{"id":3409,"date":"2017-07-31T03:30:06","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T10:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coyotecommunications.com\/coyoteblog\/?p=3409"},"modified":"2018-04-20T11:11:18","modified_gmt":"2018-04-20T18:11:18","slug":"rowling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coyotecommunications.com\/coyoteblog\/2017\/07\/rowling\/","title":{"rendered":"J.K. Rowling speaks out against orphan tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>This, in short, is why I will never retweet appeals that treat poor children as opportunities to enhance Westerners’ CVs.\u00a0#Voluntourism<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, is no fan of voluntourism, particularly orphan tourism.<\/p>\n

Below are screen captures of a series of Tweets she sent about this back in 2016<\/a>, per someone asking her to retweet an appeal for such volunteers to “help” orphans in another country. It’s followed by the transcript of the tweets in the screen capture, and after that, there are a list of links to more information on the dangers of orphan\u00a0tourism and where to find legitimate volunteering abroad programs (and how to recognize such).<\/p>\n

And be sure to follow her via\u00a0@jk_rowling<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Transcripts of tweets:<\/p>\n

#Voluntourism<\/a>\u00a0is one of drivers of <\/em>family break up in very poor countries. It incentivises ‘orphanages’ that are run as businesses.<\/em><\/p>\n

The charity I have just been asked to support offers (doubtless well-intentioned) Westerners ‘volunteer experiences’ in child institutions.<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the advantages listed for your orphanage volunteer experience is that it will give you a CV ‘distinguisher’. #voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The #voluntourism<\/a> charity tells volunteers that they will be able to ‘play and interact’ with children ‘in desperate need of affection.<\/em><\/p>\n

‘\u2028\u2028Willingness to cling to strangers is a sign of the profound damage institutions do to children #voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Globally, poverty is the no. 1 reason that children are institutionalised. Well-intentioned Westerners supporting orphanages…<\/em><\/p>\n

… perpetuates this highly damaging system and encourages the creation of more institutions as money magnets. #voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Never forget, 80% of institutionalised children worldwide have close family who want them<\/em>\u00a0back. They are not orphans. #Voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

These children and these countries need social care and health systems that keep families together. #Voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This, in short, is why I will never retweet appeals that treat poor children as opportunities to enhance Westerners’ CVs. #Voluntourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

April 20, 2018 update<\/em>: Here is\u00a0a blog by Jasmin Blessing<\/a>, a UN Volunteer with UN Women in Ecuador. It is a really nice example of what\u00a0effective<\/em>\u00a0volunteering abroad looks like.<\/p>\n

More resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n