I was recently chatting with someone about why I don’t support voluntourism. This person wanted me to explain it to her through Instagram, and it was in that moment that I realised I didn’t have my answer written down in the one place, so anyone can quickly understand the basics. …
It’s time to change how we change the world
“If we can understand how complex it is to solve issues in our own country, why do we feel we can go to another country, one we often know very little about, and solve their problems on a short-term trip?” – Rebecca Klaassen If you only watch one TEDx talk …
Take a look at this long-term volunteering checklist before volunteering overseas
I am not an expert in travel, so I have no idea what is going to happen post-COVID. Some people say that travel will never be the same again. And I hope it isn’t. I truly hope that there is a shift away from voluntourism, and an understanding that ethical …
Orphanages shouldn’t exist
There are approximately 400 residential care institutions in Cambodia, housing over 40,000 children. Despite what you would rightly assume about the children in these institutions being orphans, approximately 80% of them have at least one living parent. Although the number of genuine orphans fell between 2005 and 2015, the number of orphanages increased …
‘Third World’ is an outdates and condescending term
“First world problems”. Have you ever said that to your friends as you complained about your slow internet, or when your sushi joint had sold out of your favourite salmon roll? I’ve done that plenty of times in the past. But I stopped doing it a few years ago. Why? …