Here at PEPY, we are encouraged to regularly and continually scrutinize our efforts to “make a difference.” In this charity-happy culture of a myriad of individuals looking for their way to change the world, the communities and issues at hand are often forgotten, and the volunteer becomes number one. The voluntourism movement has become known for being a move in the right direction, bringing focus back to the issues at hand, rather than catering to the desires of the volunteer. Still, it must be acknowledged that even good intentions, if uniformed or ego-centric, can produce more harm than good.

Take Angelina Jolie. Sure, she (and her film Tomb Raider) put Cambodia on the map, so to say, for some of tourism in the area. And her well-documented adoption of son Maddox was no small part in this. But how does this impact Cambodia? And what message does it convey to the outside world? Ms. Jolie was the last legal international adoption from Cambodia, as the sale and profit from adopted children is a significant issue, even for the corrupt government of Cambodia. But despite her self-professed love for the country, and her tremendous ability as a celebrity to affect change, she did nothing to further sustainability in the region, only acting on her own desire to adopt a Cambodian. And so her item of service manifested in the redemption of just one child, leaving the other millions to continue on in poor education and health. How sustainable were her efforts? Is this altruism, or completely self-motivated aspirations?

Today, one of the primary sources of tourist interest in Siem Reap, [home to one of the Ancient Wonders of the World in its Angkor Wat temple complex, and also my home away from home!] remains orphanage tourism. If you’ve seen Slumdog Millionaire, its not too far off from that. Orphaned children are collected by a sleazy manager, and given very poor accommodations in return for their exploitation through the streets as the pitied orphan. The children inundate touristy parts of Siem Reap, inviting the tourists to their orphanages, where obliging tourists are given a tour of an attractive “orphanage home” and in return give pity funds to the manager, who asserts that all funds go directly to the children. Unfortunately this is not true, and the children will never see either the money or a even night in the nice orphanage home. They are led along by the exploitation of their superiors, who I can’t blame any more than the tourists themselves. Any orphanage that allows arbitrary people to walk in and out day after day can’t possibly provide a stable environment for the children, regardless of a scam. So ignorant tourists, in their desire for an “authentic experience”, jump at the offer, only to perpetuate the exploitation of the children.

Unfortunately there isn’t a solution to the issue of ignorant and/or selfish voluntourism. But any movement towards a more sustainable effort is the only viable route for voluntourism to developing countries. So heres to adventurous living, and responsible giving!