Why Volunteering in Africa might be a Bad Idea | Nikolay Nedyalkov | TEDxAUBG

[@elle3534]

Go to Africa to be a responsible tourist. That helps the economy and the people.

[@gbauer10]

Volunteering in Africa can be a wonderful and useful endeavor if done in the right way and only the right way! That way should be completely and totally driven by the needs of the local community and nothing else. My wife and I visited a primary school last year in Kenya. School is free but students must pay for uniforms and supplies. We sat down with the principle and also the founder of the school and had them lay out exactly what their short and long term goals are. Volunteering works as long as you base it on THEIR needs not your need to help. As of now, our efforts have meant that there are 15 Maasai children with sponsorships that will carry them through primary school. In addition, funds have been raised and construction has just started on a fifth grade classroom that will be ready for next year! There isn’t another fifth grade classroom within a one hour walk. We have made a commitment to help at the school for many years. Volunteer the right way and it can be a wonderfully enriching experience.

[@AntoanUzunov-vu4tq]

This is the truth. Most volunteers/travelers from western countries seem to go to these places for the experience itself or satisfying their own desire to see something different, not so much to be maximally useful to the community there. I want to ask you something if you happen to see this comment. I have a desire to help people somewhere but I am in a very complicated situation. I only have a high school diploma, I am from Bulgaria. My English is decent, I have C1 level certificate but that was a long time ago, I am probably B2 right now. I don't have many skills but I am willing to learn. Now, what I will share next is going to sound absurd but I will share it anyway, why not. I had an accident 2 years ago and I have been in a wheelchair since. I have decided that life in Europe does not suit me long-term but I am willing to learn new things, doesn't matter, from a book or from university. My rehabilitation is still ongoing and I might be able to walk in a year or two. I want to volunteer somewhere in Africa but don't know how to approach this situation, where I might be able to join an organization or ask questions. I am aiming to turn this into my sole goal and purpose in life, to learn a lot of stuff and help Africans. So if you happen to answer me I would be really grateful, I understand you might not care or know what to tell me so don't worry. I just hope you see this, have a nice day :) Also , I am turning 29 in December but it doesn't matter to me whether I go next year or 5 years from now, I just want to help :)

[@rapidmonkey3696]

the only thing I don’t understand about this video is the fact that tanzania genuinely did need teachers (as referenced at 4:35 with the ratios) I understand that it probably enables the country to having a lack of properly educated native teachers but if he stayed for long enough to build meaningful connections and genuinely help the children then I dont see the downside, just don’t go there and act like your their saviour

[@TruthDefender]

title of this video hould be: HOW TO NOT VOLUNTEER IN AFRICA

[@samkamau7998]

The word 'mzungu' does not mean what the speaker said, allow me to say. It just means a white person. Simply that. That is why everyone was referring to the speaker as such.

[@chrispowell1224]

That was the big thing I picked up on.

[@popov7]

Wow! Both the message and the messanger are as good as they get!

[@RippleDrop.]

Admirable honesty.

[@samkamau7998]

What a lovely and realistic talk

[@mrschi8159]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Thank you for this

[@ak.targetini]

thank you for the subtitles. not. I really wanted to know about his experience, but I'm hard of hearing, english is not my first language and then there is only a dutch transcript?

[@JV-bo4wf]

What a great message ❤️

[@armanunited8120]

I disagree. There is no negative in helping people in need. I agree you do need some certification in areas where you want to help.

[@lula4047]

Even if the best intention can be destructive . Is it sustainable? Are they eventually able to become independent if we help them now?

[@Ghanadiaries]

What's ridiculous is, the locals do not know you come there to help them. They think they have more to teach you than you do. When I was a kid and saw these lil white kids come there and cry,I always wondered if they missed home or something.

[@silvervixen007]

Look into voluntourism it's a corrupted business

[@MiracleTurtle]

Did you even watch the video?

[@gloriamn9013]

I am sure where you live there are many people that could use your help.

[@PeekaySAblack]

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