Voluntourism

Voluntourism is just what it sounds like, a combination of volunteering and tourism.  It’s a way for travelers to see other countries and contribute something at the same time.  At its best, it provides benefits to the traveler, who gets more involved in a community than the usual tourist, and benefits to the host country, which receives assistance on an important project.  Critics claim that it’s a way for travelers to feel pleased with themselves.   But in point of fact, voluntourism is about give and take and helps to facilitate communication and understanding between people from different nations.

A more serious criticism is the accusation that this type of tourism is really about profit because local agencies make more than the charities they are serving abroad.  While it’s true that voluntourism can be as expensive as a regular guided tour, the best way to guard against exploitation is to travel with a reputable agency.

Frommer’s, well known for their international travel guides, has recently published “500 Places Where You Can Make A Difference”, which offers a list of places around the globe where you can serve communities while learning more about the world.  The book is organized into 15 separate chapters with a different emphasis like animal welfare, working with children, healing the environment, sport, and more.  Indices at the back of the book are organized geographically and alphabetically.

Each of the 500 listings provides a brief description of the type of volunteer opportunity, the name and address of the contact agency, an estimate of the cost, and some hints about the unique aspects of the area.

The Library’s online catalogue is available on the internet at www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca/library and allows you to place a hold on any item in the system.

Linda Kent is the Chief Librarian at the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library.