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From time to time we find some great articles and other media about the impact of different types of community service for both the volunteer and the community that is receiving service. As we strive for meaningful community service involvements we take the issues raised in these articles into consideration.
From time to time we find some great articles and other media about the impact of different types of community service for both the volunteer and the community that is receiving service. As we strive for meaningful community service involvements we take the issues raised in these articles into consideration.
An Essay by Sarika Bansal , in The Development Set, on Medium.
The Development Set is Stories and conversations about global health and social impact. The Development Set is made possible by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This article came to us through our WIS High School Facebook page, Our Archivist, Tina Thuermer and received this from Sophie Reuss, one of our recent alums - something to think about: "think this might be interesting/useful for WIS students/alum to self-reflect on their privilege and the potentially problematic aspects of the "global citizen" narrative (see number 6).
The Voluntourists Dilemma, The New York Times.
The Voluntourists Dilemma, The New York Times.
"Perhaps we are fooling ourselves. Unsatisfying as it may be, we ought to acknowledge the truth that we, as amateurs, often don’t have much to offer. Perhaps we ought to abandon the assumption that we, simply by being privileged enough to travel the world, are somehow qualified to help ease the world’s ills. Because the mantra of “good intentions” becomes unworthy when its eventuality can give a South African AIDS orphan an attachment disorder or put a Haitian mason out of work."
An Essay by Riley Mulhern , in The Development Set, on Medium.
The Development Set is Stories and conversations about global health and social impact. The Development Set is made possible by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"We know the most self-centered manifestation of this: the young Americans who make their way onto a plane to “Africa” with a misplaced sense of duty, usually helping no one.
But those are not the only stories. There are young people who aren’t caught up in a white savior mentality. Who acknowledge complexity and don’t naively believe they can solve wholesale problems. These young people truly want to move the needle on poverty — but don’t fully know how."
The Seven Sins of Humanitarian Douchery, The Guardian.
The Seven Sins of Humanitarian Douchery, The Guardian.
"What started as a project for the two communications students has now gone a lot further than Simon Fraser University. After years of volunteering at home, both of the campaign’s founders were keen to do a placement overseas - but as MacNeill, who’s also worked in the tourism industry, puts it - “the more it seemed like a smoke and mirrors show”. Knowing they probably weren’t the only ones hesitant about committing big bucks to a programme that may not be helping, they’re aiming to crack down on irresponsible voluntourism by spreading the word about what separates a good placement from a bad placement."
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