Voluntourism: When You Take More Than You Leave Behind | Madara Žgutė | TEDxISM

[@leila_de_hautjardin]

The best development projects are the ones directed by local people because they know the culture and needs of people. And it empowers people to improve their country. I walked across an empty building in Comoros. My mother told me that foreign organizations kept building orphanages but we don't need it. Nuclear family is not really a thing, kids who lost their parents always have someone to take care of them ( aunt, uncle, grand parents, siblings, friends of family...). These organizations failed to understands the culture and needs of people. The best way to help is to donate to a local organization. You can go if you have useful skills, are ready to learn about a new culture and don't steal a job that could be done by a local person.

[@shegoblin4014]

Periodt

[@richb5477]

Don't go into someone's home and start re-arranging the furniture...

[@chiarardn2401]

What she said is sadly true, I've experienced it too, as a very young international volunteer. The solution I propose: people who wish to contribute in making this world a better place should work hard in order to acquire relevant expertise, becoming doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and then they can travel internationally and be actually of help, always trying to pass on their expertise to the local communities where they volunteer. What's important is, development projects should always aim to make the external help superfluous, in the end. That's the difference between emergency humanitarian projects, which only aim to help in the short run, and development projects, which aim to make the locals independent in the long run

[@laurenduran2567]

I’ve wondered about this.. I know people who have volunteered abroad with no special skill. They are doing work that the locals can do. They end up standing around because there help isn’t needed YET they spend thousands of dollars getting to those countries. Imagine if all those people donated those thousands of dollars rather than wasting them to get to the foreign country ?

[@arch_6133]

There are skills that any volunteer can use. To use Nepal as a example,a native speaker teaching kids English gives them way more chances to get employed both in Nepal tourism industry/outsourcing as well as if someone migrates to find work. Orphans require a role model/mentor even if only for a few months. But I agree that NGO charity's, charging thousands to go there is both ineffective and suspicious. NGO charity's are pocketing half of the money, it's better to use one of the 'no fees, no benefits' organizations where you essentially go as a tourist, live with a host family and use your own money independently to improve their lives, corporate charities are incompetent.

[@LancesArmorStriking]

@@arch_6133 Even then, Nepalese tourism is extremely dangerous for the locals (because it's mostly offering services to help Westerners climb Mount Everest) and their skills could be put to better use.

[@nurfadilahhashim7436]

I strongly agree that Voluntourism program is giving more input to the volunteer if they have the open minded attitude, because not everyone will see voluntarism as the program that actually improve ourself to build the soft skills when delivering the knowledge to others. In addition, at the same time the volunteer also learns about the other cultures and gain insight into regional geography. It's giving them the opportunity to build a good bonding with the community and experience, explore and enjoy the country.

[@yoyatecontare8024]

The idea is if you really want to "help" at least be qualifed profesional for it a Doctor, Teachers, etc. Because if you are not a qualified profesional just a young boy our girl you can do it easily in your own country wherever you came from Uk,Usa, Europe..etc. These people do it some volunteers said for the cv, for the experience for after it put it in social media and receive likes, for own interests than "purely help others" those kids actually are just used (I recommended inform you after the psychology effects for the kids to get attached to someone and then be abandoned every time, and how the local small industry is affect by these NGOs). You want to help? Visit lonely old people in your own country in geriatrics, volunteer to give food, travel and support the small local business and DONT NEGOCIATE A SPECIAL PRICE, believe me you help then more ,volunteer even in your own house cleaning our reappearing something !! . But of course is not " cool to post it and receive likes and glorification right?"😲😲😲😲😲

[@MrDove2u]

When volunteerism turns into colonialism.

[@shegoblin4014]

For real! Their white savior complex needs to stop

[@aeopmusic]

Someone get this lady a glass of water

[@juanpablomirandaheffler7374]

i am here for the youtuber Javi Alonso,he did a video of the volunturism

[@barbaragiorgio9393]

We are a global village - any incursion into other cultures and countries is a normal evolutionary process but the difference in an enlightened age, is to not make it exploitative either way. Well-meaning volunteers in countries with low SE status balance the numbers of well-meaning people exiting these countries as refugees or migrants. They both seek something to enhance their lives whether it is experience or money or education or religious freedom.

[@ichigorobei]

Does anyone know where this talk was given and/or what the "ISM" stands for in "TEDx ISM" in the title? Thanks!

[@TigerPrawn_]

ichigorobei It's Vilnius, Lithuania :)

[@pipcheerio4054]

I’m lateeee, but I think “ism” just applies to words ending in “ism”. For example, racism, nihilism, and in this case, voluntourism.

[@ptboy4]

Great talk, but please someone give her some water... earing this with eadphones is a bath in dry saliva...

[@DonikM]

Bapesh 👊🏼

[@captaincredono]

Is that the clip from Nuns on the Run?

[@argo1317]

INHA STUDENTS HELLO)

[@mrakod]

Hey hi...... As per u, from where should a novice should start and "Give More Than He Takes". I am an engineering graduate. Really Appreciate your views

[@syd6126]

lol did anybody else accidentally start clapping at the end of her speech?...

[@syd6126]

***** lol oooooh really got me there

[@parulagarwal7578]

Sohaib if you would like to 'give more than he takes' come be part of our fb page voluntourism @morethebetter

[@umidabdurahmonov9919]

🇺🇿

[@edl6398]

She's too nervous to do public speaking.

[@ellu...]

Everyone has to start somewhere. Great public speakers most likely didn't start that way. If you don't start because you're nervous, you'll never learn.

[@cubanita365]

Maybe it was her first time. No one is great at it when first starting out. I don't think she did bad.

[@LancesArmorStriking]

It's not her first language, imagine you tried to give a speech in French

[@swissrock1492]

She does a great job.