Traveling ethically is so important especially when you’re visiting developing nations and the temptation to ‘help’ overrides doing the right thing. Often we think our action, volunteering and donations are helping children, families and communities but most likely ether’ doing more harm than good. Most people don’t realise what they’re doing is wrong – we certainly didn’t – so I hope this short guide helps.
Here is a quick guide to the six things not to do when traveling. Read more about the things we do to support locals when traveling like donating blood and staying local.
Don’t take photos of children
If you wouldn’t do it at home then don’t do it on holidays. Taking photos of children is intrusive and exploitative – would you take photos of children at schools or in marketplaces at home? Do you feel comfortable taking advantage of children and families? Probably not! Read more about why I don’t take photos of children.
Don’t visit orphanages
You may think you’re being helpful, visiting orphanages and giving money to the operators, but all you’re doing is supporting the orphanage industry where children are exploited as a business. Often the kids aren’t orphans, but their parent were promised they would get a better life if they left home and went to this ‘school’. Many don’t get enough to eat and there’s little education. Donations are taken by the owners who run these facilities to make a profit and the money doesn’t reach the kids at all.
More than 80% of children living in orphanages are NOT orphans. Read more here.
Don’t visit orphanages, but donate to reputable organisations that help fight poverty and child exploitation like ChildSafe.
Don’t teach in schools
Being white and having a university degree doesn’t mean you’re qualified to teach English in developing nations as a volunteer. The exception is accredited programs and legitimate employment – not what we did in going to a school on a recommendation from a World School group and basically wasting their time. Schools have qualified teachers and us attempting to teach is not only a time waster, it’s insulting. Learn more here.
Don’t pay kids for staged photographs
It’s not only the kids who are out of school, sitting at temples dressed in traditional outfits, lately there’s a trend on Instagram for photographers to stage shots using local children they hire directly or through ‘agencies’ who provide children and locations. Then photographers then pretend they’re captured a moment, but really there exploiting local children who are doing these photo shoots instead of being at school.
It’s all wrong on so many levels. Kids should be at school. Kids should not be exploited. Children should not be photographed for Instagram likes.
Please do not take photos of – and with – children at landmarks and please don’t support photographers that constantly share photographs of children from developing nations.
Don’t ride elephants
It’s cruel, its painful to the elephants and it supports a disturbing trade that needs to stop. Read more here.
Don’t only stay at western hotels and do western things.
Share the love! Support local families and communities by staying in local guesthouses and eating in local restaurants. Your money will go directly into the local economy and do so much good. Plus you’ll have an authentic experience, meet local people and possibly make friends too while you’re out and about.
Don’t visit landmarks and places of interest and not get a guide
Local guides have a wealth of information, they’re so grateful for your support, they know all the secrets and by hiring them you’re making sure their family is provided for. It really doesn’t cost a lot to hire a local guide, and you’ll get so many benefits too. Please try to always hire guides -it’s good for the soul and you’ll learn so much.
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