Samantha Nutt on the Problems of Volunteer Tourism | NowThis

Summary

This video script challenges the notion of voluntourism, revealing it as a multi-billion dollar industry that often exploits host communities rather than benefiting them. It highlights the emotional harm caused to children in orphanages by transient volunteers and suggests that financial support to local workers and responsible tourism are more effective ways to make a real difference.

Takeaways

• 🌍 **Voluntourism Critique**: The script criticizes voluntourism trips, suggesting they primarily benefit the visitor rather than the host communities.
• 🏞️ **Exploitation of Poverty**: It highlights how such trips can exploit poverty and reinforce negative stereotypes about developing countries.
• 👀 **Lack of Impact**: The script questions the actual impact of these trips, implying they might not be as beneficial as they seem.
• 👶 **Psychological Harm**: It discusses the potential psychological harm to children in orphanages from constant interaction with transient volunteers.
• 💸 **Commercialization**: The industry is described as a multi-billion dollar business, with companies offering social impact experiences.
• 🤝 **Inauthentic Bonds**: The script points out that the affection shown by children might be a sign of ongoing harm rather than genuine connection.
• 🌱 **Local Empowerment**: It argues that local communities would benefit more from resources and opportunities to work independently.
• 💼 **Professionalism Over Volunteerism**: The script suggests that financial support for local workers is more valuable than unskilled volunteer labor.
• 💵 **Direct Financial Support**: It encourages donating money directly to communities or supporting local businesses instead of volunteering.
• 🌐 **Responsible Tourism**: The importance of being aware of the impact of tourism and ensuring actions do not harm others is emphasized.

Q & A

What is the main concern about voluntourism trips as discussed in the transcript?

The main concern is that voluntourism trips are largely designed to benefit the visitor rather than the host communities, often making a spectacle out of poverty and reinforcing outdated stereotypes about developing countries.

What has the speaker been doing for the past 20 years that gives them insight into voluntourism?

The speaker has spent 20 years going in and out of war zones throughout the world, meeting those on the front lines who are doing incredible things for humanity.

What is the current state of the voluntourism industry according to the transcript?

Voluntourism is now a multi-billion dollar industry with millions of people volunteering while on vacation every year.

What are some of the issues with orphanages offering volunteer experiences as mentioned in the script?

Reports from places like Haiti and Cambodia have accused some orphanages of keeping conditions deliberately squalid to compel visitors to give more, with no background checks required for volunteers.

What psychological impact might the revolving door of foreigners have on orphaned children?

Studies by child psychologists in South Africa suggest that orphaned children exposed to a constant stream of foreigners might be hyper-affectionate due to the ongoing psychological harm caused by forming and losing bonds with outsiders.

What is the criticism of the portrayal of volunteer experiences on many volunteer websites?

The criticism is that these websites often show photos and videos of foreigners with happy children, accompanied by testimonials about how much the local children enjoyed the visit, without disclosing the potential harm caused by the transient nature of these interactions.

What alternative does the speaker suggest instead of voluntourism?

The speaker suggests donating some of the money that might have been spent on a voluntourism trip to frontline workers within those communities or supporting local tourism by shopping at local cooperatives.

What is the role of big tourism companies in the voluntourism industry as described in the transcript?

Big tourism companies like Carnival Corps now offer social impact cruises that include activities like teaching English or cultivating cocoa plants in local communities.

Why are the host communities' needs different from what voluntourism typically provides?

Host communities need tools, resources, and opportunities to learn and do the work themselves, rather than unskilled volunteer labor from outsiders.

What is the potential harm of tourists forming bonds with local children, as discussed in the script?

The potential harm is that it can lead to psychological harm for the children, who may become hyper-affectionate due to the constant formation and loss of bonds with outsiders.

How can tourists support local economies without participating in voluntourism?

Tourists can support local economies by shopping at local women's cooperatives, buying handmade crafts, and spending money on local services, which can have a direct and positive impact on the community.