volunteer abroad travel good news and bad news Sallie Grayson from award winners people and places presents examples of the steps fwd in best practice and the continuing bad practice.

1. Finalists 2013 World Responsible Tourism Awards
Best for Child Protection
and
Best for Responsible Tourism Campaigning

2. responsible volunteering
SIMPLE priorities
Safety
Informed Consent
Marketing
Purpose
Legacy
Economics

3. 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 humanity
or 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

4. responsible volunteering
Have we seen
any change
in the last 12 months?

5. responsible volunteering
Good news

6. responsible volunteering
Good news

7. 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”

8. responsible volunteering
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1477
60068756904&set=a.147760065423571.10737418
28.113177318881846&type=1&theater the poster

9. responsible volunteering

10. responsible volunteering
Good news
More volunteer organisations with published child protection policies

11. responsible volunteering

12. responsible volunteering
Bad news
Do you have child protection policies in place?*
90 volunteer organisations asked
26 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

13. 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

14. responsible volunteering
a series of posts on facebook by a volunteer
publicly calling the sending agency to account

15. responsible volunteering
Bad news
leading 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”

16. responsible volunteering
Good news
young volunteers can find good advice

17. responsible volunteering
Bad news
young unskilled people are still being led to believe they can change the world
HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER ABROAD
CCS 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”

18. responsible volunteering
Good News
there is lots and lots of advice on what is responsible volunteering
Responsible Volunteering facebook page
Better Volunteering facebook page

19. responsible volunteering
Bad news
lots of help
to know WHAT to look for
but still little help
on HOW to find it

20. responsible volunteering
Good news
that’s about to change!
honest and fair information about
responsible and ethical
volunteer travel opportunities
http://bettervolunteering.wordpress.com/

21. Taking Responsibility
Good News
we can still do this
let’s mend it - not end it!
Thank you