Say no to the Disneylands of the humanitarian world :
human beings are NOT tourist attractions!

Popularised since the 1950s (and the apparition of paid holidays), constantly developing since the 1990s (with air transport and middle classes booming), tourism is now the third most powerful industry in the world.

Every year, over 800 million people go on holidays… and the numbers keep increasing!

As an alternative to mass tourism, the “travelling differently” movement is on the rise.

Many tourists are looking for authenticity and a change of scene.

In some cases, discovering a new culture is a natural, positive experience.

In other cases, unfortunately, the experience is mixed or even bitter-sweet… This is what voluntourism is like…

Let’s put an end to voluntourism and its harmful practices!

Despite initial good intentions, it is hard for travellers to combine both leisure activities and a volunteering action during their holidays abroad!

This need for authenticity and a change of scene are nearly impossible to achieve in such a limited time!

It is especially the case when you travel to a country where you can’t speak the local language or don’t know anything about local customs.

This experience can be summarised, actually, as the « disneylandisation » of tourism.

The discovery of the another people is only secondary and while the locals are stereotyped, tourists don’t have a real opportunity to talk to them and learn about their culture, etc.

Even worse, some activities offered by shameless agencies are borderline voyeuristic : a group of tourists meet children at an orphanage in the morning, take photos with them, then head off to the beach in the afternoon.

When you want to do too many things at once (especially within a short trip abroad) and don’t take the time to focus on one thing in the right way, you end up accomplishing…

… nothing special.

This phenomenon, referred to as voluntourism, can be harmful. The local populations in need are being encouraged by international organisations with questionable practices to sell their dignity.

On the other hand, the organisations promoting voluntourism make sure they give tourists a clear conscience while, in actual fact, none of them will  have accomplished anything useful. Instead, these tourists will have encouraged and contributed to the exploitation of disadvantaged communities, out of ignorance.

It is in the middle-term or in the long-term that we can help a project move forward, together, in mutual respect and according to the actual needs of the local communities.

Before planning your next holiday and if you wish to take part in a volunteering action abroad, please ask yourself the following questions:

Will my action be useful to the local communities?

Where will my money go?

Am I involuntarily taking part in the abuses of volunteering related to volontourism and its harmful practises?

Is the international volunteering organisation I selected trustworthy?

It is important for you to think about all theses questions (and many more) related to international volunteering before you commit yourself to taking part in a project.

You will find an article here which will help you prepare your international volunteering project.

We advise you to choose an international volunteering organisation based in France.

These organisations are usually recognised as trustworthy, unlike many others.

Whether you wish to go on an international volunteering project abroad or commit to supporting a volunteering organisation, feel free to contact us at : info@globalong.com

No matter which international volunteering organisation you choose, please make sure it always complies with these essential points:

Have the members of the organisation ever visited the project where you wish to take part in?

Are they financially and humanly committed to supporting local organisations in host countries?

Are they complying with all legal requirements related to your volunteering experience in a host country?

Will you be safe throughout your international volunteering mission?

If the international volunteering organisation supporting can’t answer these simple questions : don’t associate with them!

There are many organisations or NGOs in France that are trustworthy and ready to help!

So, if you want a successful international volunteering experience, make the right choice!

For further information, feel free to contact us at : info@globalong.com

Select your humanitarian project abroad here!

To discover volunteering programmes in pictures, visit our photo gallery here!

GlobAlong in videos!

* Please note that the pictures accompanying this article have been shared by volunteers fighting voluntourism alongside us!