I can’t count the number of blog and Facebook posts I’ve seen of the same ilk: some white, middle-class college kid takes a “voluntourism” trip to a developing country (usually in Africa), snaps a few photos of themselves with children in an inspirational T-shirt, and swings a hammer a few times over a week.
World saved! Not.
Voluntourism is a terrible idea. I get it: we’re young, we’ve got lots of energy, we want to see the world, and it seems like a real opportunity to make a difference. Unfortunately, even the noblest of intentions can go awry when the consequences aren’t fully understood.
First of all, lots of people are stuck on the “white saviour” complex. It’s usually subconscious, not an outright feeling of racial superiority. But the implications are clear: Africans need to be “saved” and white college kids just happen to have the money and time to do it.
But anyone who has been to Africa can tell you that it’s nothing like the Christian Children’s Fund commercial. Yes, some people live in abject poverty and awful living conditions. No, they aren’t all miserable, and they aren’t all waiting for your dollar a day. No one in Africa, or anywhere else, needs to be “saved” by the West.
The trouble with short-term trips and sappy commercials comes down to the biggest word in the study of development: sustainability. When a project isn’t sustainable, it’s worthless.
Short-term trips usually focus on one goal, like building a well. Never mind consulting with locals to find out if that’s what they really need, here come the 20-somethings with big hearts. Trouble is, they’ll all be packing up in two weeks and maybe no one knows how to maintain the well. Two years later, they could be back where they started.
Child sponsorship programs are guilty of the same crimes: since they can’t force you to keep sponsoring, a child receiving aid from a Western family is completely vulnerable. The donor hits tough times and cancels their sponsorship? Sorry, pal, you’re on your own.
The best way to help make a real difference in Africa is to find an NGO working directly with local African grassroots organizations. The only sustainable solutions to African problems are going to come from within Africa.
Let’s focus on saving our own country before we get too ahead of ourselves.
If students are interested in making a difference, either here in Canada or in Africa, they are in luck! Camosun College has a brand new course called Service Learning and Global Issues. Just type in SOSC 203 on the Camosun website and start working with reputable NGOs that focus on sustainable futures.