Volunteering or Voluntourism
Volunteering vs Voluntourism: what’s the difference
Welcome! If you’ve found your way here, you’re probably curious about the differences between volunteering and voluntourism. You’re not alone. Each month, these terms generate hundreds of thousands of web searches globally. While the two concepts may seem similar, they differ significantly in motivation, impact, and overall experience. Indeed, the use of the term voluntourism has multiple apllications, not all of which seem to include volunteering at all. It’s no wonder it has been associated with negative criticism given the breadth of what is included in its use.
What is Voluntourism?
Voluntourism was coined in the 1990s, and gained momentum as a concept to describe a blend of volunteering and tourism, with the emphasis being on tourism. The use of the term has been driven by writers seeking to identify a trend in travel as airfares and hotels became so much more affordable, that they identified with people seeking meaningful travel experiences that connect them to local cultures, cuisines, and communities. Thinking about how travel has become more accessible for increasing numbers of people, first with the package holdiays of the 1960s, then the ‘hippy trails’ of the 1970s, interrailing also becoming poular about thsi time, to a world that people can research online and travel to, even post covid, with affordable airfares. In a world increasingly homogenized by global brands, urbanization, and the media, voluntourism appeals to those yearning for a more authentic and immersive sightseeing or travel experience, whilst maintaining control of those interactions.
Voluntourism may well suit a tourist on their 2 Summer break and wants to enjoy the sun, relax by the pool, indulge in new cuisines and find something different to do and meet the locals.
If you have read this far, you may well have enjoyed meeting the locals when you leave the hotel or beach, but if you want to explore more of that, with support and purpsoe, then volunteering is the perfect way to go.
Benefits of Voluntourism
Cross-Cultural Exchange: Opportunities to connect with local culture while contributing to a cause.
Tourism Revenue: Boosts the local economy through tourism-related activities.
Awareness: Highlights important issues that may not get attention through traditional tourism or donations.
Skill Development: Offers personal and professional growth through new experiences.
Examples of Voluntourism
Supporting Artisan Cooperatives in Peru
Tourists can send a morning or day seeing traditional weaving, and participating in local cooking activities, while supporting a women’s cooperative, combining cultural exchange with economic benefits for local women.Infrastructure Projects in Morocco
Visitors staying at a Berber lodge contribute to community projects that include infrastructure improvements, providing both labor for a day, and financial support through joining them, and in return benefiting from being haveing the opportunity to have their curiosty satisfied by joining a community that they would likely otherwise feel uncomfortable just turning up to ‘visit’.Volunteer Work for Backpackers
Some travelers exchange their labor for food and accommodation at hostels or farms. These informal arrangements, however, may be subject to legal restrictions, such as those prohibiting volunteer work on tourist visas in countries like Sri Lanka.Packaged Voluntourism Programs
Some programs offer tours of countries, such as Thailand, with opportunities built in to go into schools to ‘teach’ English.
Criticisms of Voluntourism
Superficial Engagement: Short-term involvement often results in minimal long-term impact.
Misaligned Priorities: May prioritize the tourist’s experience over the community’s actual needs.
Ethical Concerns: Can inadvertently exploit local communities, treating them as subjects rather than partners.
We work with partners in different countries who have tried to trade tourists’ time and skills for free food and accommodation. They comment that in most cases, the travellers have little wish to give anything of value back, and that they have been more trouble managing than their presence is worth. The reverse has also been true, where travellers and tourists have gone to a supposed project to volunteer, but the project has been poorly managed, with opportunities not meeting expectations. The hosts want them to do one thing, but the tourists have gone there on the understanding that they would do another - too often the hosts having no access to deliver the type of volunteering the tourists want to do.
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering, whether local or abroad, involves offering your time and skills to support a cause without expecting payment. Volunteering abroad is particularly distinct, requiring commitment to unfamiliar communities, often challenging volunteers preconceived ideas about the world and the people of the country they are going to.
Volunteering differs from voluntourism in its emphasis on mutual responsibility. Volunteers work closely with local partners to ensure their efforts align with community-led goals, creating meaningful and sustainable outcomes. Local partners support the volunteers.
Benefits of Volunteering
Community Impact: Directly addresses local needs and supports development initiatives.
Personal Fulfillment: Provides a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
Skill Development: Enhances practical skills like leadership and problem-solving.
Building Connections: Fosters meaningful relationships with people and communities.
Examples of Volunteering Abroad with GAFV
Teaching in Sri Lanka
Chase, a GAFV volunteer, spent a year teaching English across three schools, collaborating closely teachers to support pupils language development in the classrooms. He made many friends amongst the staff who were sorry to see him go.Building Community Resources
Niko and Ricky raised funds to construct a toilet block in Sri Lanka for a commnuity meeting place, and they worked alongside local contractors who provided the expertise and trained them. Their efforts provided a lasting resource while fostering cross-cultural collaboration. 2 mornings a week, they also taught in schools.Challenges of Volunteering Overseas
Lack of Impact: Ineffectively managed projects may fail to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Exploitation: Some organizations exploit unpaid labor without proper training or support.
Monetization: Unscrupulous agencies may overpromise and underdeliver on project outcomes.
Project resellers: They only advertise the projects, and have no actual knowledge of the project, or the accommodation. This can often lead to volunteers being unsupported.
Key Differences: Voluntourism vs. Volunteering Abroad
Voluntourism
Motivation: Combines travel and some service to satisfy personal enquiry.
Duration: Typically short-term (a morning to weeks).
Focus: Cultural exchange with limited community service.
Volunteering
Motivation: Working with others through mutual commitment and to mutual benefit.
Duration: Varies from short-term (a week) to long-term (48 weeks)
Focus: Community-led initiatives for lasting impact.
Why Choose Give a Fig Volunteering (GAFV)?
At GAFV, we prioritize ethical, impactful volunteering through partnerships with local communities.
Community-Initiated Projects
Local communities design and lead projects to ensure relevance and sustainability.
Long-Term Support
Volunteers contribute to ongoing initiatives, building upon previous successes.
Locally Managed Programs
Cultural sensitivity and authentic engagement are central to our approach.
Mutual Benefits
Volunteers gain skills and cultural insights, while communities benefit from lasting improvements.
Making the Right Choice
Whether you choose volunteering or voluntourism depends on your goals. If you want to create a genuine, lasting impact while experiencing meaningful cultural exchange, volunteering abroad offers unmatched opportunities.
Ready to make a difference?
Join Give a Fig Volunteering and help us create sustainable, community-led change. Together, we can make a lasting impact.