Have Volunteer Abroad Solution...Will Travel. For A Need!

Who among us have not wondered, at least once, if Voluntourism is doing good, or doing more harm than good?  I have even wondered, who is helped more on a Voluntourism project--the project or the volunteer?

You can't do this work and not wonder about these things.  Unless you're one of those senders of volunteers who is doing it for the money.  (If you are, please raise your hand so the rest of us can see what we're doing differently.)  I do not jest.  That is not meant to be funny.

I know what you're thinking…GeoVisions "sends" volunteers abroad.  Writing a post like this…what are you thinking?  Look.  I didn't say I agree.  I said I "wonder" from time to time.

So I happened to be wondering sometime ago, I came upon a Blog I really, really like.  There is content that makes me think critically about Voluntourism.  I always learn something, and the writer causes me to think really hard about our programs.

If someone is causing you to think, and if someone is causing you to be critical enough to examine the "what" you do and more importantly, the "why" of what you do…that's always a good thing.  In all honesty, reading someone critical of what you do can cause you to do what you do better, and with more meaning.

Check out Tales From The Hood.

One of the reasons I think GeoVisions has great programs, obviously, is we think critically and we don't pile on.  I've used the phrase "pile on" over and over in this Blog.  It is rare for me to see innovation out there with new volunteer abroad programs and it is rare someone pushes the envelope and engages in critical discussions about what good we are doing…where, how and why.

Do we, as Voluntourists, offer the solution and then search for a need?  Here is a quote from Tales From The Hood:

The way far too many amateurs want to do aid:

1. Have a solution (used clothes, volunteers, bunch of soccer balls, a gadget, etc…)
2. Find a problem that you can, with a little imagination, use the solution identified in Step 1 to partially solve.
   

In fairness, here is where that writer suggests would do the most good:

The way aid should be done:

1. Understand the need that needs to be addressed, the problem that needs to be solved.
2. Plan a solution based on that need, on that problem.
3. Implement the solution to meet the need, fix the problem.
   

See?  I started out this post explaining that I love reading this stuff.  How can you not be challenged?  How can you not learn?  Great stuff.

Here is another Blog I highly recommend: Good Intentions Are Not Enough. This Blog is for everyone who is going be a Voluntourist. Read and use for your preparation. It's great.

You can use the Comments section and tell us what you think.  I hope you will.  Are you a Voluntourist?  Can you share the work you did on a project?  Have you continued your work after your return?  Have you encouraged others to become involved?