Highlighting Responsible Tourism Week

Voluntourism -  Good, Bad or Ugly?

With just 5 days to go until our event we are hosting with fellow responsible tourism friend Thomas Armit of West Africa Discovery, I have been drawing up some questions for our speakers Chris Hill – Hands Up Holidays and Ben Keene of Tribewanted.

In the past there have been some scathing reports and articles about the conduct of certain organisations and practices with unclear management and evaluation. I have several questions I would like to ask.

How do we guarantee that host communities are not exploited? Come to think of it how do we make sure that volunteers are not exploited?

Is there a code of conduct for volunteer organizations?
It is so important that communities and volunteers alike are cared for with the benefits and goals outlined. Organisations need to be transparent, matching skills and matching expectations.

How can short term volunteering deepen a relationship, making connections with a community and then leaving them, be helpful?

What does Bad and Ugly volunteering look like? Racism or classism? Does it create dependency?
I am looking forward to understanding what organisations can do better and what is already being done well.

Please join us for our event to highlight Responsible Tourism Week 2012 on Wednesday 15 February in SW London, UK at 7pm. We will be live streaming, so if you can’t be there in person, join us online.