Voluntourism: The Good and The Bad

Presented by Michelle Bovee

Voluntourism programs have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, and this increase in demand has resulted in an expanded list of options: those seeking to volunteer abroad can now participate in everything from luxury voluntourism trips to homestays to day trips. Unfortunately, the boom in voluntourism is not necessarily a good thing. For one, as voluntourism becomes a norm the quality of the work done sometimes decreases. For another, many voluntourism programs are based in the U.S., and so the money volunteers spend to go on these trips stays in the States instead of in the local communities they are aiming to help. This webinar presentation will explore these issues, from the variety of travel options available to the pros and cons of volunteering abroad—for the individual and for the local communities.

This webinar is perfect for volunteer program managers, social entrepreneurs, international development workers, tourists, and volunteers interested in learning and discussing more about how volunteer programs work when combined with travel.

PART OF THE ISC RESEARCH AND LEARNING SERIES