Ken Budd’s Article Explores Voluntourism Debate

In a piece for the Spring edition of the online VolunTourist Newsletter, published by Voluntourism.org, Ken argues that volunteer trips are useful, though not always for the reasons you think when you sign up. Often, he says, just being there has benefits: parents in some third-world countries, for example, are more likely to send their kids to school if foreigners are there. He also addresses some of voluntourism’s critics. “Condemning voluntourism as a whole is like condemning democracy because certain politicians are crooks,” Ken writes. “The problem lies with irresponsible programs and uninformed volunteers. It’s up to every volunteer to conduct thorough research before they sign up. To seek programs with strong local connections. To find organizations that are more interested in your skills and your background than in your credit card number.” To read the article, go here.