When it comes to short-term volunteering abroad, do such providers actually deliver efficient results? Are we fooling ourselves, justifying our guilt, or fulfilling our own desires as volunteers? The most recent President's summit pledged a huge focus on volunteerism and the need for more and more young individuals to become involved. Case-in-point, this "service-learning movement" has indeed burgeoned amongst high schools, higher education institutions, and U.S. non-profit organizations.
Service is awarded something of a "sacred" status so it is neither popular nor political to raise questions about the assumptions of unintended effects of volunteerism which often characterizes service-learning. Between the excitement and dramatic tales of volunteer stories, the field for service-learning is therefore booming. Most studies assessing the efficiencies of such programs lean far within interest to maintain and/or grow such programs. And while some informal debates do rise occasionally, most of what should be considered an important opinion is overlooked in favor of the excitement and superficial ideas of "volunteerism."
So does service-learning teach a false understanding of need? Although I have consistently been in favor of volunteer programs, both abroad and local, I recently have come to question the appropriateness and efficiency of such commitments. For example, I am scheduled for my next volunteer mission in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti in four weeks. In light of the Cholera outbreak, where beds are few and health professionals are even fewer, is it justified for me to take away resources in exchange for only 10 days of volunteering? Americans, especially during volunteer expeditions, are protected with the utmost highest watch. That is to say, if it is even the possibility that an American does contract a health problem, greater attention will be (as history has shown) provided to that American in lieu of attention that could otherwise be given to at least more than one Haitian citizen.
Do little "blips" of volunteer trips satisfy the long-term goals and needs of countries? What is the worth of my spending several hundred dollars in U.S. funds while taking attention from Haitian government officials (though Haitian dollars)? When does it become efficient to volunteer? And most importantly, should anyone and everyone be allowed to volunteer abroad? If we placed stricter regulations on who could volunteer, where, when, and for how long, would we be more efficient in using funds and providing help? I wish there were more studies on this so I could quit speculating. But deep down, my gut instinct doesn't feel too right about what I'm about to do.
shilps! good point you made here. im glad someone finally brought this up. when we went on our trip to el salvador, i felt the same thing. 20 students spending over 800$ and spending 20% of the time sight-seeing. also, we performed duties that groups in the U.S. need help with: reading, education, HIV. Money and volunteers do need to be better distributed and managed. there is a problem of lack of faith in the system. Where does the managed funds go? How is it accounted for? Would you be willing to donate less if you weren't involved in the trip?
ReplyDeleteMarvin
Interesting article! I agree with Shilpa and Marvin. Also remember why do you want to volunteer? Is it for your inner curiosity and feeling good about your self or is it truly helping the under served where ever they may be?
ReplyDeleteDo your research and home work on the agencies abroad who claim to provide once in a life time volunteer experience. Some of them may want to bank on your hard earned money in return to a mere cultural experience.
I'm glad you're questioning that whole system because most folks blindly support volunteerism. You'll find that blighted areas that "benefit" from volunteerism and foreign aid often don't benefit at all or worsen (in part from that very thing that was supposed to help). Of course, a volunteer's stint in a country is temporary, and when those peoples' support leaves with them and the folks there are left with the same issues (famine, disease, poverty) and a dependency on aid to top it off. Take into consideration what that money could do in the domestic markets... or even to buy a sweet ipad or something. Keep up that skepticism Shilp
ReplyDelete-Ian
Hey Shilpa!
ReplyDeleteI've thought about this many times too especially when it comes to volunteering abroad in developing countries~ You should check out the book The Blue Sweater; it really shed some light on traditional charity organizations and volunteering abroad in developing countries. But I'm not sure how much has changed since the author worked abroad.
I really think it depends on where you'll be volunteering and what kind of skills the work will require and if you have them. I think even temporary outside help and resources may be effective in helping to rebuild a city/country that has been through a natural disaster(if you have some background in disaster relief). But if you're hoping to help a developing country's economy, I don't think a short-term, foreign volunteer who doesn't have many valuable skills to offer and has no clue what he/she is trying to do can offer much.
Also, I'm sure there are many organizations out there who don't use their resources most effectively. I think it's important to research your volunteer organization and see how much of their resources go into the actual volunteer project itself. I've seen/heard of charity/volunteer ranking..
I think commitment (in terms of energy, skills, and time) is incredibly important abroad particularly in countries where it's hard to convince people to trust you when there have been so many do-gooders who have already come and gone and made no true impact on their lives.. But with local volunteering and abroad volunteering where you just sit and listen to patients, mentor/tutor students, organize a food pantry, teach kids English, etc., I really do think any time you give is effective/helpful. Good luck in Haiti!! I hope you make an impact, and at least it will be a valuable learning experience (whatever you learn). Please do share what you see and learn! :)
-Nan
thank you all for your comments! It is important to look at volunteer/outreach group programs when evaluating the success/failures of participation and relevant funds. However, as evidenced repeatedly, funds (even though calculated and aimed to attend to specific groups) are misappropriated. The UN and Haiti is a defining example.
ReplyDeleteI also should have pointed out earlier that although volunteer programs are sometimes selfish in nature, they can have positive affects on individuals learning processes. And even though it may be for selfish (though not always the case) purposes, it will allow that individual understand better they ways of life. Hopefully, these new thoughts can generate ideas and methods for better success in aiding developing and needy countries in the future.
Nonetheless, I think it is important that all individuals play close attentions to why they choose to volunteer, where, and for how long. It is not wrong to admit that there is excitement involved with going abroad (especially when volunteer projects are aplenty here at home). However, miscalculations and misunderstandings to our purpose through volunteer efforts need to be better understood.