offering opportunities to volunteer in orphanages and childcare centres on twitter – by @bettrvolunteer

responsible volunteering

Good news volunteers are starting to report bad experiences

“I went to Uganda. The orphanage where I was volunteering was ultimately closed while I was there.The shit hit the fan. I was unsafe. The children were unsafe ...I travelled to Uganda in June and was shocked by our placement.Not vetted, not legal, corrupt and a pitiful state in which to keep children.” letter to a provider – if provider doesn't take action it will be made public

“The most vivid memory of my first staff meeting as a volunteer coordinator is the knot in my throat. The problem being discussed that day was the lack of projects/placements to place everyone that had been accepted to come. The main office had decided to accept all the requests and was demanding that we find projects.” a volunteer turned volunteer coordinator – published on a blog

“Orphanages are not places to visit or volunteer, nor do they help children.Evidently the message was not clear enough to you when CUCO orphanage in Cambodia was closed down.Now, the director of AOEO orphanage, where you also send young volunteers fresh out of high school, has been charged with the sexual assault of young girls. When will you learn?” on facebook

responsible volunteering

a series of posts on facebook by a volunteer publicly calling the sending agency to account

responsible volunteering

Bad newsleading organisations are still “getting away with it”

“I had called the office ... while in country to ask for help, regarding the orphanage, and **(local partner) but was not returned.I received an e-mail from YY but it did not offer any help and merely pointed me back to **. Our lives were in danger and this did not matter to the organization.The greatest complaint I have is with the placement I was given. It is policy that the organization carefully examines and assesses the project site for a minimum time frame of six months to one year before volunteers are placed. This was not the case for us. ** had discovered XXXXX Orphanage the Friday before I arrived ... and placed us there the following Monday. The orphanage, located in the slums, was a sham.We learned that the orphanage was in fact illegal. I have never been so stressed and upset regarding my time overseas. There is no way I can ever escape the torment of my six weeks in ?? because I know these innocent children are still at risk.I know that the man and organization who says they are trying to help them are only furthering their suffering”

written very recently to a leading organisation that claims to send “well over 4000 volunteers a year”

responsible volunteering

Good news young volunteers can find good advice

responsible volunteering

Bad news young unskilled people are still being led to believe they can change the world

HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER ABROADCCS teen summer service trips are for high school

students ages 15-17.“Join the adventure of a lifetime for

a chance to effect some real social change”

responsible volunteering

Better Volunteering facebook page

Responsible Volunteering facebook page

Good Newsthere is lots and lots of advice on what is responsible volunteering

responsible volunteering

Bad news

lots of help

to know WHAT to look for

but still little help

on HOW to find it ??

responsible volunteering

Good newsthat’s about to change!

honest and fair information about responsible and ethical

volunteer travel opportunities

http://bettervolunteering.wordpress.com/

Taking Responsibility

Good News

we can still do this let’s mend it - not end it!

Thank you