Volunteering and Tourism

A growing evidence base has consistently highlighted the negative impact on children of living in institutional care such as orphanages – especially when parents or close family members are still living nearby. The increasing trend in volunteering in or visiting these facilities compounds the issue and the impact on children. Not only does it encourage the expansion of orphanages, but it also makes children vulnerable to abuse in those areas where regulation is lax, creates attachment problems in children who become attached to short-term visitors, and can heighten the risk for unregulated inter-country adoption by well-intentioned volunteers who form a bond with a child and want to take them home.

This section highlights resources focused on international volunteering, tourism, and donations in residential care centres.

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John Williamson and Aaron Greenberg - Better Care Network,

With particular attention to lower income countries, Families, Not Orphanages examines the mismatch between children’s needs and the realities and long-term effects of residential institutions.

Afra Galama - Masters' Thesis, Anthropology of Mobility, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen,

The focus of this thesis is the position of orphans, vulnerable children and orphanages in Ghana in relation to the ‘help’ they receive from western volunteers and NGOs.

Benjamin J. Lough - European Journal of Social Work,

This analysis compares historic and current trends in Ukrainian orphanages with changes that led to the general demise of the American institutionalized child welfare system.

UK Aid Direct,

This page of its website outlines what types of programs and activities UK Aid Direct will not be funding, including orphanages.

ReThink Orphanages,

This factsheet from ReThink Orphanages provides an overview of the institutional care of children around the world and how Australia contributes to that institutionalization. 

Save the Children Australia & World Challenge,

This Self-Assessment Tool has been developed for use by educational institutions to assist with due diligence in the planning and implementation of overseas student travel.

Kinnected - ACCI Relief,

This checklist was developed by Kinnected, an initiative of ACCI Relief in Australia, to guide donors and supporters of orphanages in understanding how the orphanages they support are being run and how well they are aligning with best practices.